Can I reject a faulty car within 30 days of purchase in the UK?

Yes. If you bought the car from a trader (dealer, broker or finance-house sale under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 framework) and the car developed a fault within 30 days of delivery (handover), you have the short-term right to reject under Section 19 CRA 2015 and a full refund under Section 20. The trader must refund within 14 days of agreement (Section 20(3)) and bears the cost of collection (Section 20(8)). A clock starts running the moment you take delivery of the car — not the date of sale or finance completion.

I bought a used car with a dealer warranty — the dealer refuses to fix it. What are my rights?

Used cars sold by a trader come with the same CRA 2015 statutory rights as new cars. If the fault appears after 30 days, you move to Section 23 (right to repair or replacement — one attempt per Section 23(2)). If that single attempt fails, you are entitled to a price reduction (Section 24) or, if the failure is sufficiently serious, a final right to reject under Section 27 with a deduction for use (Section 20(13)–(14)). A dealer warranty 'refusal' cannot override your statutory rights; if the dealer insists the warranty period is the only remedy, that is the wrong starting point.

My car was bought on finance — can I claim against the finance company as well as the dealer?

Yes. If the cash price of the car was between £100 and £30,000 and you paid (in whole or in part) using a credit card or through a regulated hire-purchase / conditional sale agreement, you can raise a Section 75 Consumer Credit Act 1974 claim against the card issuer or finance provider. They are jointly and severally liable with the dealer for the trader's breach. The claim runs in parallel with the dealer — you do not have to choose one or the other.

What is the deduction for use under Section 27 CRA 2015?

If you exercise the final right to reject under Section 27 CRA 2015, the trader can deduct a 'fair allowance for use' from the refund under Section 20(13)–(14) CRA 2015. The deduction must reflect the use you have actually had of the car — typically mileage-based. For a 12-month-old car with a serious engine fault, the deduction is usually modest relative to the price paid; keep a contemporaneous mileage log to rebut any disproportionate deduction.

I bought the car privately — does the Consumer Rights Act apply?

No. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 only applies to contracts between a consumer and a trader. A private sale between two individuals is governed by the common law of contract (Sale of Goods Act 1979) with no statutory short-term right to reject. A private buyer must rely on misrepresentation, breach of contract, or a private warranty given by the seller — the CRA 2015 framework does not apply.

Car Warranty Dispute Letter — CRA 2015 s.19 / s.23 / s.27 Auto-Cite

A faulty new or used car bought from a trader, a dealer warranty refusal, or a finance-funded purchase that fails? The Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you a section-aware remedy that is on the face of the letter — and a Section 75 Consumer Credit Act 1974 claim runs in parallel where you paid (in whole or in part) by credit card or through regulated finance.

30-day Section 19 deadline

The CRA 2015 short-term right to reject under Section 19 runs out 30 days after the car is physically handed over (delivery) — not 30 days after the sales contract date, finance completion date, or registration date. If you are inside the 30-day window the right is unconditional and you do not have to accept a repair first.

What the Consumer Rights Act 2015 says about cars

A car sold by a trader (a dealer, broker, or finance-house sale to a consumer) is a "good" under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and carries the statutory rights implied by Sections 9, 10 and 11 CRA 2015: satisfactory quality, fitness for purpose, and as described. Where the car develops a fault, your remedy runs through Section 19, 23, 24 or 27 CRA 2015 depending on which step in the cascade you are at.

Private sales are different

The CRA 2015 only applies to contracts between a consumer and a trader. If you bought the car privately, you cannot rely on Section 19, 23 or 27; private sales are governed by the common law of contract and the Sale of Goods Act 1979. This guide covers trader sales only.

Section 19 — Short-term right to reject (within 30 days of delivery)

The consumer has the right to reject the goods within 30 days of delivery where the goods fail to meet the statutory rights implied by Sections 9, 10 or 11 CRA 2015. The 30-day right is unconditional — the consumer is not required to allow a repair or replacement first. Under Section 20 the trader must refund the price paid in full within 14 days of agreeing the rejection (Section 20(3)) and bears the cost of returning the goods (Section 20(8)).

Section 23 — Right to repair or replacement (after 30 days; one attempt)

Where the fault appears after 30 days but within six months (and the six-month presumption under Section 24(5) places the burden on the trader), the consumer is entitled to require the trader to repair or replace the goods. The trader is entitled to one attempt at repair or replacement under Section 23(2), within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience (Section 23(3)). If that single attempt fails, the consumer moves to Section 24 (price reduction) or Section 27 (final right to reject).

