You've just bought a car. You're excited. You drive it off the forecourt. And then it breaks down before you even get home.
This is every car buyer's nightmare – but legally, it's actually one of the clearest rejection cases there is. A car that can't make it home on day one was obviously faulty when sold, and the law is firmly on your side.
First Things First: You're Not Stuck
A car that breaks down on the way home isn't "bad luck" – it's a clear breach of the Consumer Rights Act 2015. You can reject it for a full refund, demand a repair if you'd prefer to keep the car, and claim all your immediate costs. Don't let the dealer suggest otherwise.
What to Do Immediately
Get safe first. Pull over somewhere safe, turn on your hazard lights, and if you're on a dangerous road (especially a motorway hard shoulder), get out of the vehicle and behind the barrier. Your safety matters more than any legal claim – the paperwork can wait.
Document everything while you wait. Take photos of any warning lights on the dashboard, note the mileage, record exactly what happened (strange noises, smoke, sudden loss of power, etc.), and note the exact location and time. If the problem is visible – like steam from the engine or fluid leaking underneath – take a video. This evidence will support your rejection.
Arrange recovery. Use your own breakdown cover if you have it, pay for a recovery service, or call the dealer and ask them to arrange it. Whatever route you use, keep all receipts – recovery costs should be refunded by the dealer as a consequential loss.
Contact the dealer immediately. Call them, tell them what's happened, and clearly state you're rejecting the car. If they're closed, leave a voicemail and follow up in writing first thing next morning.
Put it in writing the same day. Send an email along these lines:
"Further to my call, I am writing to formally reject the [Make Model Reg] I purchased today. The car broke down [describe location/circumstances] just [X] miles from your premises. The car was clearly not of satisfactory quality when sold. I require a full refund of the purchase price plus my recovery costs of £[amount]."
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Your Legal Position
The law is unambiguous here. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods sold by a business must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described. A car that can't get you home fails all three tests – it's not satisfactory, it's not fit for the basic purpose of driving, and unless the dealer warned you it might break down, it doesn't match the reasonable expectation of a working vehicle.
Within 30 days of purchase, you can reject outright for a full refund. You do not have to accept a repair. The dealer cannot insist on "having a look at it" or "giving it another chance." Your right to reject is absolute within this window.
The question of whether the fault existed at the time of sale – which is often the most contested point in rejection claims – is never in doubt with a day-one breakdown. The car was sitting on their forecourt an hour ago. The fault was there when they sold it.
What the Dealer Owes You
You're entitled to the complete purchase price back, including any dealer handling fees, documentation fees, and add-ons you paid for. On top of that, the dealer should reimburse your reasonable costs: recovery and towing charges, breakdown service call-out fees, the cost of a taxi home, and any other immediate expenses the breakdown caused.
If you bought the car on finance, the finance agreement should be cancelled entirely, your deposit returned, and the car goes back to the dealer. For PCP or HP agreements, contact the finance company alongside the dealer – they're jointly liable.
Common Dealer Responses
"Let us fix it"
Your response:
"Within 30 days, I'm entitled to reject without accepting a repair. After what's happened, I have no confidence in this car. I'm rejecting."
"It might be something minor"
Your response:
"Minor or major, the car broke down before I got home. That's a fundamental breach. I'm rejecting."
"Bring it back and we'll have a look"
Your response:
"I'll arrange recovery to your premises, but I'm rejecting the car, not bringing it for repair. Please confirm when I can collect my refund."
"This has never happened before"
Your response:
"That's unfortunate, but it doesn't change my legal rights. The car isn't of satisfactory quality. I'm rejecting."
"We need to diagnose the problem first"
Your response:
"You're welcome to diagnose it after I've rejected. My right to reject isn't dependent on diagnosis. The car broke down – that's the fault."
"It might be fuel/battery/something you did"
Your response:
"The car came from your lot with fuel and a working battery (presumably). If it didn't, that's another fault. Either way, I'm rejecting."
If the Dealer Is Difficult
Keep everything in writing – emails they have to respond to, copies of every communication, and notes of phone conversations. Send a clear deadline: "Please confirm acceptance of my rejection and arrange my refund by [date – 14 days is reasonable]. If I haven't heard from you, I will escalate this matter."
If they still don't cooperate, escalate. If you bought on finance, contact the finance company – they're jointly liable under Section 75, can pressure the dealer far more effectively, and can refund you directly if needed. Report the dealer to Trading Standards, especially if they're refusing to acknowledge your rights or trying to charge you fees for the return.
As a last resort, small claims court is very accessible. A day-one breakdown is about as strong a case as you can bring – filing fees are recoverable, and you don't need a solicitor. A formal letter before action often prompts a resolution before you even get to court.
What Should the Timeline Look Like?
On day one, the car breaks down, you arrange recovery, contact the dealer, and send your written rejection. Within the next couple of days, the dealer should acknowledge your rejection, arrange collection of the car (or you recover it to them), and confirm the refund process. Within two weeks, your refund should be processed, any finance agreement cancelled, and your incidental costs reimbursed.
If it's not resolved within 14 days, escalate to your finance company, send a formal letter before action, and prepare to file in small claims court.
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Specific Breakdown Scenarios
Motorway breakdown is especially dangerous and stressful. If you had to use the hard shoulder or wait for emergency recovery, document this thoroughly. The safety element adds significant weight to your rejection claim and any demand for consequential costs.
Electrical failure or refusal to start – if the car won't start before you've even left the dealer's premises, the same rights apply. Reject immediately. You haven't had any "use" of the car at all, which makes any argument about deductions completely untenable.
Overheating requires immediate action – stop the engine to prevent further damage. The cooling system fault clearly existed at sale, and any engine damage caused by the overheating is the dealer's liability, not yours.
Warning lights appearing on the drive home are enough to reject on. You don't need to wait for a full breakdown – the car's own diagnostic systems have detected a problem, and that's evidence of a fault. Act immediately rather than hoping it'll resolve itself.
The Bottom Line
A car that breaks down on the way home from the dealer is indefensible. There's no grey area, no excuse, and no reasonable argument the dealer can make.
Don't be talked into "giving them another chance" or "letting them fix it." Within 30 days, you have an absolute right to reject and you don't have to accept a repair. You bought a car to drive, not to nurse. Any reasonable dealer will accept a day-one rejection immediately – if they don't, they're the ones being unreasonable, and there are clear routes to deal with that.
Car broke down on day one? Start your rejection claim – this is as clear-cut as it gets.
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