Car problems and your rights - FAQs 

If the damage you discovered means the vehicle was not as described or the dealer withheld important information, the dealer should provide a remedy. This will normally be a repair or replacement.

If you discover the damage within 30 days of delivery of the car, you can look to cancel the contract (purchase) right away without having to accept a repair or replacement.

If repair or replacement is not possible or would not solve the problem or if the issue is sufficiently serious, you can look for a reduction in the price or seek to cancel the contract (purchase) for a full refund.

Next steps to help resolve your issue

• Collect and keep:
  • The original advert or listing
  • The sales invoice and purchase paperwork
  • Photos of the damage
  • An independent mechanic's or assessor's report confirming the damage and, if possible, indicating that it pre-dated the sale
  • Any emails, texts or messages between you and the dealer
• Speak to the car dealer first and try to come to a satisfactory resolution.
• If you cannot resolve the problem to your satisfaction, make a formal complaint, outlining the issue and how you would like them to resolve it.
• It is always best to put your complaint in writing to have a history of your issue and your contact with the car dealer in case you need to take things further. You can mention that you have contacted the CCPC about your rights.
• If you are concerned that the car dealer hid important information, report the issue to the CCPC through our contact us page. The CCPC has powers to investigate and take court cases for car crime in the State.
• You can also make a complaint to the Society of Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), if the car dealer is a member and your car is second-hand. You can check if they are a member and find out about SIMI’s complaints process on the SIMI website.
• If the matter remains unresolved and the cost of repair €2,000 or less, you can make a claim against the dealer using the small claims procedure.
• If the car dealer does not resolve the issue and the cost of repair is greater than €2,000, get independent legal advice before taking any further action.
• If the CCPC takes a court case against the car dealer after investigating your complaint, we will ask you to act as a witness in the case. The CCPC does not bring cases to court on behalf of individual consumers.
  

When you buy a second-hand car, the car dealer must ensure that it is fit for purpose and durable and give you accurate and complete information about it. The car must also match what you ordered and the information in any advert for it.

If this is not the case, the car dealer must repair or replace the car. If neither option is possible, you can ask for a price reduction if the issue is minor or seek to cancel your contract and ask for a full refund if the issue is serious.

There is more information on consumer rights in our cars section.

Next steps to help resolve your issue

• Speak to the car dealer first and try to come to a satisfactory resolution.
• If you cannot resolve the problem, make a formal complaint, outlining the issue and how you would like them to resolve it.
• It is always best to put a formal complaint in writing to have a history of your issue and your communications with the garage, in case you need to take things further. You can mention that you have contacted the CCPC about your rights.
• You can also make a complaint to the Society of Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) if the car dealer is a member and your car is second-hand. You can check if they are a member and find out about SIMI’s complaints process on the SIMI website.
• If the matter remains unresolved and the cost of repair is less than €2,000, you can make a claim against the garage using the small claims procedure.

You do not have the same consumer rights if you buy a car from another consumer. Because of this you should be very careful when buying from a private seller. It is crucial to be aware of what you’re buying or get an expert, such as a mechanic, to check out the car before you buy.

If something goes wrong after you buy from a private seller, you may need to get independent legal advice on your options.

When you buy a new or second-hand car under car finance, be it a personal contract plan (PCP) or hire purchase, your contract is with the car finance company and not the car dealer.

This means the finance company is responsible for any issues or faults with the car, even though the car dealer supplied the car to you.

The finance company must ensure that the car is fit for purpose and durable. This means the car should work for a reasonable time with normal use. The car must match what you ordered and the information in any advert for it.

If this is not the case, the finance company is responsible for providing repairs or replacing the car. If these are not possible or attempts at repair have not fixed the issue or if there is a serious issue with the car, you can seek to cancel your contract and look for a refund.

If the issues arise within 30 days of delivery of the car, and if you don’t want to seek a repair or replacement, you have the right to cancel the contract, return the car and get a refund for any payments made.

Next steps to help resolve your issue: 

• Contact the car dealership and the finance company
• Discuss the issue(s) with the car dealership and make a formal complaint to them in writing.
• Also make a formal complaint to the finance company as the legal owner of the car until you pay off what you owe. Let them know you have also contacted the car dealership.
• If the finance company does not resolve your issue or respond within an acceptable period, contact the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO).

