What legal protection do you already have?
This depends entirely on who you buy from.
Buying from a dealer: You're covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which requires the car to be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described. In the first 30 days, you can reject a faulty car for a full refund. Between 30 days and 6 months, you're entitled to one repair or replacement attempt, and the dealer has to prove the fault wasn't there at the point of sale — not you. After 6 months, that burden of proof flips onto you, though you technically still have up to 6 years (5 in Scotland) to make a claim if you can show the fault existed at purchase.
Buying privately: The Consumer Rights Act doesn't apply. Your legal protection is limited to three things: the seller must have the right to sell the car, it must match its description, and it must be roadworthy. Beyond that, "sold as seen" is standard, and proving a private seller misled you can mean small claims court.
Buying at auction: Similar to a private sale — most auction terms mean the car is sold as seen, with very limited comeback if something goes wrong.
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A warranty doesn't replace your statutory rights — it runs alongside them. Where it adds real value is covering the gap statutory rights don't reach: after 6 months from a dealer purchase, or at any point if you bought privately.
When a warranty is worth considering
Based on the legal protection above, an extended warranty tends to matter most in a few specific situations:
- You bought privately, where you have almost no built-in protection
- Your car is older or higher-mileage, and any manufacturer warranty has long since expired
- You're past the 6-month mark on a dealer purchase, where you'd otherwise have to prove a fault was pre-existing yourself
- You want cover that extends across Europe if you drive abroad
Cover for older and higher-mileage cars
Not every provider covers the same range of vehicles. Based on their own published plan structures:
| Provider | Oldest vehicle covered | Highest mileage covered |
|---|---|---|
| Warrantywise | Up to 15 years | Under 150,000 miles |
| MotorEasy | Up to 13 years | Up to 130,000 miles |
Both reduce the scope of cover at their highest tiers compared to entry-level plans — check exactly what's included for your specific vehicle's age and mileage before comparing price. See our full Warrantywise review and MotorEasy review for the full tier breakdowns.
What to check before you buy
- Whether the plan is insurance-backed (FCA-regulated) or discretionary — see our guide on manufacturer vs extended vs third-party warranty
- What's explicitly excluded, not just what's covered — see what does a car warranty not cover
- Whether there's a minimum service history requirement to keep the warranty valid
- The claims process and how quickly repairs get paid
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a warranty if I bought from a dealer?
You have real legal protection for the first 6 months under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. A warranty's value is mainly in what happens after that period, or in situations the Act doesn't fully resolve.
Do I need a warranty if I bought privately?
Private sales get much less statutory protection than dealer purchases — the Consumer Rights Act doesn't apply. A warranty is generally more valuable here than for a dealer purchase.
Is there an age or mileage limit on used car warranties?
Yes, it varies by provider and plan tier. Warrantywise covers vehicles up to 15 years/150,000 miles at its highest tier; MotorEasy covers up to 13 years/130,000 miles.
What's the difference between a warranty and my statutory rights?
Statutory rights (Consumer Rights Act 2015) apply automatically when buying from a dealer and don't cost anything extra, but weaken significantly after 6 months. A warranty is a separate paid product that can extend cover well beyond that point, regardless of who you bought from.