Rejecting a fresh or used car: top tips
Buying a fresh car is one of the thickest financial commitments you can make, albeit it has been made far lighter in latest years thanks to the rise of the finance deal. However, while the vast majority of fresh car purchases are sleek and hassle-free, we’ve all heard horror stories about buyers that have bought a car that isn’t fit for purpose.
But what happens if you have serious problems with the car you’ve bought? We’re talking about faults such as engine, gearbox or electrical failures, paintwork problms, non day-to-day issues such as seat convenience or simply not liking a car’s colour. If there is a serious issue, than it’s up to the dealer that sold the car to put things right.
However, sometimes the parties in dispute won’t be able to reach a satisfactory conclusion, and as the proprietor of the car, the final option at your disposition is to reject it. Gratefully, there are UK consumer protection laws in place that are designed to protect your rights.
When you’re buying a fresh or a used car from a dealer, the Sale of Goods Act one thousand nine hundred seventy nine protects your statutory rights. But for a comprehensive overview of the process of rejecting a car, read on…
What the Sale of Goods Act says
The Sale of Goods Act contains three clauses that apply to every car purchase made from a fresh or used dealers: The car must be “as described”, “fit for purpose” and “of satisfactory quality”.
If you’ve bought a used car, then obviously the age of the vehicle and the mileage it has covered will affect any judgment on what qualifies as ‘satisfactory quality’. It’s worth noting that if you buy privately, then the Sale of Goods Act doesn’t apply. Instead, the only obligation is that the car is ‘as described’ in its advert.
This guide deals with problem cars bought from dealers, but you might be astonished to learn the Act applies for six years after a car has been purchased. However, if something does go wrong with a car that far down the line, you’ll be hard-pressed to prove it hasn’t been caused by normal wear and rip, rather than a vehicle fault.
If something goes wrong within the very first six months of delivery, then you have more of a gam to stand on. In fact, if your car fails to meet one of these three clauses during that period, then the dealer is required to have relevant faults repaired, or the car substituted. Either that, or the Act states you’ll be due a partial or utter refund.
What you should do before rejecting the car
Rejecting a car should be a last resort, once you’ve pursued all other avenues of getting the car motionless. The very first thing you should do if you have a problem is contact the selling dealership and take the car in for an inspection.
If the dealer offers to fix the problem, make sure that you’re aware of any potential costs and keep a record of any work and correspondence. All agreements and offers should be confirmed in writing, rather than just vocally.
You should be fair when providing the dealer a chance to fix a car, because sometimes it may take more than one attempt before you’ve got a valid and strong claim to reject a car.
Consider, too, asking for a replacement model. This can sometimes be lighter than handing the car back, as manufacturers and dealers are always keen to keep customers in one of their cars. Plus, it saves you hunting around for a fresh model that suits your needs.
If, however, the dealer is incapable to rectify the issues or they deny to help, then it’s time to use the Sale of Goods Act and apply for car rejection.
How to reject a car
There are certain steps that you have to take when rejecting a car. The very first is to stop using it. If the car’s not fit for purpose, you shouldn’t still be using it as a runaround, as this will severely weaken your case.
Next, write to the supplying dealer providing your reasons for rejection. This should be within the very first six months of ownership and outline the case so far.
If the dealer denies to accept your rejection of the car, contact the customer care department of the manufacturer for further support. It’s worth sending a copy of your original rejection letter to the manufacturer’s head office, too.
If you’re still getting nowhere, then consider contacting industry regulator Motor Codes on eight hundred 692 eight hundred twenty five or the Financial Ombudsman on eight hundred 023 4567.
You can also get in touch with the Watchdog team here at Auto Express via [email protected].
What to do if it’s after six months
The Sale of Goods Act concentrates on the very first six months of ownership, but all is not lost if you’re outside that period. Go after the same steps and contact the dealer, providing them the option to inspect the car and put any problems right if possible. After six months, tho’, the responsibility is on you to prove the car was faulty when sold.
To prove this, consider an independent report, albeit this can carry a cost – sometimes up to £500. Visit the Institute of Automotive Engineer Assessors (IAEA) – www.iaea-online.org – to find a local inspector.
Presenting a dealer with a written report containing findings that support your claim will put you in a much stronger position.
Rejecting a car bought with finance
If you’ve bought your car on finance, car rejection can be a little trickier, but not unlikely. That’s because you don’t legally own the car until you’ve paid the final instalment of your finance plan. This could be some three or four years away.
