Buying a car - Your consumer rights when things go wrong
What to know before buying a car
When buying a car in Ireland, you can purchase from a trader (dealer) or a private seller. Dealers sell cars as part of their business, while private sellers typically sell one car in a personal capacity. Your consumer rights depend on who you buy from.
Before you buy a car, you should do a thorough check of the car's history and finance history to help you avoid issues later. You should carefully check the car's condition and mileage, with a mechanic if possible.
You should also ask the seller if the car has ever been crashed, or if any major repairs have been done and make sure there is no outstanding finance on the car that might be passed on with the sale. Below you can find a list of questions to ask the seller before you purchase a car.
What are the differences between buying a car from a dealer or buying privately?
Buying from a dealer
If you buy a car from a dealer, you are protected under the Consumer Rights Act, 2022. For more details, see your rights when you buy goods and buying second-hand goods.
Buying from another person
If you buy a car from an individual, you do not have the same consumer rights. You may find a car you wish to purchase on sale on a second hand website or marketplace. The seller is a private person, so your consumer rights are not protected in the same way as they would be if you were buying from a business. Always have an expert, such as a mechanic, examine the car before purchase. Also beware of disguised traders acting as private sellers – you can find out more information here.
How can you transfer the ownership of a car when buying from another consumer?
The seller in a private sale is legally responsible for notifying the change of ownership to the Department of Transport. Traditionally this is done by signing and posting the logbook. The buyer, as well as the seller, is responsible for completing and signing the change of ownership section on the back of the vehicle registration certificate, or logbook, and making sure the details, like the date of sale, are correct.
It is now possible to use the Online Change of Vehicle Ownership service to transfer vehicle ownership from one private (non-trade) to another private owner online in real time. This process also allows you to check essential vehicle details before the sale is finalised.
The online transfer of ownership takes minutes and reduces the risk of recording or submitting incorrect information. It also reduces the risk of the sale not being registered if the logbook is not posted to the Department of Transport. You can get more information from www.vehicleservices.gov.ie.
What checks should you do before buying a car?
Before you buy, there are important checks you should carry out to make sure you know what you are buying.
You can use the second hand car buyer’s checklist to help you compare cars - Second hand cars checklist for buyers. This is a document you can print off or save to your phone to take with you to help you make notes when shopping for cars.
What questions should you ask the seller when buying a car?
If you are buying a used car, it is important to do some checks to make sure you are happy to purchase it. It is important to ask the seller the following questions to avoid problems later - you can also find a printable version of this list to take with you - Second hand cars checklist for buyers.
Video: Advice for buying used cars
How do you check a used car’s history?
There are several companies that can check the history of a car for you for a fee. These checks can reveal if the car was ever written off, shows the car's true mileage and highlights any outstanding finance.
The company should give you previous odometer readings and details of any insurance claims or crashes and whether the car has been used as a taxi. You can also find out if someone else has recently bought the car, realised it has a fault and sold it again quickly . If you are buying an imported car, you should also look for an international car history check if possible.
You can check if a car has changed hands within the last three months on motortax.ie.
What paperwork should you check before buying a used car?
Vehicle Registration Certificate
Ask the seller to show you the Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC) if the car is registered in Ireland. The VRC was previously known as the logbook. The name on the VRC should match the name of the person selling the car and you should ask for proof of identity if buying privately.
The VRC has a 10-digit number on the top right-hand corner of the first page. It should look like C061234567. Take note of this number and use it when getting your car history check. If the number does not match the car, the document could be forged and the car may be stolen.
Check that the engine size, fuel type, date of registration and car colour on the VRC match what the seller has told you about the car.
NCT certificate
Another important document to check is the NCT certificate. This now shows a car’s mileage history for the most recent and three prior NCTs. The most recent mileage reading is also recorded on the NCT disc, which should be displayed on the windscreen. Decreasing or inconsistent milage readings could be a sign the car has been clocked
Do you need to check if there is outstanding finance on a car before you buy it?
It is essential to check that the car is not under an existing finance agreement. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, you could be liable for the outstanding amount and the car could be repossessed, even if you have already paid the seller.
In addition, if the person selling you the car does not actually own it, they may not have the right to sell it to you. There are companies that keep records of cars subject to hire purchase and PCP (personal contract plan) agreements; check if they have details of the car you are looking at. You will be charged a small fee for this service.
How do you check the car’s condition?
You should always try to examine a car and take it for a test drive before you buy it. During the test drive, turn off the radio and air-conditioning so you can hear any sounds that might indicate a problem.
For complete peace of mind, get the car independently checked by a mechanic or automotive engineer.
Cars with recurring faults and your consumer rights
If you have purchased a car that has a recurring fault, you are covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2022.
You can see more information on your rights if you buy a faulty item here - Faulty goods, Buying goods and Buying secondhand goods.
Video: Recurring faults and your consumer rights
How can you spot disguised traders when buying a used car?
