Dealer guide
Sold as seen. What it means when a dealer writes it, and when it means nothing.
“Sold as seen” is on half the invoices in the trade. Against a member of the public it doesn't take away a single right. Here's where it works, where it doesn't, and what actually protects you.
Private sale
Mostly works
The buyer takes the car as it is, but it must still be as described. Lying about it is misrepresentation.
Dealer to the public
No legal weight
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies whatever the paperwork says. The car must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described.
Dealer to dealer
Can work
A genuine trade sale between businesses can be sold as seen, as long as the term is reasonable.
What a buyer can do after buying from a dealer
- First 30 daysThe buyer can reject a faulty car for a full refund.
- Up to 6 monthsA fault is presumed to have been there at the sale unless you can show otherwise. You get one repair or replacement; if that fails, the buyer can reject, with a deduction for the use they've had.
- Up to 6 yearsThe buyer can still claim (five years in Scotland), but now they have to show the fault was there when they bought it.
What actually protects you
“Satisfactory quality” isn't perfection. It takes the car's age, mileage and price into account, so a £2,000 car with 120,000 miles isn't judged like a nearly-new one. And a fault you point out before the sale isn't covered at all.
- List every known fault on the invoice, in plain words, and have the buyer sign it
- Describe the car accurately in the advert and the paperwork
- Record the mileage, MOT and history check at the sale
- Keep a copy of the signed invoice for six years
What doesn't
- “Sold as seen”, “no warranty” or “no returns” on a sale to the public
- Calling it a “trade sale” when the buyer is a consumer
- Advertising as a private seller. It's illegal for a trader to pose as one, and the buyer keeps their rights anyway
- A vague line like “may have faults”. Name the fault or it isn't disclosed
The signed record, on every sale.
StockBook writes the sales invoice from the car you already logged, prints your own terms on it, and the customer signs on the glass. The paperwork that actually protects you, done before they drive off.
Need one now? Use the free dealer invoice template.
Questions dealers and buyers ask
- Does 'sold as seen' mean I can't return a car?
- Only if you bought it privately. If you bought it from a dealer as a consumer, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 still applies whatever the paperwork says: the car must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described.
- Can a car dealer sell a car 'sold as seen'?
- A dealer can write it, but against a consumer it carries no legal weight. A term that tries to take away a consumer's statutory rights isn't binding, and using it to mislead buyers can be a matter for Trading Standards.
- How long does a buyer have to reject a car from a dealer?
- 30 days for a full refund if the car is faulty. Within six months a fault is presumed to have been there at the sale, and the dealer gets one chance to repair or replace before the buyer can reject with a deduction for use. Claims can be made for up to six years in England and Wales, five in Scotland.
- Does a dealer have to fix a fault I was told about?
- No. A fault the dealer pointed out before the sale isn't covered by the satisfactory quality right. That is why dealers should list known faults in writing on the invoice and have the buyer sign it.
- What is a trade sale?
- A sale between businesses, such as dealer to dealer. Between businesses a car can be sold as seen, subject to the term being reasonable. Writing 'trade sale' on a sale to a member of the public doesn't make it one.
- Is 'sold as seen' valid in a private sale?
- Mostly. A private seller doesn't have to meet the satisfactory quality standard, so the buyer takes the car as it is. But the car must still be as described: a private seller who lies about it can be liable for misrepresentation.
This guide is general information about UK consumer law, not legal advice. For a specific dispute, talk to Citizens Advice, Trading Standards or a solicitor.