Rejecting a fresh or used car: top tips, Auto Express
Rejecting a fresh or used car: top tips
Buying a fresh car is one of the largest financial commitments you can make, albeit it has been made far lighter in latest years thanks to the rise of the finance deal. However, while the vast majority of fresh car purchases are slick and hassle-free, we’ve all heard horror stories about buyers that have bought a car that isn’t fit for purpose.
But what happens if you have serious problems with the car you’ve bought? We’re talking about faults such as engine, gearbox or electrical failures, paintwork problms, non day-to-day issues such as seat convenience or simply not liking a car’s colour. If there is a serious issue, than it’s up to the dealer that sold the car to put things right.
However, sometimes the parties in dispute won’t be able to reach a satisfactory conclusion, and as the proprietor of the car, the final option at your disposition is to reject it. Gratefully, there are UK consumer protection laws in place that are designed to protect your rights.
When you’re buying a fresh or a used car from a dealer, the Sale of Goods Act one thousand nine hundred seventy nine protects your statutory rights. But for a comprehensive overview of the process of rejecting a car, read on…
What the Sale of Goods Act says
The Sale of Goods Act contains three clauses that apply to every car purchase made from a fresh or used dealers: The car must be “as described”, “fit for purpose” and “of satisfactory quality”.
If you’ve bought a used car, then obviously the age of the vehicle and the mileage it has covered will affect any judgment on what qualifies as ‘satisfactory quality’. It’s worth noting that if you buy privately, then the Sale of Goods Act doesn’t apply. Instead, the only obligation is that the car is ‘as described’ in its advert.
This guide deals with problem cars bought from dealers, but you might be astonished to learn the Act applies for six years after a car has been purchased. However, if something does go wrong with a car that far down the line, you’ll be hard-pressed to prove it hasn’t been caused by normal wear and rip, rather than a vehicle fault.
If something goes wrong within the very first six months of delivery, then you have more of a gam to stand on. In fact, if your car fails to meet one of these three clauses during that period, then the dealer is required to have relevant faults repaired, or the car substituted. Either that, or the Act states you’ll be due a partial or total refund.
What you should do before rejecting the car
Rejecting a car should be a last resort, once you’ve pursued all other avenues of getting the car motionless. The very first thing you should do if you have a problem is contact the selling dealership and take the car in for an inspection.
If the dealer offers to fix the problem, make sure that you’re aware of any potential costs and keep a record of any work and correspondence. All agreements and offers should be confirmed in writing, rather than just vocally.
You should be fair when providing the dealer a chance to fix a car, because sometimes it may take more than one attempt before you’ve got a valid and strong claim to reject a car.
Consider, too, asking for a replacement model. This can sometimes be lighter than handing the car back, as manufacturers and dealers are always keen to keep customers in one of their cars. Plus, it saves you hunting around for a fresh model that suits your needs.
If, however, the dealer is incapable to rectify the issues or they deny to help, then it’s time to use the Sale of Goods Act and apply for car rejection.
How to reject a car
There are certain steps that you have to take when rejecting a car. The very first is to stop using it. If the car’s not fit for purpose, you shouldn’t still be using it as a runaround, as this will severely weaken your case.
Next, write to the supplying dealer providing your reasons for rejection. This should be within the very first six months of ownership and outline the case so far.
If the dealer turns down to accept your rejection of the car, contact the customer care department of the manufacturer for further support. It’s worth sending a copy of your original rejection letter to the manufacturer’s head office, too.
If you’re still getting nowhere, then consider contacting industry regulator Motor Codes on eight hundred 692 eight hundred twenty five or the Financial Ombudsman on eight hundred 023 4567.
You can also get in touch with the Watchdog team here at Auto Express via [email protected].
What to do if it’s after six months
The Sale of Goods Act concentrates on the very first six months of ownership, but all is not lost if you’re outside that period. Go after the same steps and contact the dealer, providing them the option to inspect the car and put any problems right if possible. After six months, tho’, the responsibility is on you to prove the car was faulty when sold.
To prove this, consider an independent report, albeit this can carry a cost – sometimes up to £500. Visit the Institute of Automotive Engineer Assessors (IAEA) – www.iaea-online.org – to find a local inspector.
Presenting a dealer with a written report containing findings that support your claim will put you in a much stronger position.
Rejecting a car bought with finance
If you’ve bought your car on finance, car rejection can be a little trickier, but not unlikely. That’s because you don’t legally own the car until you’ve paid the final instalment of your finance plan. This could be some three or four years away.