# Used-car faults: complain to the seller in the right order

A fault after buying a used car? Check private-sale and dealer deadlines, what to document and why the seller usually needs a chance to put it right.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/bruktbil-feil-reklamasjon
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-10-07T22:17:35.404+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-07T22:17:35.463173+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- An overall deadline of two or five years Private sales normally have two years and consumer purchases from dealers five years, alongside a requirement to complain promptly.
- Document the problem before repairs Notify the seller and clarify investigation and repair before booking work elsewhere.
- Cancellation is not automatic A fault may give different claims, but liability and the remedy must be assessed under the agreement and purchase rules.

If your used car has a fault, complain to the seller promptly in writing and document the problem before repairs. Your rights depend, among other things, on who sold it, the agreement and the car’s condition. An expensive repair does not automatically mean the seller must pay.

## Who did you buy the car from?

Start by identifying the seller in the purchase contract. Buying from a dealer and buying from a private individual follow different rules.

When you buy as a consumer from a business, **forbrukerkjøpsloven**, the Consumer Purchases Act, applies. A private sale normally comes under **kjøpsloven**, the Sale of Goods Act. An advert on the same website can therefore lead to different rights, depending on who actually sold the car.

The rules in this guide were checked on 7 October 2026. [Forbrukerrådet, the Consumer Council advising consumers on their rights, explains car-purchase complaints](https://www.forbrukerradet.no/forside/bil/kjop-og-salg-av-bil/misfornoyd-med-kjop/). Also find the purchase date, because changes in the law may affect which rules apply.

If a company merely arranged the sale for a private owner, its role needs closer assessment. Do not assume the company’s logo alone determines liability. SamfunnPrep’s [guide to buying a used car](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/kjope-bruktbil-norge) explains checks before purchase. This guide concerns following up a fault after taking possession.

## Is the problem a legal defect or normal wear?

A legal defect means the car does not meet the requirements applicable to the purchase. Ordinary wear or damage you caused does not automatically give a claim against the seller.

The assessment must consider the agreement, information given, age, price and mileage, among other factors. An older car may need maintenance even soon after purchase. At the same time, incorrect statements or withheld information may matter.

For private sales, [kjøpsloven §§ 17–19](https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/1988-05-13-27) describe requirements for condition and information. Do not draw a legal conclusion simply because a workshop bill is high.

Ask the workshop to describe its findings, the likely cause and whether the problem may have existed when you took possession. The workshop assesses technical matters; the seller’s legal liability also requires the agreement and the rest of the evidence.

## How quickly must you complain?

Complain as soon as you discover the problem. There is both an overall deadline and a requirement to respond within a reasonable time after discovering the fault or when you should have discovered it.

As of 7 October 2026, the usual overall deadlines are **two years for a private sale** and **five years for a consumer purchase from a dealer**. Specific agreements and exceptions may matter. The deadlines are not a guarantee that every fault within that period is covered.

For consumer purchases, two months after discovery is always sufficient as the relative complaint period. This does not mean you should wait. Private sales do not have the same safe two-month rule; respond promptly.

You can send an initial message before you have a full workshop report. Describe the symptom and say you will provide documentation later. Do not let several weeks of investigation pass without notifying the seller.

## What should you do before the car is repaired?

Inform the seller and clarify how the fault will be investigated and, if appropriate, remedied. The seller should normally have an opportunity to handle the defect before you book repairs elsewhere.

Rules on remedies and other claims for consumer purchases appear in [forbrukerkjøpsloven §§ 29–32](https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2002-06-21-34). Get written clarification of the workshop, investigation, transport and payment. Do not assume the seller covers everything you order yourself.

If the car may be dangerous to use, get technical advice before driving further. If urgent action is necessary, notify the seller as soon as possible and preserve the evidence. Safety and claims against the seller must both be addressed.

Save fault codes, photos, receipts and the workshop’s assessment. Ask whether replaced parts or findings can be documented. A note of what was changed is useful if the cause is disputed later.

