Used car consumer rights in Barnsley: what if something goes wrong?

What are your rights if you buy a used car from a business in Barnsley and something goes wrong?

Quick answer: 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 — allowing for its age, mileage and price. If a fault that breaks those rules shows up in the first 30 days, you can usually reject the car for a refund. After that, the seller normally gets one go at a repair or replacement, and within the first six months the law assumes the fault was there when you bought it unless the seller can show otherwise.

This month marks eleven years since the Act came into force on 1 October 2015, and it is still worth knowing before you buy. At anycolourcar.com we sell quality used vehicles from The Old Garage on Genn Lane in Worsbrough, and we would rather customers in Hoyland, Penistone and Cudworth knew their rights before they buy than found out the hard way afterwards.

Looking for your next car? Start on car search or call sales on 01226 574410.

What the law expects from a used car

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies when you buy from a trader — a business that sells cars — rather than from a private seller. The car has to be:

• Of satisfactory quality — judged against what a reasonable person would expect for its age, mileage and price
• Fit for purpose — including any particular purpose you made clear before you bought, such as towing
• As described — matching the advert, the description and what you were told

A used car is not expected to be perfect. Citizens Advice is clear that you are not entitled to anything for faults you were told about and had explained, problems you should have spotted when you inspected the car, damage you caused, or normal wear and tear — brake pads worn down by years of use, for example.

The first 30 days: the short-term right to reject

If a fault means the car falls short of those standards, you have a short-term right to reject for 30 days. The clock starts the day after you take ownership and the car is delivered to you.

Rejecting means telling the seller clearly that you are rejecting the car and why, and stopping using it. If you agree to let the seller repair it first, the 30-day clock pauses while the work is done.

From 30 days to six months: repair first, then refund

After the first 30 days, the seller normally gets one opportunity to repair or replace the car. If that repair does not fix the problem, you can ask for a price reduction or use your final right to reject.

Within the first six months, the law assumes a fault was present when you bought the car unless the seller can prove otherwise. One honest caveat, then we move on: with cars, any refund under the final right to reject can be reduced to reflect the use you have had, even inside those six months.

After six months

Your rights do not stop at six months, but the burden shifts. You would usually need to show that the fault was there, or developing, when you bought the car. An independent inspection report can help if the cause is disputed.

A warranty is extra, not instead

A used car warranty sits on top of your legal rights. It never replaces them. Our guide to what a used vehicle warranty usually covers explains the difference between warranty cover and the protection the law already gives you.

Buying at a distance, or privately

If you buy without visiting — online or over the phone, with the car delivered — you usually get a 14-day cooling-off period on top of your faulty-goods rights. Citizens Advice explains changing your mind and how the timings work.

Buying privately is different. You get far fewer rights, which is one reason Citizens Advice suggests buying from an established trader where you can.

What to do first if something is not right

A calm, clear start makes everything easier:

1. Contact the seller as soon as you notice the problem. Ring first if you like, then follow it up in writing.
2. Say what the fault is, when it started and what you would like to happen — a repair, or rejecting the car if you are still inside 30 days.
3. Keep everything: the invoice, the advert, any warranty paperwork, messages and receipts.
4. Stop using the car if you are rejecting it, or if the fault makes it unsafe.
5. Get free advice if you are stuck. GOV.UK lists the Citizens Advice consumer helpline for England and Wales.

If you bought from us, call 01226 574410 and talk to us first. We would always rather hear about a problem early.

Getting it right before you buy

Most problems are easier to avoid than to fix. A careful viewing, a proper test drive and a clean handover go a long way:

• Used car buying checklist
• Test drive checklist
• Buying a car with a short MOT left
• What you should leave with at handover

FAQ

Can I return a used car if I just change my mind?

Not as a legal right if you bought it in person and there is nothing wrong with it. The 14-day cooling-off period applies to distance sales, such as buying online or by phone without visiting.

Does the 30-day right to reject apply to used cars?

Yes. It applies to used cars bought from a business, as long as the fault means the car is not of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose or as described when you allow for its age, mileage and price.

What counts as wear and tear on a used car?

Things that wear out with normal use, such as brake pads, tyres and wiper blades, depending on how much use the car has had. A sudden major fault on a low-mileage car is a different conversation from worn pads on a high-mileage one.

I bought the car on finance. Who do I speak to?

With hire purchase, the finance company legally supplies the car, so it needs to be involved in any rejection. Tell both the seller and the lender. We are a credit broker, not a lender.

Where can I get free help with a consumer problem?

In England, Citizens Advice gives free consumer advice and can pass complaints to Trading Standards. GOV.UK has the contact details.

In short

Buying a used car from a business in Barnsley gives you real protection. The car must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. You have 30 days to reject a faulty car, and within six months the law is on your side about when a fault started. Read the advert, check the car properly and keep your paperwork, and you will rarely need any of this.

Ready to look? Browse car search or call sales on 01226 574410.

anycolourcar.com · The Old Garage, Genn Lane, Worsbrough, Barnsley S70 6TF · Sales 01226 574410