If something goes wrong with your new car, you may be entitled to a remedy under the consumer guarantees as well as the manufacturer's warranty or any extended warranty you might have.
This fact sheet should be given to you by the supplier (e.g. the dealer) at the point of sale when buying a new car. You can refer back to the information in this fact sheet in case you experience a problem later.
Congratulations on your new car! For any consumer, this is a major—and exciting—purchase. Take a moment to read this information so you understand what your rights are in case you have a problem later.
Under Australian law, when you buy products and services they come with automatic guarantees that they will work and do what you asked for, under what is referred to as Australia’s consumer guarantee rights.
If something goes wrong with your new car, you may be entitled to a remedy under the consumer guarantees as well as the manufacturer’s warranty or any extended warranty you might have.
Manufacturers and dealers must honour your consumer guarantee rights regardless of any commercial warranties they give to you or sell you. For example, your consumer guarantee rights may protect you if your car experiences a major failure after a warranty has expired.
Your statutory rights that cannot be replaced, limited or removed by any agreement, contract or warranty, or made subject to non-disclosure conditions.
They apply to new cars for an unspecified but reasonable time, and are subject to certain exceptions (e.g. if the reason for the damage is abnormal consumer use).
These rights include that your new car must:
These rights apply regardless of whether or not an independent operator services or repairs your car.
This is a car manufacturer’s promise about your new car and what they will do if something goes wrong.
It applies for a specified time from when you buy a new car.
It comes with conditions that limit the coverage and what you can claim for.
It typically allows you to choose your preferred repairer for service and repair, as long as the manufacturer’s maintenance and servicing standards are met.
However some manufacturer warranties may require you to return to their dealer network for repairs claimed under warranties.
You may be able to purchase an optional add on extended warranty that is usually sold separately to the car.
It applies for a specified time once the manufacturer’s warranty expires.
You may be able to purchase a manufacturer’s extended warranty, which usually replicates and extends your existing warranty, or you may be able to purchase a dealer or third-party extended warranty.
You should make sure that the extended warranty provides value for money and benefits greater than what you automatically receive under the consumer guarantees. For example, some extended warranties contain restrictive terms and conditions, such as excluding certain parts, setting caps on claims or requiring you to use a nominated repairer.
If your car fails to meet a consumer guarantee, you have rights against whoever supplied you the car (e.g. the car dealer), and in some cases against the manufacturer. In particular, you are entitled to a repair, replacement or refund if your new car fails to meet the consumer guarantees. The remedy you’re entitled to, and who chooses the remedy, will depend on whether the failure is major or minor.
This type of failure happens when:
You can ‘reject the car’ (which typically requires you to return it) and choose between a repair, replacement or refund. You should clearly advise the supplier that sold you the car (e.g. the car dealer) if you intend to reject it, and explain why – e.g. the car is not drivable, or the car was not repaired within a reasonable time, etc.
You may also be able to recover ‘reasonably foreseeable’ damages for any loss or damage you suffered from the supplier that sold you the car (e.g. the car dealer), or in some cases from the manufacturer.
This type of failure happens when:
The supplier that sold you the car (e.g. the car dealer) can choose to repair or replace your new car, or to offer you a refund.
Any repairs must be done within a reasonable time and without charge.
However, you may choose the remedy if the repair is not done in a reasonable time.
In this case, you may request a free replacement or a refund. You may also seek a repair elsewhere and be able to recover the costs, as well as any ‘reasonably foreseeable’ loss or damage you suffered as a result of the failure, from the supplier that sold you the car (e.g. the car dealer), or in some cases from the manufacturer.
Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra.