Where do I stand?

bclmk

I recently bought a car off a private seller. I test drove the car and everything seemed great so we agreed on a price and I hit the road in the car. The following day the engine malfunction light came on. I am getting it checked tomorrow and if it’s a major issue can I ask the seller for a full refund and are they obliged to give it? TIA

TheWonderLlama

should have got it checked before parting with money. Pretty much no comeback from a private sale unless you can show seller deliberately didn't tell you about a fault.

Jim_Hodge

Private sale…

Caveat emptor

MarkR

You can ask. They can say no.

elperello

The way it works is that the seller is regarded as an ordinary punter like yourself.

He's not in the business of selling cars and presumed not to have any professional knowledge about cars.

Fingers crossed, when it's checked it might not be too serious. Even if you got someone to look at it if the light wasn't on they might have said it was ok.

cap.in.hand.

Is it petrol or diesel... engine malfunction light on a petrol car is usually not serious problem...know nothing bout diesel cars problem if their engine malfunction light comes on

Xterminator

from citizens advice - below.

If you buy from a private seller, you have very few legal rights. Consumer laws only apply to deals between a consumer (a person who buys a good or service for personal consumption) and a trader (a person acting for purposes related to their trade, business or profession). It does not apply when you buy from a private individual who is not a trader, for example, someone who is selling their own car to you but who does not sell cars as a profession.

It is as already mentioned caveat emptor. sold as seen, buyer beware.