I bought a car with undisclosed mechanical problems.

What the Law Says

The Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980 sets out basic legal protections when you buy a car from a business seller in Ireland.

Under section 14 of the Act, when a seller sells goods (including cars) in the course of business, those goods must be of 'merchantable quality' — meaning they must be in a reasonable condition, safe, and free from hidden defects that would make them unsuitable for normal use.

The law also requires that goods must be 'fit for any particular purpose' made known to the seller at the time of sale — for example, if you told the seller you needed a reliable car for daily commuting, it must meet that need.

These rights apply automatically — you don’t need to sign anything extra or ask for them. They do not apply if you bought the car privately (i.e., from an individual, not a business), unless the seller made specific promises about its condition.

Statutory Text

Where the seller sells goods in the course of a business and the buyer, expressly or by implication, makes known… any particular purpose for which the goods are being bought, there is an implied condition that the goods supplied under the contract are reasonably fit for that purpose.

— Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980, s. 14 — Implied condition as to fitness for purpose

Statutory Text

Where the seller sells goods in the course of a business, there is an implied condition that the goods supplied under the contract are of merchantable quality.

— Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980, s. 14 — Implied condition as to merchantable quality

What to Do

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