Key takeaways
- A brand-new car gets the same Consumer Rights Act protection as any other — reject within 30 days for a full refund.
- You should expect a higher standard from a new car, so even “minor” defects can breach satisfactory quality.
- The manufacturer’s warranty sits on top of your statutory rights — it never replaces them.
- You reject to the supplying dealer (and the finance company if on PCP/HP), not the manufacturer.
Can you reject a new car?
Yes — and your position is strong. A brand-new car is covered by exactly the same Consumer Rights Act 2015 protection as any other car bought from a dealer. If it is faulty within the first 30 days you can reject it outright for a full refund, no repair required. The rejection process itself is the same one we set out in our guide to rejecting a faulty car.
How rejecting a new car differs
The rights are the same, but three things change the picture when the car is new.
Higher quality expectations
A reasonable person expects a new car to be flawless. Faults that might be acceptable wear on an old car — rattles, paint defects, electronic glitches — can breach satisfactory quality on a new one.
Warranty vs statutory rights
A manufacturer warranty is an extra promise on top of the law. If a warranty repair fails or is refused, your Consumer Rights Act claim against the dealer still stands.
The franchised network
Your contract is with the supplying dealer, not the manufacturer. You reject to that dealer — even though servicing may happen across a franchised network.
That warranty point matters most. Dealers often steer new-car buyers toward a warranty repair — but a warranty never replaces your statutory rights, and in the first 30 days you can reject instead of accepting a repair at all.
Common new-car faults
New cars are increasingly complex, and the faults that lead to rejections tend to be electronic and build-quality issues rather than mechanical wear: infotainment and software glitches, driver-assist and sensor faults, paint and panel defects, water leaks, and delivery damage that wasn’t disclosed. Whatever the fault, the test is the same — is the car of satisfactory quality for a brand-new vehicle?
The process
Reject in writing to the supplying dealer (and the finance company if you bought on PCP or HP), citing the Consumer Rights Act 2015, and act within the 30-day window for the strongest position. Our step-by-step rejection guide and letter template cover the detail.
Frequently asked questions
Can I reject a brand-new car?
Yes. A new car has the same protection under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 as any other car bought from a dealer. If it is faulty within the first 30 days you can reject it for a full refund.
Is the standard higher for a new car?
In effect, yes. Satisfactory quality is judged by what a reasonable person would expect, and the expectation for a brand-new car is very high — so defects that might be tolerated on a used car can be grounds to reject a new one.
Do I claim against the dealer or the manufacturer?
Your Consumer Rights Act claim is against the dealer who sold you the car (and the finance company if you bought on PCP or HP). The manufacturer’s warranty is separate and additional.
The dealer says to use the warranty instead of rejecting. Is that right?
No. A warranty does not remove your statutory rights. You can choose to rely on the Consumer Rights Act, and within the first 30 days you can reject outright rather than accept a repair.
General information about your rights, not legal advice for your specific situation.