A car dealer trying to sell as a private individual may be doing so to deny you your consumer rights. If a dealer does not disclose that they are selling the car as part of their business, they may be guilty of a disguised business sale, which is against the law.
If you are buying privately, try to check if a seemingly private seller is in fact a dealer by ringing and asking about “the car”. If the seller asks you to be more specific, it is possible they are a trader selling more than one car.
If you suspect that someone may be a disguised trader, you should .
Video: Disguised dealers
What costs should you consider before buying a car?
Whether you’re buying your first car or trading up, consider the total cost of owning and running a car before you buy. Buying a car is only the first step and might not even be the most expensive part. Common costs include:
- Petrol, diesel or electrical charging
- Car tax
- Car insurance
- Tolls
- Parking charges
- Servicing and maintenance
When calculating your running costs, consider how the type of car you get will impact these costs. Cars with larger engines, such as SUVs, tend to have higher tax and insurance and will also use more fuel.
What are your options for financing a car?
Deciding how to pay for your car is a big decision. Before you start looking at cars, work out how much you can afford to spend.
You can find out more information about paying for your car here - Paying for your car.
The main options when paying for your car are:
Cash or savings
Saving the money is the cheapest option as you will not pay any interest. Rates of interest you can earn on savings can vary. Use our Money Tool to compare savings accounts before you start - Compare savings tool.
Personal loan
Using a personal loan to pay for your car means you own the car from the day you buy it, unlike PCP and HP where you do not own the car until the final payment is made. You can find the best interest rates available for personal loans on our Money Tool - Compare loans tool.
Hire purchase (HP)
Many car finance loans offered by dealers and some lenders are actually hire purchase (HP) agreements. Find out more about how HP agreements work. Learn more: Hire Purchase.
Personal contract plan (PCP)
PCPs are quite complex compared to other types of finance, so it’s important to fully understand what you are signing up to. Learn more: Personal contract plan (PCP).
What costs do you need to be aware of when trading in your car?
If you are trading in your existing car, you need to consider the “cost of changing”, i.e. subtracting the value of your trade-in from the price of a new car. To give you an idea of your trade-in value:
- Look at similar models online.
- Take your car to three or four used car dealers and see what they will give you for the car.
After you’ve done your research, you will know the lowest and highest sale values for your car. When the dealer asks what you want for your car, have a strategy to get the best price you can.
What should you know about buying an electric car?
Fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars are becoming more popular. If you’re considering buying one, there are a few things to think about first.
Charging at home
The cheapest and easiest way to charge a car is generally to do so at home. If you don’t have an existing charger, get a few quotes to compare your options and factor this into the cost of buying. You should also think about the best time to plug in your car charger, as electricity is often cheaper at night.
Charging on the go
If you don’t have a driveway at home or will regularly be going on long drives, you will also have to factor in charging on the go. There are many different charging providers, and each have their own charges. Charging also tends to be more expensive the faster you want to charge your car. If you intend to use this option, plan your routes and know which chargers are the best value in advance.
Range
While plug-in hybrids can run on their petrol/diesel engine when the battery runs out, fully electric cars all have a limited range before they need recharging. Consider what range you need to complete your normal driving and search for a car with this range. Extended range models are available but can be much more expensive, so it’s worth calculating in advance how much range you need. For more information, visit the SEAI electric car hub - Benefits Of Electric Cars: Why Drive An EV? | Electric Vehicles | SEAI.
What do you need to know about importing a car into Ireland?
If you import a car into Ireland, you will need to pay certain taxes. The main taxes are VAT and VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax). You must pay VRT at an NCT centre within 30 days of receiving the car. Revenue has more information about registering an imported car and the documents you need. It also has a VRT calculator to give you an idea how much you will be paying - Calculating Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT).
If you buy a car abroad with the intention of importing it into Ireland, you will not be covered by Irish consumer legislation if things go wrong. The law in the country in which you bought the car will apply.
When importing a car, check that it has all the features that you would like. A number of safety features are mandatory for all new cars sold in the EU. However, cars sold in other countries may have different optional safety features to what you would expect.
What should you consider when buying at auction?
If you are considering buying at auction, you should visit an auction first to see how they work before making any bid.
If you buy a car at an auction, you will have to pay a fee and will generally not get a warranty unless the manufacturer’s warranty is still valid.
Be aware too that you may not be able to test drive or examine the car thoroughly before bidding. Consumer rights are limited compared to buying from a dealer, so it is important to be extra cautious.
Next steps to resolve your consumer rights issue
- Contact the business informally first, explain the problem and try to work it out.
- Keep a record of all contact and communications in case you need to escalate your complaint later.
- If the problem is not resolved, make a formal written complaint to the business. You can use the CCPC complaint letter templates which outline your consumer rights to help you.
- If you paid by card, you may have the option to request a chargeback from your bank or financial services provider.
- If your claim is for €2,000 or less, you can use the small claims procedure.
- If the problem is not easily resolved, we encourage you to also report the business to the CCPC. Your report will inform our advocacy and enforcement activities.
- For more guidance, please visit our how to resolve an issue section.
