Dosh dilemma – help, I bought a faulty car – what are my rights?

Sarah was pleased with her new car. It was everything she wanted – the perfect size, age, cost and even the right colour.

She’d bought it from a dealer and everything seemed above board. It even came with a full MOT.

But within 24 hours, Sarah was stuck at the side of the road watching smoke pour from the exhaust.

The dealer wasn’t answering her calls and the garage quoted her over £1,000 in repairs.

Needless to say, panic set in.

Sarah wants to know – what are her rights?

Well, the good news Sarah is that because you bought the car from a dealer, you’re protected under the Consumer Rights Act (2015).

This means:

• In the first 30 days you can reject the car and ask for a full refund if it’s faulty.
• After 30 days but within six months the dealer must offer a repair or replacement. If that fails, you can still request a refund — though the dealer might deduct for usage.

But remember, you’ll need to prove the fault was there when you bought it. Always keep records, written confirmations and any paperwork from garages or outfits like the RAC.

Dealer vs private seller

If you buy from a private seller, it’s a different story. They don’t have to declare faults or offer refunds. The car just has to be ‘as described’.

But, if the seller lies about the car’s condition or misleads you, you might have a claim for misrepresentation — which could let you revoke the sale.

Consumer Rights Act 2015

This law gives you the right to return a faulty used car — but here’s what to look out for:

• check when your 30-day period starts and ends
• ask for the dealer’s returns and cancellation policy in writing
• watch for small print like mileage limits
• always get any pre-existing damage noted in writing before you drive off

Paid by credit card? 

If you used a credit card and paid between £100 and £30,000, you're protected by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. That means your card provider shares responsibility for the purchase.

You could claim a refund if:

• the car is faulty or not of satisfactory quality
• it wasn’t delivered
• the seller misrepresented the vehicle

Start by contacting the dealer. If they don’t respond, go to your credit card provider with your evidence.

Paid by debit card? Try chargeback

If the car doesn’t match the description, or the seller is no longer operating, you might be able to use ‘chargeback’, where your bank tries to reverse the payment.

It’s not a legal right like Section 75 and it depends on the seller still having the funds in their account. But it’s worth trying, so you should contact your bank for help.

What if the dealer refuses to accept responsibility?

If, like in Sarah’s case, the dealer’s ignoring you or refusing to help, don’t give up. Here’s what you can do:

• Check if the dealer is a member of the Motor Ombudsman — they offer free advice and dispute resolution.
• If not, contact Citizens Advice. They have a dedicated tool to help with used car complaints.
• Gather all your evidence — emails, photos, garage reports — and stay persistent.

We hope this helps Sarah, and good luck in getting it sorted.