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Claim to a dealer for a faulty used car (England and Wales)
England and Wales · in English · for consumers
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For a consumer in England or Wales who bought a used car from a dealer and found a fault. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 the car must be of satisfactory quality for its age, mileage and price, and as described. The letter describes the fault and asks for the remedy you choose: rejection and a full refund within 30 days of delivery, a repair or replacement, or, after a failed repair, a refund or a price reduction. It is a letter before claim: 14 days to reply, then the County Court. Not for a private sale.
- Made for use in England and Wales
- Last updated October 28, 2026
- Document in English
Where a UK document reproduces the words of legislation or of a government publication — UK, Scottish or Northern Irish — it contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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When to use this document
- The used car you bought from a dealer in England or Wales broke down within weeks and you want your money back.
- The garage keeps saying the fault is normal wear and refuses to fix the car.
- The dealer's repair did not work and the same fault is back.
- You want to send a dealer a formal complaint about a faulty second-hand car.
What you fill in
The details the document asks for.
- Your full name
- Your address (flat, house number and street)
- Town or city
- Your postcode
- Date
- Dealer's business name (or the finance company's)
- Dealer's address, with postcode
- Vehicle registration number (number plate)
- Date of purchase
- Price
- Date the goods were received
- Make and model
- Odometer reading
- Invoice or order number
- Date the fault appeared
- The fault, and how it shows itself (warning lights, noises, mechanic's findings)
- Repairs or replacements already tried, with dates
- The remedy you ask for
- Amount you claim (£, figure only)
- Attachments
Common questions
- Can I reject a faulty used car from a dealer in England or Wales after the first 30 days?
- After 30 days the dealer first gets one chance to repair or replace the car. If that fails, or takes too long, you can reject it for a refund or keep it with a price reduction (section 24 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015). For a car, the dealer may deduct an amount for the use you have had, even within the first six months, which it may not do for most other goods.
- Who has to prove the fault was there when I bought the car from the dealer?
- For a repair or replacement, a price reduction or the final right to reject, a fault that shows up within six months of delivery is taken to have been there at delivery unless the dealer proves otherwise, or that presumption does not fit the car or the fault (section 19(14) and (15) of the Consumer Rights Act 2015). After six months you need to show it, often with an independent inspection report. Normal wear for the car's age and mileage is not a fault.
- I bought the car on finance. Who do I claim from?
- With hire purchase or conditional sale, the finance company supplied the car, so the claim under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 is against it: send this letter to the finance company and a copy to the dealer. If you paid part of the price by credit card, you may also have a claim against the card issuer. If the dealer is accredited by The Motor Ombudsman, its free dispute service is another route.
How you can sign this document
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