Buying a used car from a dealer: what to check and your rights (UK)

Buying from a dealer usually costs a little more than buying privately. Part of what you are paying for is legal protection: when you buy from a business, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 says the car must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. That protection is real, but it works best when you have done your checks first and kept your paperwork.

Here is how the trade would approach a dealer purchase, and what your rights look like if something goes wrong.

Pick the dealer before you pick the car

Citizens Advice suggests looking for:

• an established firm with a good reputation
• a trade association sign, or a sign saying the dealer follows The Motor Ombudsman's code of practice, so you have somewhere to go if something goes wrong
• a dealer whose cars have been inspected by an independent engineer or motoring organisation

Citizens Advice also warns that auctions are probably the riskiest way to buy, and that you probably won't have the same legal protection as buying through a trader. A "trade sale" sticker on a forecourt deserves the same caution: ask exactly what it means before you go any further.

Do the same checks you would on a private sale

A dealer's name over the door does not replace your own checks. Citizens Advice recommends them whoever you buy from:

• Check the car's details against the DVLA's free vehicle information checker.
• Check the free GOV.UK MOT history for gaps and mileage readings. Our guide to checking a used car's MOT history walks you through it.
• Get a private history check, which Citizens Advice says costs up to £20, to see whether the car has outstanding finance, has been written off or is showing the correct mileage.
• View in daylight, preferably dry, and take a test drive of at least 15 minutes on different types of road, making sure you are insured first.

Get it in writing

Your rights depend partly on how the car was described to you, so keep the evidence. Trade experience says to save a copy of the advert, the invoice, any warranty terms and anything the salesperson promised by email or text. If they tell you about a fault, ask them to write it on the invoice.

That matters because Citizens Advice says you won't be entitled to anything if you were told about the fault and it was fully explained, if you inspected the car and should have spotted it (a dent, for example), if you caused the fault, or if it is normal wear and tear for the car's age and use, such as brake pads that are worn after a long time.

Your rights if something goes wrong

For cars bought from a business since 1 October 2015, The Motor Ombudsman explains the Consumer Rights Act like this:

• The first 30 days: if the car is of unsatisfactory quality, unfit for purpose or not as described, you have a short-term right to reject it for a full refund. Trading Standards' Business Companion adds that the 30 days start the day after you receive the car and don't include days it is back with the garage for repair.
• After 30 days: the dealer gets one opportunity to repair or replace the car. If that does not fix it, you can ask for your money back or a price reduction if you'd rather keep it. For a rejection outside the first 30 days, the dealer can deduct an amount for the mileage you have done.
• The first six months: a fault reported in this period is presumed to have been there when you bought the car, unless the dealer can prove otherwise. After six months, it is up to you to show it was.

None of this applies if you simply change your mind. These are rights for a car that has something wrong with it.

How you pay can add protection

Citizens Advice points out that paying even part of the price by credit card can give you "section 75" protection on goods costing between £100 and £30,000, and that some debit cards offer a chargeback scheme. If you use finance arranged by the dealer, you may also be able to act against the finance company as well as, or instead of, the dealer. Cash gives you none of that.

If you need to complain

Go back to the dealer first, in writing, and say clearly what is wrong and what you want. If the dealer follows The Motor Ombudsman's code, the Ombudsman can help if you can't agree. The Citizens Advice consumer helpline is on 0808 223 1133, and its problem with a used car guidance has an online tool to work out your next step.

The trade view

A good dealer wants you to come back and buy your next car from them, so they will not mind you checking everything. If one gets twitchy when you ask for the MOT history, the service book or a test drive, that tells you what you need to know. Read our guides to V5C log book checks and what to check on a test drive next, or grab the free 10-point checklist.

Facts in this guide are taken from Citizens Advice, The Motor Ombudsman and Business Companion (Trading Standards), linked above, and were checked on 17 October 2026. Citizens Advice's pages are written for England, with separate versions for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Rules change, so always check the official source. This is general information, not legal advice.