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Guides to your rights when a car goes wrong

Plain-English guides to the Consumer Rights Act 2015, rejecting a faulty car, and dealing with the dealer.

A buyer studies the paperwork before signing for a new car.

Consumer Rights

Is There a Cooling-Off Period When Buying a Car? Usually Not

Bought a car and regretting it? The 14-day cooling-off period most people believe in doesn't exist for showroom purchases. Here's what does exist — three real cancellation rights, and which one might fit your situation.

22 Aug 2026

A car owner inspects their vehicle's open engine bay outside a UK home.

Consumer Rights

Is There a Lemon Law in the UK? Yes — and It's Stronger Than America's

22 Aug 2026

A dealer hands over warranty paperwork beside a used car's open bonnet.

Consumer Rights

Used Car Warranty Law UK: What a 3-Month Warranty Actually Means

22 Aug 2026

A woman reading a folder of finance paperwork at the bonnet of her white SUV on a dealership forecourt

Consumer Rights

Can I Give My Car Back to the Finance Company? All 5 Routes Explained

22 Aug 2026

All Articles

A mechanic runs a diagnostic check under the bonnet of a used car.

Common Used Car Faults and Your Consumer Rights (2026 Guide)

15 Aug 2026

Reviewing a vehicle fault report and consumer rights paperwork at home.

Faulty Car Solicitors: Do You Need One? (And When You Don't)

16 Jul 2026

Customer examines ex-demo vehicle for defects outside UK dealership

Consumer Rights

Rejecting an Ex-Demo Car: Your Consumer Rights

3 Feb 2026

A buyer examines dashboard warning lights and interior condition during vehicle inspection

Consumer Rights

Can You Reject a Car for Minor Faults?

30 Jan 2026

Consumer reviews repair invoices and receipts beside their car at home.

Consumer Rights

Already Paid for Repairs? You May Still Have Rights

27 Jan 2026

A motorist calls for assistance beside their broken down car

Consumer Rights

Car Broke Down on the Way Home from Dealer: What Now?

23 Jan 2026

Driver gripping the steering wheel as brake warning light glows red on a UK dual carriageway

Faulty Brakes on a Used Car? A Safety Defect You Can Reject For

2 Jan 2026

A couple walk along a row of used cars on a small dealer forecourt, weighing up a red hatchback

Consumer Rights

Your Rights When Buying a Used Car: A Complete Guide

29 Dec 2025

Person writing a formal letter at a kitchen table with car keys and documents beside them

How to Write a Car Rejection Letter

19 Dec 2025

A woman watching from the pavement as a recovery truck collects her white small SUV from the drive of a brick semi

7 Common Car Faults Dealers Try to Hide (And How to Spot Them)

12 Dec 2025

Person reviewing car finance paperwork at their kitchen table with a laptop

Consumer Rights

Bought on Finance? Your Finance Company Could Owe You a Refund

4 Dec 2025

Buyer noticing something wrong while viewing a used car on a UK forecourt

10 Red Flags That Should Stop You Buying a Used Car

27 Nov 2025

A woman crouched at the rear wheel of her green crossover outside a small garage, pressing a thumb into the tyre tread under a clear blue sky

Consumer Rights

What Does "Satisfactory Quality" Actually Mean for Used Cars?

19 Nov 2025

Person walking into a modern UK county court building clutching paperwork

Taking a Car Dealer to Small Claims Court: A Complete Guide

11 Nov 2025

Suspiciously low odometer reading in a car with a visibly worn steering wheel and seats

Fraud Prevention

Mileage Clocking: How to Spot It and What to Do If You're a Victim

3 Nov 2025

Mechanic with clipboard inspecting underneath a car on a lift in a UK garage

Is a Pre-Purchase Inspection Worth It? The Complete Guide

24 Oct 2025

A young man at the counter of a garage while his dark blue estate sits on the lift behind him

Consumer Rights

Dealer Warranty vs Consumer Rights: Which Is Better?

