Do second-hand car purchases in France come with a warranty?

Reader Question: I am looking to buy a second-hand car in France, but do not want to be sold a faulty vehicle. Is there a standard warranty when buying a second-hand vehicle, or do I need to ask and pay for this separately? 

Second-hand vehicles purchased from professional dealerships and private individuals are both subject to statutory warranties, but you have more protection when buying from a dealership.

Statutory warranties at a professional dealership

Purchases from a professional dealership come with two warranties, one for hidden defects, and one for legal conformity. 

The warranty against hidden defects (vices cachés) applies to issues that existed at the time of sale but which were not obvious, known, or visible to the naked eye. 

Such a defect could be, for instance, that the vehicle had previously been involved in an undisclosed accident.

This warranty lasts for five years from the date of purchase. However, buyers have only two years from discovering the problem to invoke it.

In terms of second-hand vehicles, a vice caché has to be severe enough to render the car dangerous or unfit to drive, and must be confirmed by an independent expert. 

If a defect is proved, the warranty could lead to a discount on the vehicle’s price, or payment for any repairs required. It could also lead to the sale’s annulment. 

A second statutory warranty that protects buyers at dealerships is the garantie légale de conformité des biens (guarantee of conformity). 

This ensures that the vehicle conforms to the description and supposed state in which it was sold. 

It applies to all second-hand vehicles purchased through a professional dealership for a period of two years since January 2022.

It covers all aspects of the vehicle, with no restrictions or exclusions. 

The buyer must simply prove that an anomaly exists against the vehicle’s description, and the dealership needing to prove this was not the case at the time of purchase. 

During the first 12 months following the purchase, all such anomalies are presumed to have been present at the time of sale.

In cases where the buyer invokes the guarantee of conformity, they can demand that the dealer repair or replace the vehicle (or damaged part). 

There are also other warranties available that cover aspects such as minor damage, however these are not statutory warranties, but rather sold on a commercial basis.

Read more: Selling a used car in France - explained

Less statutory protection with private purchases 

If you are buying your car privately, you only benefit from the vice caché warranty. 

Just as with purchases from a professional, this lasts for five years, and will also require independent verification with an expert if invoked. 

If you are planning to purchase a used car privately, you can use the HistoVec website to verify the information you are told about the vehicle. 

Note also that no car more than four years old can be sold without passing a contrôle technique roadworthiness check in the past six months, so make sure that the seller provides this.

Read more: What is the HistoVec website in France and how can it help drivers?

Read more: How safe are purchases on French classified websites?