If the options above do not resolve your issue and you wish to pursue the matter further, get independent legal advice.

Your options depend on who sold you the car.

• If you bought from a car dealer, you have some protection under consumer law. It is an offence for a car dealer to give false, misleading or deceptive information about the history of the car they are selling or hide important information such as whether a car has been clocked or previously crashed.
• If you bought the car privately, you do not have the same consumer rights.

Next steps to help resolve your issue: 

• Report the issue to the CCPC through our contact us page. The CCPC has powers to investigate and take court cases for car crime in the State.
• Contact the car dealership to discuss how you would like to remedy the issue and let them know you have reported it to the CCPC.
• If the car dealership does not remedy the issue, you can take your own legal action to pursue them. Make sure you let the CCPC know about your legal action.
• Ensure you provide as much evidence as possible, for example invoices, correspondence, details of any adverts or descriptions given when you bought the car.
• If the CCPC takes a court case against the car dealer after investigating your complaint, we will ask you to act as a witness in the case. The CCPC does not bring cases to court on behalf of individual consumers.

You can find more information in our clocked and crashed cars section.

Whether you buy a new or second-hand car, your rights are the same. When you buy a car, the garage must ensure that it is fit for purpose and is durable. The car must match what you ordered and accurately reflect the information in any advertising for the car. The car must also work without issues for a reasonable amount of time. For a used car, the quality should reflect its age and price.

If this is not the case for your car, the garage must repair or replace it. If this is not possible, if attempts at repair have not fixed the issue or if there is a serious fault with the car, you can seek to cancel your contract (the purchase) and look for a refund.

If the fault arises within 30 days of delivery of the car, you can look to cancel your contract (purchase) right away for a full refund without having to accept a repair or replacement.

Car faults due to misuse, accidental damage and normal wear and tear, such as worn tyres or brakes, are not covered by your consumer rights. If these occur, you are responsible for paying for repairs.

Next steps to help resolve your issue: 

• Contact the garage to discuss the fault(s).
• If they do not agree to immediately resolve the issue(s) to your satisfaction, write to them to make a formal complaint, outlining the issue and how you would like them to resolve it. 
• You can also make a complaint to the Society of Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) if the car dealer is a member and your car is second-hand. You can check if they are a member and find out about SIMI’s complaints process on the SIMI website.
• If the matter remains unresolved and the cost of repair €2,000 or less, you have the option to make a claim against the garage using the Small Claims Procedure.
• If the car dealer does not remedy the issue and the cost of repair is greater than €2,000, get independent legal advice before taking any further action.

When you leave your car in for a service by a local mechanic or garage, you enter what’s called an on-premises contract. Before you’re bound by this contract, i.e., are required to pay, the garage or mechanic must provide certain important information clearly, such as what is covered in a standard car service and the total price. If they can’t give the total price until they inspect your car, they must tell you how they’ll calculate it.

To prevent surprises in the future, ask the garage or mechanic for a clear estimate and breakdown of the car service and make it clear that you want to be contacted before they do any additional work.

There is no automatic legal right to a rental car or courtesy car while your vehicle is being repaired. However, repairs must be completed within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience to you.

Although you are not entitled to a replacement car, you may be able to negotiate one with the dealer if your car is off the road for an extended period.

• Ask the dealer if a courtesy or free replacement car is available.
• If no courtesy car is available, ask if the dealer will contribute towards car rental costs.
• Put your request in writing, especially when the delayed repairs are causing significant inconvenience.

Whether your car is being repaired by the car dealer who sold it to you or by a local mechanic or garage, the repair must be completed within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience to you.

Irish consumer law does not set a fixed number of days because what is "reasonable" depends on factors such as the nature of the fault, how complex the repair is and whether parts are available. The repair should be completed in the shortest time reasonably possible.

When is a repair taking too long?

A delay may become unreasonable if:

• The car has been off the road for weeks with no clear completion date
• The dealer or local mechanic keeps postponing the repair
• Delays in getting parts are not properly explained
• Multiple repair attempts have failed
• The delay is causing significant inconvenience to you

What are your rights if the delay continues?