Section 27 / Section 20(13)–(14) — Final right to reject with deduction for use

Where the single Section 23 attempt has failed, or the failure was sufficiently serious to invoke the final right, the consumer may exercise the final right to reject the goods under Section 27 CRA 2015. On final rejection the refund may carry a deduction for use under Section 20(13)–(14) — a fair allowance for the use actually had of the goods. The deduction must be proportionate and can be rebutted where the trader proposes an excessive figure. For a 12-month-old car with a serious engine fault, the deduction is usually modest relative to the price paid; keep a contemporaneous mileage log to displace any disproportionate deduction.

Section 75 Consumer Credit Act 1974 — parallel claim against finance provider

Where the cash price of the car was between £100 and £30,000 and the car was bought on credit (credit card, or a regulated hire-purchase / conditional sale agreement), the card issuer or finance provider is jointly and severally liable with the dealer for the dealer's breach of contract — the “deficiency” route. The Section 75 CCA 1974 claim runs in parallel with the dealer's; the consumer does not have to choose one or the other, and can usually pursue the finance provider where the dealer is unresponsive or has gone into administration.

How to use this guide

The auto-cite engine below maps your complaint category to the right section of the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Pick the option that fits your situation. The engine will draft the statutory hook for your letter, set the modelled response window (14 days), and tell you the operative deadline date.

Pick your complaint category

Choose the option that best fits your complaint. The engine will draft the statutory hook (CRA 2015 section, title, modelled response window) you paste into your letter.

CRA 2015 s.19 — Rejected within 30 days of delivery (full refund) Car developed a fault within 30 days of the date you took delivery. Full refund under Section 20, no prior repair needed. 14-day modelled response deadline, but the 30-day statutory deadline is the operative one — act fast. CRA 2015 s.23 — Repair or replacement attempted (one attempt) More than 30 days since delivery and you've allowed (or the dealer carried out) one attempt at repair or replacement under Section 23(2). Move to either Section 27 final right to reject or Section 24 price reduction if the attempt failed or the dealer is refusing. CRA 2015 s.27 — Price reduction or final reject (use deduction) After the single Section 23 attempt you want a price reduction under Section 24 or a final right to reject under Section 27 (price paid minus a fair-allowance-for-use deduction under Section 20(13)–(14)). Best for serious / persistent faults where the dealer refuses to do more than one repair.

What to include in a car warranty dispute letter

Before you send

Your full name, address, and contact details (in the header).
The dealer's trading name and registered address (from the V5C / invoice).
The vehicle Make, Model, Registration mark, VIN (or chassis number), and the date the car was delivered / handed over to you.
Order / invoice / finance-agreement reference, the cash price paid, and the deposit / balance breakdown.
The fault stated clearly with the date first noticed and the date (if any) the dealer was notified in writing.
The remedy you are seeking (full refund under Section 20, repair or replacement under Section 23, price reduction under Section 24, or final right to reject under Section 27) and the operative Section number on the face of the letter.
The modelled 14-day response window and the calculated deadline date.

The escalation timeline

Send the in-page Car Warranty Dispute Letter

By Royal Mail Signed For AND email so the 14-day modelled response window is provable from the date of receipt.

If productive offer / repair agreed

If the dealer agrees to repair under Section 23 (one attempt) or accepts the refund under Section 20, capture the agreement in writing. If the Section 23 attempt fails, move to Section 27 (final right to reject).

If financed — send parallel Section 75 CCA 1974 letter

If the cash price was between £100 and £30,000 and the car was paid (in whole or in part) on credit, the card issuer or finance house is jointly and severally liable. Send the same letter, by the same service, to the finance provider. Both liabilities run in parallel.

If no substantive response

Issue a Letter Before Action under the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims (Section III CPR Practice Direction 7A) citing the operative Section (s.19 / s.23 / s.27 or Section 75 CCA 1974), and quantify the loss in a Schedule of Loss.

County Court MCOL claim

Where the loss is between £10,001 and £100,000 lodge an MCOL claim; below £10,000 lodge a small-claims track claim; over £100,000 issue at the County Court Money Claims Centre. The car dealer + finance provider route gives you two defendants on the claim form.

Need professional help?

Speak to a solicitor specialising in consumer law and motor disputes

If your dispute involves a Section 75 Consumer Credit Act 1974 claim, a joint dealer + finance-provider claim, deduction-for-use rebuttal (Section 20(13)–(14) CRA 2015), or a multi-head claim with damages under Section 50(2) CRA 2015, we can connect you with a solicitor who specialises in motor disputes and consumer litigation.

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