17 Oct 2025

Electric car charging

Electric Vehicles

Bought a Faulty Electric Car? Your Rights Explained

9 Oct 2025

Person crouching to inspect the underside of a used car on a UK dealer forecourt

Consumer Rights

What Actually Counts as a "Fault" When Rejecting a Car?

1 Oct 2025

Abandoned UK car dealership with empty forecourt and faded signs

Consumer Rights

The Dealer Has Gone Bust – What Are My Options?

22 Sept 2025

A man checking his watch with a letter in his other hand beside his dark blue estate on a street of terraces

Consumer Rights

How Long Do You Have to Reject a Faulty Car? 30 Days, 6 Months & After

15 Sept 2025

Dashboard of an older car showing very high mileage with a worn interior

Consumer Rights

Can I Reject a Car With High Mileage? Yes, Here's How

5 Sept 2025

Person making a phone call while gesturing at a faulty car on their UK driveway

How Trading Standards Can Help With Car Dealer Disputes

29 Aug 2025

A man in a waxed jacket kneeling at the wheel of a black MPV in a lay-by, measuring the tyre with a tape

Getting an Independent Inspection: Your Secret Weapon in Car Disputes

21 Aug 2025

Frustrated person standing outside a closed car dealership holding rejection paperwork

Dealer Ignoring Your Rejection Letter? Here's What to Do Next

14 Aug 2025

An older man opening the door of a grey saloon in an empty car park to look inside

Buying a Car at Auction: What Are Your Rights?

5 Aug 2025

Person checking their phone while looking at a used car on a rainy UK dealer forecourt

Car History Checks: What They Reveal and Why They're Essential

29 Jul 2025

Diesel car exhaust

DPF Problems: Your Rights When the Diesel Particulate Filter Fails

22 Jul 2025

Person standing with arms crossed next to a faulty car on their UK driveway

Dealer Accepted Rejection But Won't Collect the Car

15 Jul 2025

A woman reading a letter beside her black MPV in a quiet cul-de-sac, a folder resting on the roof

Financial Ombudsman for Car Finance Disputes: Complete Guide

11 Jul 2025

Electric car at a UK charging point with anxious driver checking the low range display

Electric Vehicles

EV Range Less Than Advertised: When Can You Reject?

8 Jul 2025

FaultyCar.co.uk - EV Charging Faults Rights

Electric Vehicles

Electric Car Won't Charge: Your Consumer Rights

4 Jul 2025

Person flipping through a car service book with a suspicious expression

Fraud Prevention

Fake Service History: How to Spot Forged Stamps and Records

1 Jul 2025

FaultyCar.co.uk - Trade Sale Private Sale Scam

Fraud Prevention

Trade Sale & Private Sale Scams: When Dealers Pretend They're Not

27 Jun 2025

A formal letter being posted through a red letterbox on a UK high street

Letter Before Action: The Final Step Before Court

24 Jun 2025

Person holding official-looking paperwork firmly while standing next to their car

Consumer Rights Act 2015 vs Sale of Goods Act: What Changed?

20 Jun 2025

Driver encounters frozen infotainment system displaying software errors in modern vehicle

Software & Over-the-Air Update Problems in Modern Cars

17 Jun 2025

Owner inspects hybrid engine components under the bonnet of their car

Electric Vehicles

Hybrid Car Faults: Your Rights for Petrol, Battery & System Issues

13 Jun 2025

A dealer reviews vehicle documentation on a busy UK forecourt

Consumer Rights

Manufacturer Recalls: What Dealers Must Do Before Selling

10 Jun 2025

Car owner reviews extended warranty documentation and insurance policies at home

Extended Warranties: Insured vs Uninsured – Avoiding Scams

6 Jun 2025

Driver organizes essential vehicle documentation and service records on desk

Keeping Records: Documentation That Wins Car Disputes

3 Jun 2025

Dealership paperwork and inspection documents during a vehicle return transaction.

Consumer Rights

Fair Use Deductions: How Much Can Dealers Keep From Your Refund?

30 May 2025

An inspector on his back under the front of a grey saloon in a cul-de-sac while the owner watches from the drive

What Evidence Do You Need to Reject a Car?

