Buying a used car from a dealer - only a month warranty?

jane.norman

Hi,

I am looking to buy a car from a used car dealer. The dealer says, he can give me only a 1 month, 1000 mile, warranty that he claims would cover everything.
My understanding is that all used car dealers should provide the standard 3 months warranty. I am right here?

I like the car and would like to buy it. However his non-standard warranty terms do worry me. Any suggestions on how to convince him to throw in a standard dealer warranty.


Thanks,
Jane.

spacey2012

You dont need any warranty, the sale of goods act states it must be fit for purpose.
Inform them of this to see the facial reaction.

Any warranty is in addition to your rights not in place of.

Iceweasel

My best advice would be to walk away.

If you have to 'twist his arm' to grant you a longer warranty - I can just see you coming back on here in 2 months time when he rejects a warranty claim as 'fair wear and tear' or some such other reason.

Go elsewhere - there are loads of cars out here - as there are fish in the sea.

You'll be better of without any hassle - not withstanding the sale of goods act - this dealer is a prospective bundle of trouble.

Robisere

There is no law which requires a second hand car dealer to offer a warranty of any length, but there is sufficient Statute law to cover any sale from a source which has licence to trade and sales premises.

However, any recovery of monies paid for goods not fit for purpose, would entail a possibly long process of Civil action, perhaps via a Small Claims Court. In some areas, this is a relatively fast procedure, in others can take months.

My advice is the same as already given: do not allow the fact that you "like" the car, to colour your judgement. There is a reason for the very low warranty offered. If it does not look right, chances are it's wrong.

gilbert_and_sullivan

If it waddles and quacks then its probably a duck.

Go and buy elsewhere.

motorguy

jane.norman wrote: »

Hi,

I am looking to buy a car from a used car dealer. The dealer says, he can give me only a 1 month, 1000 mile, warranty that he claims would cover everything.
My understanding is that all used car dealers should provide the standard 3 months warranty. I am right here?

I like the car and would like to buy it. However his non-standard warranty terms do worry me. Any suggestions on how to convince him to throw in a standard dealer warranty.


Thanks,
Jane.

The dealer doesnt *have* to provide any warranty, but he does have to warrant the condition of the car - two different things.

How old is the car? How much are you paying for it? What miles are on it?

If its a 'fully comprehensive' warranty covering *everything* then that might be better than a 3 month warranty thats not worth the paper its written on (as a lot of these 3rd party warranties arent)

Compare his price to what other dealers are asking. If you can get a comparable car for the same price with a 3 or more warranty elsewhere then go there.

motorguy

Robisere wrote: »

but there is sufficient Statute law to cover any sale from a source which has licence to trade and sales premises.

Eh???

are you saying a motor trader needs to have a 'licence to trade' and 'sales premises'?

Neither is true.

And to put it into english - if you buy from a motor trader you have rights under the Sale of Goods Act.

forgotmyname

How much is the car worth? If its £200 then faor enough warrant any major parts for a month seems fair.

£20,000 then you would expect something much better.

colino

Depends where you are and how skint/conniving the local authority is, but we need a "Second Hand Dealers Licence" to sell cars here (West of Scotland) and for the application, payment and bit of paper, we get absolutely nothing, nadda, zilch. Just a local tax. First year £137 and then the privilege of paying £271 every two years after that. Then you have the very much revised Consumer Credit Licence, which now assumes everyone is a crook and has an inbuilt hike to cover CCJs. Also operating from a hard standing premises, they hike the commercial water rates, assuming you turn the taps on in the morning and turn them off when you leave. Definitely the majority suffer for the minority.