Add organization

What rights do you have when you buy a used car privately in Denmark?

Check the car well, because the law protects you less.

Answered at: Checked at:

Short answer

When you buy a used car from a private person, you are not covered by the consumer protection rules of the Danish Sale of Goods Act (købeloven). A private seller can sell the car "as seen" (købt som beset), and since a private seller is not seen as an expert, you generally cannot demand repairs for faults the seller did not know about. A complaint goes to the seller first and then to the courts, as Ankenævn for biler does not handle private sales. Have the car checked by a workshop or a used-car check before you buy, and check it in Bilbogen for debt or pledges.

Car rental and parking

Why

  1. Consumer protection does not cover private sales.
  2. "As seen" is allowed between private people.
  3. Disputes go to the courts, not the car complaints board.

Details

At a commission sale through a dealer, the dealer is liable, so the rules differ from a pure private sale.

Tip

Get the original registration certificate when you receive the car, check that the seller owns it, and never pay in advance.

What may differ

Auctions are handled differently: there the consignor is generally the seller.

Common misconception

Many think a private seller has to give the same 2-year right to complain as a dealer.

What actually happens

The 2-year consumer right only applies when you buy from a business.

People also ask

  • What rights do you have when you buy a used car from a dealer?
  • How do you transfer ownership of a car in Denmark?
  • How do you check if a used car has debt in Denmark?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Traffic rules, fines and fees can change, so check the Danish authorities before you drive.

Car rental and parking
Help