What happens if a car breaks down after you buy it privately?
Where you stand if a privately bought used car develops a fault soon after the sale, and how to get it moved.
Buying privately is usually cheaper than buying from a dealer, but it comes with fewer protections. If a car you bought from a private seller breaks down shortly afterwards, it helps to understand where you stand, and what to do with a car that will not move.
“Sold as seen” and your rights
When you buy from a private seller, the Consumer Rights Act protections that apply to traders do not apply. The main rule is that the car must be correctly described. The seller does not have to volunteer every fault, but they must not lie about or deliberately hide one.
So if the advert or the seller described the car accurately, a fault that appears afterwards is generally the buyer’s risk. If the car was described as, say, “drives perfectly” and clearly did not, you may have a claim, but it would be against the seller, not a dealer.
What to do first
Do not drive a car that is unsafe or making it worse. Note down everything about the sale, the advert, any messages, and the seller’s details, in case you need them later.
Get the fault looked at so you know whether it is a quick fix or something major. That diagnosis also helps if you decide to raise it with the seller.
Getting the car moved
A newly bought car that will not run is exactly the kind of job we handle, collecting it from the seller’s address or wherever it has stopped and delivering it to your home or a garage.
Because these moves are often planned rather than emergencies, you can book a time that suits you, and the car travels on the bed whether or not it runs.
The Short Version
- Private sales have fewer protections than buying from a dealer.
- The car must be as described, but the seller need not list every fault.
- Keep the advert and all messages in case there is a dispute.
- A non-running car can be collected and moved on the bed.
Related service
Vehicle Transport & Moves
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