## How do you write the complaint to the seller?

Identify the purchase, describe the fault and ask for a specific solution. A brief first letter should make the case possible to investigate without requiring you to prove the entire claim already.

Include:

- The car’s registration number and purchase date.
- Mileage at purchase and when the problem occurred.
- What happens and when you first noticed it.
- Relevant information in the advert or agreement.
- Documentation already available.
- What you want the seller to do and when you would like a reply.

A message template:

> I am making a complaint about car [registration number], purchased on [date]. I noticed [symptom] on [date], at [mileage]. I attach [photos or report]. Please confirm how you will investigate the fault and consider a remedy. I request a written reply by [date].

The reply deadline you propose is a practical deadline, not a new statutory one. Keep the advert even if it is removed. Screenshots with the date and complete information are more useful than an isolated quotation without context.

## What do “as is” and “no right to complain” mean?

These phrases must be assessed according to the type of purchase and contract. They do not mean the same thing, and a general reservation does not always release the seller from liability.

From 1 January 2024, a business cannot use a general “as is” reservation in consumer purchases. Specifically agreed deviations are a different question. Previous rules may matter for older purchases.

In a private sale, the contract may include reservations or an express waiver of rights. Forbrukerrådet explains that such a waiver may have significant consequences, but deliberately false statements or materially withheld information can still provide grounds for a claim.

Show the complete wording to an adviser before concluding. Do not use a random piece of advice about a dealer’s warranty for a private sale with different contract terms. [Consumer rights, warranties and complaints](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/forbrukerrettigheter-angrerett-reklamasjon) are different concepts.

## Can you demand your money back immediately?

Cancellation of the purchase, heving, means ending the purchase and reversing the transaction. It is not an automatic result of every fault. Repair and other solutions must be assessed under the rules applicable to the purchase.

Repair, a price reduction, cancellation or compensation may be possible, but their conditions differ. Do not write that the seller must take the car back just because you would rather buy another one.

Keep your request specific: “First, I ask for the fault to be assessed and remedied.” If the seller rejects liability or repair does not resolve the matter, you can have the next claim assessed. Ask for a written explanation so you know what you disagree about.

## What do you do if the seller rejects the complaint?

Collect the complaint, reply and documentation, and choose the correct next route. Ask for guidance before spending money on more reports or legal steps.

Forbrukerrådet states that an unresolved case can be sent for mediation to **Forbrukertilsynet**, the public consumer authority that mediates these disputes. Further handling may involve a fee and its own deadlines; check them when submitting the case.

SamfunnPrep explains [how to choose the correct consumer complaints body](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/klage-som-forbruker-klagenemnder-norge). Do not let a general warranty response replace an assessment of your complaint.

You can find more practical aids in [SamfunnPrep’s tools overview](https://samfunnprep.no/en/verktoy). Start by collecting the contract, advert and first description of the fault in one folder before sending the complaint.

## FAQ

### Is the complaint deadline five years for every used car?

No. The usual overall deadline is five years for a consumer purchase from a dealer and two years for a private sale. You must also complain promptly after discovery.

### Does a workshop bill mean the seller must pay?

No. Whether the fault is a defect the seller is liable for must be assessed, including the agreement, information given and the car’s condition.

### Can a dealer sell a car under a general “as is” reservation?

Not in consumer purchases from 1 January 2024. Specifically agreed deviations and purchases under older rules require separate assessment.

### Should I repair the car before complaining?

Inform the seller and clarify investigation and repair first. The seller should normally have an opportunity to handle the defect.

## Sources

- [Misfornøyd med bilkjøp?](https://www.forbrukerradet.no/forside/bil/kjop-og-salg-av-bil/misfornoyd-med-kjop/)
- [Forbrukerkjøpsloven](https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2002-06-21-34)
- [Kjøpsloven](https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/1988-05-13-27)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Used-car faults: complain to the seller in the right order", SamfunnPrep, 2026-10-07T22:17:35.404+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/bruktbil-feil-reklamasjon