If the car dealer or local mechanic or garage cannot repair a car within a reasonable time, you do not have to keep accepting repair attempts. 

If the car dealer is responsible for the repair because there is a fault with a car, you may, depending on the circumstances, be entitled to:

• A replacement vehicle
• A price reduction
• A cancellation of the contract and a full refund, especially if the:
• Same fault keeps returning after several repair attempts
• Fault is serious and substantially affects the vehicle's use, safety or reliability

If the local mechanic or garage is responsible for repair because you left your car in for a service, you may, depending on the circumstances, be entitled to:

• A price reduction or refund for the work that failed to resolve the issue
• A cancellation of the contract and a full refund

Next steps to help resolve your issue

• Contact the car dealer or mechanic directly and try to resolve the issue. Ask for the reason for the delay in writing and when you can expect the car to be returned.
• Ask if a courtesy or replacement car is available.
• If you cannot resolve the problem, make a formal complaint, outlining the issue and how you would like them to resolve it.
• It is always best to put your complaint in writing to have a history of your issue and your contact with the dealer in case you need to take things further. You can mention that you have contacted the CCPC about your rights.
• You can also make a complaint to the Society of Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) if the car dealer is a member and your car is second-hand. You can check if they are a member and find out about SIMI’s complaints process on the SIMI website.
• If the matter remains unresolved and the cost of repair is €2,000 or less, you can make a claim through the small claims procedure.

If your car has a major or serious fault, you do not have to accept a partial repair or a small goodwill payment if that would not properly resolve the problem. For serious faults, consumer law can entitle you to a more substantial remedy, including a repair, replacement, refund or price reduction, depending on the circumstances.

What is a serious fault?

A serious fault is one that significantly affects your ability to use the vehicle or makes you question if the fault can be repaired. Examples include faults that

• Create a safety risk
• Mean the car cannot be used as intended
• Are so serious that you cannot reasonably rely on a repair to solve the problem
• Have not been resolved permanently through previous repair attempts

Do you have to accept a partial repair?

Not necessarily – if the proposed repair will not fully resolve the fault, or if the dealer is only offering to fix part of the problem while leaving a significant defect unresolved, you can reject that solution and seek a more appropriate remedy. Where a repair is unsuccessful or a serious fault exists, you can look for a refund.

Do you have to accept a price reduction?

Not necessarily – if a fault is serious, a car dealer cannot simply offer a price reduction instead of an appropriate legal remedy.

Next steps to help resolve your issue

• Speak to the car dealer first and try to come to a satisfactory resolution.
• Inform them you think the fault is serious and state how you would like them to resolve the issue.
• If you cannot resolve the problem, make a formal complaint, outlining the issue and how you would like them to resolve it.
• It is always best to put your complaint in writing to have a history of your issue and your contact with the dealer in case you need to take things further. You can mention that you have contacted the CCPC about your rights.
• You can also make a complaint to the Society of Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) if the car dealer is a member and your car is second-hand. You can check if they are a member and find out about SIMI’s complaints process on the SIMI website.
• If the matter remains unresolved and the cost of repair is €2,000 or less, you can make a claim through the small claims procedure.
• If you cannot resolve the issue with the dealer and the cost of repair is greater than €2,000, seek independent legal advice before taking further action.

If you bought a car from a dealer, they are responsible for resolving faults covered by your consumer rights. The dealer should not simply tell you to deal directly with the manufacturer.

While a manufacturer may be involved when a manufacturer's warranty applies, the dealer remains responsible for providing an appropriate remedy if the car is faulty.

Next steps to help resolve your issue

• Speak to the car dealer first and try to come to a satisfactory resolution. Tell them that you are aware of your rights and they are responsible for the repair.
• If you cannot resolve the problem, make a formal complaint, outlining the issue and how you would like them to resolve it.
• It is always best to put your complaint in writing to have a history of your issue and your contact with the car dealer in case you need to take things further. You can mention that you have contacted the CCPC about your rights.
• You can also make a complaint to the Society of Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) if the car dealer is a member and your car is second-hand. You can check if they are a member and find out about SIMI’s complaints process on the SIMI website.
• If the matter remains unresolved and the cost of repair €2,000 or less, you can make a claim through the small claims procedure.

