When buying from a dealer, the law says a car must be:

• Of satisfactory quality. It must meet the standard a reasonable person would regard as acceptable, bearing in mind the way it was described, how much it cost, the age and the mileage on the vehicle. Amongst other things, this covers the appearance and finish of the car, its safety and its durability. The car must be free from defects, except when they were pointed out to you by the seller.
• As described. If the advert states ‘air conditioning and CD player’ then the car should come with these features and they should be working.
• Reasonably fit for any normal purpose. It should get you from A to B.
• Reasonably fit for any other purpose you specify to the seller. For example, towing a caravan.

These rights are not affected by any mechanical breakdown insurance (which is often sold by dealers if the manufacturer's warranty has run out), guarantee or warranty giving additional protection. Once a trader gives a warranty it becomes an agreement on its own, but it is not your legal right to demand a warranty from the trader. (Information taken from the Office of Fair Trading.)

HOT TIP!

Here at AvailableCar we like to think of ourselves as different from most dealerships, in that we provide you with the information you need to know. The OFT and FSA have both launched excellent new websites recently and we recommend you visit them for any financial or legal queries you may have. Visit www.fsa.gov.uk or www.oft.gov.uk

Additional Information

For further information on buying a car visit www.oft.gov.uk and read the car consumer advice section. Also visit sites like www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk, www.financingyourcar.org.uk, and www.consumerdirect.gov.uk.