How to Reject a Car Within 30 Days: The Short-Term Right to Reject

What is the short-term right to reject?

The short-term right to reject is a statutory remedy under Section 20 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015. It gives consumers the right to reject goods that do not conform to contract within 30 days of purchase and receive a full refund. Importantly, you are not required to give the seller a chance to repair the car first – the right to a refund is immediate.

This is the strongest rejection right available under English and Welsh consumer law. Used correctly, it produces a clean exit from both the vehicle purchase and the finance agreement.

When does the 30-day period start?

The 30-day period begins on the date you take delivery of the vehicle – not the date the finance agreement was signed. If the car was ordered and there was a waiting period before collection, the clock starts only when you physically received the vehicle.

However, the 30 days can be extended in two specific situations. If you asked the seller to repair or replace the faulty car bought on finance within the 30-day window, the period is paused from the date of that request until the repair or replacement is complete or the seller refuses to carry it out.

What faults qualify?

The car must fail to conform to contract. Under the CRA, goods conform to contract when they are:

• Of satisfactory quality – free from minor defects, safe, durable, and fit for the purpose that goods of that type are ordinarily used for
• Fit for a particular purpose – if you told the seller you needed the car for a specific use and they confirmed it would be suitable
• As described – matching any description given in the advertisement, listing, or verbal representation

Even relatively minor faults can support a short-term rejection if they cause the vehicle to fall below the standard a reasonable person would consider satisfactory. You do not need to wait for a catastrophic failure.

Step-by-step: how to exercise the short-term right to reject

1. Identify the fault clearly. Make a note of what the problem is, when you first noticed it, and how it affects the vehicle’s use.
2. Gather evidence. Take photographs or video of the fault. If the car has broken down, obtain a report from a breakdown service or independent mechanic.
3. Contact the dealer in writing. State that you are exercising your short-term right to reject under Section 20 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, identify the fault, and state that you require a full refund.
4. Notify the finance company. If the car is on finance, send the same notification to the finance provider. Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, they are jointly liable and should be included in all formal correspondence.
5. Do not continue using the vehicle unnecessarily. Ongoing use of a rejected vehicle can complicate your position, although it does not automatically forfeit the right to reject.
6. Keep records of all correspondence. Date every letter and email. If communicating by phone, follow up in writing to create a paper trail.

What if the dealer refuses to accept the rejection?

A dealer refusing to accept your rejection does not extinguish your legal right. Your options at this stage include:

• Escalating to the finance company under Section 75 and request that they honour the rejection
• Issuing a court claim
• Instructing a specialist automotive solicitor or lawyer to write a formal letter before action

What refund are you entitled to?

Under the short-term right to reject, you are entitled to a full refund of the purchase price with no deduction for use – even if you have driven the car for several weeks during the 30-day window. This is one of the key advantages of acting within the initial period.

For financed vehicles, the refund is typically structured so that the finance company receives the outstanding finance balance and you recover your deposit and any instalments paid.

What if the fault appears on day 28?

Act immediately. The 30-day clock waits for no one, and any delay risks losing the cleanest route to a full refund. Even if you discover the fault near the end of the period, your written rejection notification needs to be sent before day 30 expires.

If you have already asked the seller to repair the fault within the 30-day window, the clock is paused – which means you may still be within the short-term right to reject even if the calendar date has passed day 30.

Does this right apply to used cars?

Yes. The short-term right to reject applies to both new and used vehicles sold by a trader to a consumer. The standard of satisfactory quality is adjusted to reflect the age, mileage, and price of the vehicle – you cannot reject a ten-year-old car with 100,000 miles for a level of wear consistent with its history – but genuine faults that a buyer would not reasonably expect still qualify.

How Stormcatcher Law can help

If you are within 30 days of purchase and something is wrong with your car, you have time on your side – but not much of it. Our legal experts can help you draft a compliant rejection letter, engage with the finance company, and manage the claim from start to finish. Contact us today for a free initial assessment.