Buying a car from a car dealer
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You are always protected by the Consumer Sales Act when you buy a car from a car dealer. But 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.
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You are protected by the Consumer Sales Act
When you buy a car from a car dealer, you are protected by the Consumer Sales Act. This law is compulsory, which means that the car dealer may not give you worse terms and conditions than the law states. According to the Consumer Sales Act, you are always entitled to file complaint on a defect for three years. This applies even if you have bought a used or very inexpensive car from a car dealer.
Warranties that come with the car
It is always optional for a company to provide a warranty on a car. A warranty means that the seller is responsible for the functioning of the car or a certain characteristic in the car for a certain period of time. When you have a warranty, the seller has the burden of proof, not you. If there is a fault on the car during the warranty period, the seller must prove that the fault is not covered by the warranty. But remember that you always have a three-year guarantee on the car regardless of what warranties you have.
Make sure that you know what the warranties are and what applies so that you can use them. Special requirements can be placed on you as the car owner for a warranty to apply. A new car warranty may, for example, require that you turn the car in for service at certain intervals and that you have the car serviced at a workshop that meets the requirements on professional work.
Research the market
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 the Swedish Consumer Agency’s register to see if a company has had reports against it from consumers. Search directly in the Swedish Consumer Agency’s register (information in Swedish)
Financing of your car purchase
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 per cent of the price of the car, and the remaining 20 per cent is your own down payment. You can pay for it in cash or by turning in a trade-in car. You can read more about car loans on the Swedish Consumers’ Banking and Finance Bureau website (information in Swedish)
Trade-in car
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 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. It is the Sale of Goods Act, not the Consumer Sales Act, that regulates what applies when you sell your car to a car dealer.
Product declaration for a used car
Ask to receive a product declaration when you buy a used car from a car dealer. Read through it carefully. The product declaration contains information about the car so that you will easily get a picture of what condition the car is in. Make sure that both you and the car dealer sign a copy of the product declaration if you decide to buy the car.
Insurance
All cars in Sweden have to be insured. A vehicle-damage guarantee that usually applies for three years most often comes with newly manufactured cars. The vehicle-damage guarantee corresponds to vehicle-damage insurance. If the car has a vehicle-damage guarantee, you do not need to take out vehicle-damage insurance during that time. The vehicle-damage guarantee accompanies the car so if you buy a used car that still has a vehicle-damage guarantee, you do not need to take out vehicle-damage insurance for the guarantee period.
Advantage of buying from an industry affiliated car dealer
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. 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 and sanctions in the event of faults. All of MRF’s member companies have committed to follow the guidelines in the agreement.
Always write an agreement with the car dealer
Make sure that everything you and the car dealer have agreed on is in a purchase contract. This may involve the delivery date, warranties and what accessories are to be included in the purchase. Also make sure that everything that the seller promised you orally is confirmed in writing. 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.
Cancelling the car purchase
You always have the right to cancel a car before it has been delivered to you. The car dealer cannot demand that you go through with the purchase and pay for the product. However, the company has the right to demand compensation from you if they have had costs in connection with the order.
Source: Konsumentverket
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