Car dealer legal obligation to offer 3 month warranty?

nornironpete

Hi all. Apologies if I'm duplicating another thread, but I've searched for everything I can think of and can't find it.

I have heard it said that car dealers are required by law to offer a 3 month warranty on any cars they sell, but I can't find any reference to the legislation that says this. I am aware of the fitness for purpose, durability, reasonable person test, 6 month reversed burden of proof on sellers etc under the SOGA 1979 as amended, but can't find anything specific to car dealers about a 3 month warranty.

Does anyone know:
1) If it is true that a car dealer has to warranty their cars for a minimum of 3 months, and if so,
2) What legislation states this?

Thanks in advance
Pete

harveybobbles

We don't have to offer anything to be honest.

nornironpete

Harvey,
I presume you're talking specifically about car dealers? Business sellers in general, including car dealers, are bound by consumer protection legislation, including the Sale of Goods Act which says that goods have to be of a satisfactory quality, ie what a "reasonable person" would consider to be satisfactory. So car dealers obviously have to offer goods that meet those criteria.

But are you saying that the 3 month thing is a myth?

harveybobbles

Yes we have to supply goods that are fit for the purpose they are intended for. But we dont have to offer 3 month warranty.

nornironpete

Thanks. It seems to be a bit of a grey area for a lot a people - a relative of mine who sold cars for years thought he had to stand over his cars for three months.

Radsteral

have bought 3 car from dealers in 2009, both of them with 3 months warranty and the last one i bought , becaue i was spending 6000 i asked for warranty and the guy said , ''sure, we have to give you 3 months anyway by law''
not 100 percent but this seem to be the basic when buying from garage

lincoln_dj

to be honest, why would you need a 3 month warranty when sale of goods act gives you 6 months...
although some dealers 3 months warranties seem to cover things extra to sale of goods act, i can guarantee most will make it a real PITA to claim!!!

motorguy

lincoln_dj wrote: »

to be honest, why would you need a 3 month warranty when sale of goods act gives you 6 months...
although some dealers 3 months warranties seem to cover things extra to sale of goods act, i can guarantee most will make it a real PITA to claim!!!

Why pull up on old thread?

SOGA covers only defects that were there at the time of sale. It does not cover subsequent faults - for example if an exhaust broke the dealer would have to prove it wasnt blowing out at the time of sale.

Most dealers cover the three month warranty themselves - and TBH will probably cover most things. Its third party 1 year warranties put onto used cars that wont cover much - the dealer will have bought the most discounted option and it will usually have a range of exclusions