Buying a car from a car dealer

Köpa bil av bilhandlare - Engelska

You are protected by the Consumer Sales Act when you buy a car from a car dealer. You also might have the right to withdrawal if you purchased the car remotely. The rules apply regardless of whether you buy a new or used car. There is a lot to think about for the purchase to be as good as possible, such as warranties, environmental impact and financing of the car purchase.

Translated page: This text has been translated from Swedish. The text and appearance of the page may look different from the original page.

Keep this in mind when you are purchasing a car

  • Always read the contract and product declaration before you enter an agreement.

  • It is an extra security for you to buy a car from a dealer who is a member of the Swedish Motor Trade Association, MRF.

  • You always have the right to complain for 3 years if you purchase a new or used car from a car dealer.

More tips when buying a new or used car

  • You are protected by the Consumer Purchase Act when you buy a car from a dealer. The law is mandatory. The dealer cannot give you worse terms than what the law states.

    According to the Consumer Purchase Act, you always have the right to complain about defects in the car for 3 years. This applies even if you bought a used car.

  • It is optional for a company to provide a warranty on a car. But it you purchase a new car some warranties are usually included.

    What is a warranty?

    A warranty means that the company providing the warranty is responsible for the car’s function or a certain feature of the car for a certain period. If something goes wrong with the car during the warranty period, the company providing the warranty must prove that the defect is not covered by the warranty to avoid responsibility.

    Find out what applies to the warranties

    Make sure you know what the warranties are and what applies so that you can use them. There may be specific requirements for you as a car owner for a warranty to be valid. For example, a new car warranty may require you to service the car at certain intervals and at a workshop that meets professional standards.

    You can always complain about defects

    Remember that you always have a 3-year right to complain about the car according to the Consumer Purchase Act. This applies regardless of the warranties you have.

    About warrantiesExtern länk

  • It can be difficult to choose which car to buy. Cars are expensive, and there are many things to consider when choosing between different car models.

    There is a lot of information on cars on the Internet that can help you in choosing a car. Reading reviews and tests increases the chance that you find a car that will suit you and your wallet.

    It may also be a good idea to check the car dealer. Search on the Internet and read reviews of the car dealer from other consumers. You can also search in our statistics tool to see if there have been any reports or contacts regarding the company.

    To the statistics toolExtern länk (in Swedish)

  • Emissions from cars negatively impact the environment and climate. For example, gasoline and diesel emit carbon dioxide. Producing electricity for electric cars also has an impact.

    More about cars and the environmentExtern länk (in Swedish)

  • You might need to borrow money to be able to buy a car. Make sure you can afford the repayments and the interest.

    If you do not take care of the payments, the lender may be entitled to take the car.

    You can borrow up to 80 percent of the price of the car, and the remaining 20 percent is your own down payment. You can pay for it in cash or by turning in a trade-in car.

    About car loans on the Swedish Consumers’ Banking and Finance Bureau websiteExtern länk (in Swedish)

  • When you buy a car from a car dealer, you can turn in a trade-in car to the seller as part of the payment. Even if the trade-in car is a part of the payment, it is important to remember that you are selling a car to the car dealer and that it becomes its own agreement between you.

    It is the Sales of Goods Act, not the Consumer Sales Act, that regulates what applies when you sell your car to a car dealer.

    It is your responsibility to ensure that the trade-in car is in the condition you agreed on and that it does not have any faults that you are aware of and have not told the seller.

    Industry Agreement

    The Swedish Consumer Agency and the Swedish Association for Motor Retail Trades and Repairs (MRF) have an agreement that includes guidelines that apply when you buy a car from a dealership. The agreement includes, among other things, rules for trade-in cars.

    The agreement on delivery terms for passenger carsExtern länk (in Swedish)

  • All used cars sold by a dealer must be provided with a product declaration. Therefore, ask for a product declaration when you buy a used car from a dealer. Read it carefully. The product declaration contains information about the car so that you can easily get an idea of the car’s condition.

    Make sure that both you and the car dealer sign a copy of the product declaration if you decide to buy the car.

  • All cars in Sweden must be insured.

    Newly manufactured cars usually come with a vehicle-damage warranty that typically lasts for 3 years. The vehicle-damage warranty is equivalent to vehicle-damage insurance. If the car has this warranty, you do not need to take out vehicle-damage insurance during that time.

    The collision damage warranty accompanies the car, so if you buy a used car that still has a vehicle-damage warranty, you do not need to take out vehicle-damage insurance for the warranty period.

    About car insurance on the Swedish Consumer Insurance Bureau’s websiteExtern länk (in Swedish)

  • When you buy a car, it may be an extra security to buy from a car dealer that is a member of the Swedish Association for Motor Retail Trade and Repairs (MRF).

    If you end up in a dispute with a car dealer, you can take the dispute to the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes (ARN). ARN provides a recommendation on how the dispute should be resolved. A car dealer that is a member of MRF has pledged to follow ARN’s recommendations.

    Industry agreement

    The Swedish Consumer Agency and MRF have an industry agreement called MRF’s Delivery Terms for Passenger Cars. The agreement clarifies what applies between you as a consumer and the car dealer. This may involve, for example:

    • delivery terms
    • complaints
    • sanctions in the event of faults.

    All of MRF’s member companies have committed to follow the guidelines in the agreement.

    MRF’s and the Swedish Consumer Agency’s delivery terms for passenger carsExtern länk (in Swedish)

  • Make sure that everything you and the car dealer have agreed on is in a purchase contract. This may involve:

    • the delivery date
    • warranties
    • what accessories are to be included in the purchase.

    Also make sure that everything that the seller promised you orally is confirmed in writing. It is best if everything is included in the purchase contract, but if it is missing there, you can, for example, have it in an email or in a text message.

    The car dealer is bound by everything that has been promised before the purchase unless it was changed before the purchase, such as in the agreement between you. This may involve information provided to you directly, but also in marketing or locations, such as the car’s windscreen.

    The Consumer Sales Act applies

    When you buy a car from a dealer, the Consumer Sales Act applies. It is mandatory to your advantage. This means that an agreement with the dealer can never give you fewer rights than what the law states. If the agreement gives you fewer rights than what the Consumer Sales Act states, those parts of the agreement are invalid.

  • If you buy the car on-site at the dealer’s premises, you have the right to cancel before the car is delivered to you. The dealer cannot require you to complete the purchase and pay for the car. However, the company has the right to demand compensation from you if they have incurred costs in connection with the order.

    If you buy the car remotely, for example via the internet, you may have the right to withdraw. However, it requires that the company has an organized system for distance contracts, meaning that they usually enter contracts remotely and, for example, write ‘buy your car on our website’ or similar. Or that you enter into the agreement outside the company’s premises.

    You can withdraw from the purchase within 14 days from receiving the car.

    The rules for cancellation and withdrawal apply to both new and used cars.

    About the right to withdrawExtern länk

  • The general rule is that contracts must be honored by both you and the company. This means that both parties are bound by what you have agreed upon. However, there are certain situations where the company may have the right to cancel the contract.

    Force majeure

    Force majeure is a legal term for unexpected or unforeseeable events. Force majeure is used for situations where the event makes it impossible for the company to fulfill its part of the contract.

    There is no requirement for the contract to specify which events are considered force majeure, but it is good if it does and as clearly as possible.

    Examples of events often referred to as force majeure are:

    • natural disasters
    • war
    • labor disputes

    To claim force majeure, there must be a connection between the event and the breach of contract. If the company claims that force majeure exists, they need to be able to prove it. The assessment is made individually for each company and situation.

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