When you buy a vehicle from a dealer, it must be fit for purpose, durable and of satisfactory quality. If the car dealer has tried several repairs and the problem still isn't fixed, or if your car has a number of different faults, you may have the right to move beyond repairs and seek a refund, replacement car or price reduction, depending on the circumstances.

If the fault arises within the first 30 days after you receive the car, you generally have the right to seek a full refund rather than accept a repair.

After 30 days, you can normally choose a repair or replacement. However, you may be entitled to a price reduction or full refund instead if:

• The same fault keeps returning
• Multiple repair attempts have failed
• The dealer cannot repair the vehicle within a reasonable time
• The fault is serious and substantially affects the vehicle's use, safety or reliability

Serious faults

If a fault is especially serious, you may not have to accept repeated repair attempts. Examples include faults that:

• Create a safety risk
• Make the vehicle unusable
• Destroy your confidence that the vehicle can be repaired properly

In these situations, you may be entitled to cancel the contract and seek a full refund.

Who is responsible?

Your contract is with the dealer that sold you the vehicle. They cannot simply tell you to deal with the manufacturer. The seller remains responsible for resolving a fault covered by your consumer rights.

Next steps to help resolve your issue

• Speak to the car dealer first and try to come to a satisfactory resolution.
• If you cannot resolve the problem, make a formal complaint, outlining the issue and how you would like them to resolve it.
• It is always best to put your complaint in writing to have a history of your issue and your contact with the car dealer in case you need to take things further. You can mention that you have contacted the CCPC about your rights.
• You can also make a complaint to the Society of Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) if the car dealer or garage is a member and your car is second-hand. You can check if they are a member and find out about SIMI’s complaints process on the SIMI website.
• If the matter remains unresolved and the cost of repair is €2,000 or less, you can make a claim against the garage using the small claims procedure.

A disguised trader is a business that pretends to be a private seller even though they are selling as part of their business. They may do this by selling cars through online platforms and marking the adverts as private sales. Disguised trading is misleading to consumers and illegal under consumer law.

Make sure you are clear who you are dealing with before any purchase. You have strong consumer rights if buying from a business and do not have the same protection when buying from a private seller.

Next steps to help resolve your issue: 

• Do your checks to prove the seller is a car dealer/business and not a private seller.
• Contact them to try to resolve the problem.
• If you discover you bought the car from a disguised trader, report the issue to the CCPC.
• Make a formal complaint in writing, explaining the issue and how you want them to remedy, and tell them you have reported this to the CCPC.
• If the matter remains unresolved and if the cost of repairing the car is €2,000 or less, you can make a claim through the Small claims procedure.
• If the repair cost exceeds €2,000, you may need private legal advice to resolve the issue.     

If a car dealer refuses a warranty claim, this does not automatically mean you have lost your rights. A warranty is separate from your consumer rights. A car dealer may still have obligations under consumer law even if there is a dispute about warranty coverage.

Step 1: Ask for the refusal in writing

Ask them to explain in writing:

• Why the claim has been refused
• Which warranty term they are relying on
• Any evidence they used to make their decision

This can help you understand if the refusal is based on the warranty terms or if there is a misunderstanding about your rights.

Step 2: Review the warranty terms

Check:

• What faults and components are covered
• Any exclusions that the car dealer is relying on
• If there are servicing or maintenance requirements
• If there are any time or mileage limits
• If you reported the claim within the required period
  

Step 3: Remind the car dealer of your consumer rights

Even if there is a dispute about the warranty, your consumer rights may still apply if the vehicle:

• Was not fit for purpose
• Was not durable
• Did not match its description
  

Consumer rights and warranty rights are separate. A dealership cannot rely solely on an expired or disputed warranty to avoid their obligations under consumer law.

Step 4: Make a formal written complaint

If you believe the car dealer is incorrectly refusing the claim, make a formal complaint to them setting out:

• The fault with the vehicle
• When it occurred
• Details of the warranty claim
• Why you believe you are entitled to a remedy
• The outcome you are seeking (for example, a repair, replacement, price reduction or refund)

Step 5: Keep evidence

Keep copies of:

• The warranty document
• Repair reports
• Service records
• Emails and letters
• Photographs of the fault
• Any independent mechanic's reports
  

Keeping records can help if the dispute escalates.