27 May 2025

Franchised dealership and independent car lot showcase different buying experiences

Franchised Dealer vs Independent: Are Your Rights Different?

23 May 2025

Customers browse the extensive forecourt at a major UK car supermarket

Car Supermarkets: Your Rights at Cargiant, Motorpoint & Other Large Dealers

20 May 2025

A buyer carefully inspects a used car's bodywork at a UK dealership

Buying an Ex-Fleet or Rental Car: Hidden Issues to Watch For

16 May 2025

Water-damaged car interior showing soaked carpets and condensation on windows

Water Ingress & Damp Problems in Used Cars

6 May 2025

Blue smoke pouring from the exhaust of a car pulled over on a UK country road

Turbo Failure After Purchase: What Are Your Options?

25 Apr 2025

A woman at the open bonnet of her silver hatchback on the drive of a brick semi, seen from across the road under a clear blue sky

Timing Chain Failure: Warranty, Your Rights & Who Pays

22 Apr 2025

Car owner holds keys outside dealership considering finance options

Consumer Rights

Voluntary Termination of Car Finance: The 50% Rule Explained

18 Apr 2025

Customer reviews car finance documentation at a UK dealership forecourt

Consumer Rights

Car Finance Mis-Selling: Your DIY Claim Guide (2026)

15 Apr 2025

A woman holding a sales document against the rear of a red supermini on a dealer forecourt

Consumer Rights

"Sold As Seen" and "Trade Sale": Why These Mean Nothing

11 Apr 2025

A woman reading a letter at the open boot of her dark blue estate on the drive of a semi-detached house

The Motor Ombudsman: How to Complain About a Car Dealer (Free)

8 Apr 2025

A young man reading a finance letter beside his white small SUV on a street of terraced houses, a folder of paperwork on the roof

Consumer Rights

Outstanding Finance on a Car You Bought: What Happens Now?

4 Apr 2025

Two people complete a private car sale outside UK residential homes

Buying from a Private Seller: What Rights Do You Actually Have?

1 Apr 2025

Hands hold smartphone showing car purchase website beside vehicle on British street

Buying a Car Online: Your Distance Selling Rights Explained

28 Mar 2025

A young man crouched with a torch on the door panel of a red supermini in a supermarket car park

Fraud Prevention

Cat S & Cat N Write-Offs: Your Rights If It Wasn't Disclosed

25 Mar 2025

A disappointed customer examines their faulty vehicle at a UK car dealership

Consumer Rights

Section 75 vs Chargeback: Which Should You Use for a Faulty Car?

21 Mar 2025

Car owner receives disappointing news outside MOT testing station

Consumer Rights

Car Failed MOT After Purchase: What Are Your Rights?

18 Mar 2025

Mechanic documents vehicle condition during thorough pre-purchase inspection in workshop

Consumer Rights

How to Prove a Fault Was Present When You Bought the Car

14 Mar 2025

Mechanic explains brake component wear to customer during warranty dispute consultation

Consumer Rights

Dealer Says It's Wear and Tear: How to Fight Back

11 Mar 2025

A man sorting a lender’s letters on the roof of his silver hatchback outside a town hall, a windowed envelope in his hand

Consumer Rights

Rejecting a Car on PCP Finance: Your Complete Guide

7 Mar 2025

A car owner faces engine problems with their vehicle on a residential street

Consumer Rights

Rejecting a Car on HP Finance: Your Complete Guide

4 Mar 2025

Dashboard warning lights glowing in a VW Golf stuck in UK traffic

VW DSG Gearbox Faults: Your Consumer Rights

5 Feb 2025

A BMW 3 Series broken down on a UK motorway hard shoulder at sunset

BMW N47 Timing Chain Failure: Symptoms & How to Get a Refund

5 Feb 2025

A Ford Fiesta with bonnet open and smoke billowing on a UK residential street

Ford EcoBoost Wet Belt Failure: Your Consumer Rights

5 Feb 2025

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Put in your reg. In 2 minutes you’ll know where you stand and how long you have. Free, no card.

Your verdict is based on the Consumer Rights Act 2015.