If the dispute cannot be resolved

• You can also make a complaint to the Society of Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) if the car dealer is a member and the car is second-hand. You can check if they are a member and find out about SIMI’s complaints process on the SIMI website.  
• If the matter remains unresolved and the cost of repairs is €2,000 or less, you can make a claim through the small claims procedure.
• If the cost of repairs is greater than €2,000, get independent legal advice before taking further action.

This depends on the terms of the warranty. Check the warranty document to see if the claim only needs to be reported before the expiry date or if the repair must also be completed by then. If you are unsure, ask the dealer, manufacturer or warranty provider to confirm their position in writing. Keep copies of repair reports, service records and any letters or emails.

Remember that your consumer rights may continue to apply even if the warranty expires. You can find more information on your rights if you bought a faulty car at the following pages:

• Faulty goods
• Buying goods
• Buying secondhand goods.

Vehicle warranties can be confusing and vary significantly. Before relying on a warranty, review the terms carefully and ask for clarification in writing if anything is unclear.

Things to check

• What parts and faults are covered
  • Check if the warranty covers all mechanical and electrical faults or only specific parts.
  • Look for any limits on claims or repair costs.
• What is excluded
  • Warranties often contain exclusions for particular parts, wear and tear, accidental damage, servicing items or certain types of failures.
  • Read any exclusions carefully so you understand what is not covered.
• Who is responsible
  • Check if the warranty is provided by the dealer, manufacturer or a third-party warranty provider. This can affect who you need to contact if a problem arises.
• Time limits and mileage limits
  • Check how long the warranty lasts and if there are mileage limits or conditions that could end the cover early.
• Conditions you must meet
  • Make sure you understand any conditions that could affect a future claim.
• Repair approval requirements
  • Check if repairs need to be approved before work is carried out and if there are restrictions on where repairs can be done.

Remember: a warranty is not the same as your consumer rights

A warranty provides additional protection, but it does not replace your rights under consumer law. If you bought your vehicle from a dealer or garage, your consumer rights may still apply even if:

• A warranty claim is refused
• There is a dispute about what the warranty covers
• The warranty has expired
• The warranty terms are unclear
  

What should you do if you are unsure?

Ask the dealer or warranty provider to explain the relevant terms in writing. Keep copies of:

• The warranty document
• Repair reports
• Service records
• Emails and letters
• Any decisions about warranty claims
  

Having a written record can help if there is later a dispute about what was agreed or what the warranty covers.

Some people assume they have no consumer rights once a warranty expires. However, a car dealer's legal obligations to repair a fault are separate from any warranty or guarantee. In other words, an expired warranty does not prevent you from raising a consumer rights claim.

If you bought the car from a dealer, it should be:

• Fit for purpose
• Durable, taking account of its age, mileage and price
• As described
• Of a quality that you could reasonably expect for a car of that age and price

If the car does not meet these requirements, you may still be entitled to a:

• Repair
• Replacement
• Price reduction, if the fault is not serious
• Refund (depending on the circumstances and seriousness of the fault)

You can see more information on your rights if you buy a faulty car on the following pages:

• Faulty goods
• Buying goods
• Buying secondhand goods.

Next steps to help resolve your issue

• Contact the dealer that sold you the car to try to resolve the issue. Explain the fault and tell them you are aware of your consumer rights even if a warranty has expired.
• If you cannot resolve the problem, make a formal complaint, outlining the issue and how you would like them to resolve it.
• It is always best to put your complaint in writing to have a history of your issue and your contact with the car dealer in case you need to take things further. You can mention that you have contacted the CCPC about your rights.
• You can also make a complaint to the Society of Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) if the car dealer is a member. You can check if they are a member and find out about SIMI’s complaints process on the SIMI website.
• If the matter remains unresolved and the cost of repair is €2,000 or less, you can make a claim through the small claims procedure.
• If the cost of repair is greater than €2,000, get independent legal advice before taking any further action.