UK Warranty & Guarantee Rights: Consumer Guide 2026

At a glance

• Statutory rights come first. Sections 9–11 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 imply terms into every goods contract: goods must be of satisfactory quality (s.9), fit for any purpose you made known to the trader (s.10), and match their description (s.11).
• Short-term right to reject: normally 30 days from delivery to reject faulty goods for a full refund, under section 22.
• Repair or replacement: the trader's first chance to fix the problem under section 23, within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience, at no cost to you.
• The six-month rule: if a fault shows up within six months of delivery, it is presumed to have been there from the start unless the trader proves otherwise.
• Final right to reject: if one repair or replacement attempt fails, section 24 gives you a price reduction or a final right to reject — full refund if within 6 months, a fair deduction for use after that.
• A guarantee (s.30) is separate and additional. It cannot reduce or remove your statutory rights, and by law it must say so in writing.
• A warranty is a paid extra, not defined by the Act in the same way as a guarantee — read what it actually covers before relying on it instead of your statutory rights.

What this document is

A guarantee, in the specific sense used by section 30 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, is an undertaking given without extra charge by a trader or manufacturer that if goods do not meet the specification in the guarantee statement, the consumer will be reimbursed for the price paid, or the goods will be repaired, replaced or otherwise handled. It takes effect as a binding contractual obligation the moment the goods are delivered, owed to you by whoever gave the guarantee — usually the manufacturer.

A warranty, in everyday retail use, is a separate paid contract — often sold as an "extended warranty" at the till — that extends cover beyond the free manufacturer's guarantee. It is not a term defined by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 in the way "guarantee" is; it behaves more like an insurance product, and cover varies significantly between providers.

Crucially, neither a guarantee nor a warranty replaces your statutory rights. Sections 9 to 11 of the Act imply terms into every contract for the sale of goods: the goods must be of satisfactory quality, reasonably fit for any particular purpose you made known to the trader, and match their description. If goods breach any of these terms, sections 19 to 24 give you a structured set of remedies — the short-term right to reject, repair or replacement, and the final right to reject or a price reduction — and you can pursue the retailer you bought from regardless of what any guarantee or warranty paperwork says. Section 30(4)(b) makes this explicit: every guarantee must state, on its face, that your statutory rights are not affected.

Your statutory rights come first

Before looking at any guarantee or warranty, it helps to understand what the law already gives you for free, on every purchase from a trader.

Satisfactory quality, fitness for purpose, as described

Section 9 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 treats every contract to supply goods as including a term that the goods are of satisfactory quality — meeting the standard a reasonable person would consider satisfactory, taking into account the price, any description, and all other relevant circumstances, including public statements made in advertising. The quality of goods includes their state and condition, and — where relevant — fitness for the purposes goods of that kind are usually supplied for, appearance and finish, freedom from minor defects, safety and durability.

Section 10 implies a term that goods are reasonably fit for any particular purpose you made known to the trader before the contract was made, even an unusual purpose, provided you relied on the trader's skill and judgement. Section 11 implies a term that the goods match any description given.

These are not optional extras. They are implied into the contract by law, and a trader cannot contract out of them for consumer sales.

The tiered remedies: reject, repair, replace, reduce

If goods breach any of sections 9, 10 or 11, sections 19 to 24 of the Act set out a structured, tiered set of remedies:

1. Short-term right to reject (section 22). In the first 30 days from delivery (shorter for goods that would not reasonably be expected to last that long), you can reject faulty goods outright and get a full refund. The 30-day clock does not run during any period the goods are away for repair or replacement, and if you get them back still faulty you have whichever is longer of the remainder of the original 30 days or a further 7 days to reject them.
2. Repair or replacement (section 23). After the short-term right expires, or if you choose this route instead, you can require the trader to repair or replace the goods within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience, at no cost to you. The trader can refuse if the remedy you ask for is impossible or disproportionately expensive compared with the alternative — but they cannot simply refuse to do anything.
3. Price reduction or the final right to reject (section 24). If one repair or one replacement does not fix the problem, or the trader fails to repair or replace within a reasonable time, you move to a final choice: a price reduction (which can be 100% of the price in serious cases) or rejecting the goods for a refund. If you exercise the final right to reject within six months of delivery, the refund must generally be given in full, without any deduction for the use you have had — the main exceptions being motor vehicles and any other goods category the Secretary of State separately specifies by order. After six months, the trader can make a fair deduction to reflect your use of the goods.

The six-month rule — a reversed burden of proof

This is one of the most valuable, and most misunderstood, parts of the Act. Under section 19(14)-(15) of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, if a fault appears after the first 30 days but within six months of delivery, the fault is treated as having been present at the time of delivery unless the trader can prove otherwise. In practice, this means the trader — not you — has to show the fault was caused by something that happened after delivery, such as misuse, if they want to refuse a free repair, replacement or refund.

After six months, the position reverses: it is then for you to show, if there is a dispute, that the fault existed when the goods were supplied — which is often harder to prove without an independent report.

How a section 30 guarantee works

Section 30 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies wherever there is a contract to supply goods and a guarantee is given in connection with them. A guarantee under this section:

• Takes effect, from the moment the goods are delivered, as a binding contractual obligation owed by the guarantor (usually the manufacturer) on the terms set out in the guarantee statement or any associated advertising.
• Must be written in plain, intelligible language, setting out the essential particulars needed to make a claim — including, in particular, the guarantor's name and address, and the guarantee's duration and territorial scope.
• Must state, in terms, that the consumer has statutory rights in relation to the goods and that the guarantee does not affect those rights.
• Must be provided to you in writing, in an accessible form, within a reasonable time of you asking for it, if you do not already have it.
• Must be in English if the goods are offered for sale within the UK.

If a guarantor fails to comply with these requirements, an enforcement authority — the Competition and Markets Authority, a local weights and measures (trading standards) authority, or the equivalent department in Northern Ireland — can apply to the court for an injunction (or, in Scotland, an order of specific implement) requiring compliance.

Guarantee versus warranty — the practical difference

| | Guarantee (s.30 CRA 2015) | Extended warranty | |---|---|---| | Cost | Given without extra charge | Usually paid for separately | | Legal definition | Defined term under s.30 | Not defined by the Act in the same way — a general contract | | Who gives it | Usually the manufacturer | Retailer, manufacturer or a third-party insurer | | Must state your statutory rights are unaffected | Yes, by law (s.30(4)(b)) | No specific statutory requirement in the same form | | Relationship to CRA rights | Sits on top — cannot reduce them | Sits on top — cannot reduce them |

Making a claim: which route to use

1. Check what you already have for free. Read the guarantee that came with the product. Most electrical goods, appliances and vehicles include a manufacturer's guarantee of at least 12 months. Note the start date, the length of cover, what is included, and any exclusions such as accidental damage or wear and tear.
2. Register the product if required. Some guarantees only become valid once you register the purchase with the manufacturer. Registration can also mean you are contacted directly about safety recalls. Keep your receipt and proof of registration together.
3. Work out where you are in the CRA timeline. Are you still within the first 30 days (short-term right to reject), between 30 days and six months (repair/replacement, with the burden of proof on the trader), or beyond six months (repair/replacement, with the burden of proof back on you)? This dictates your strongest legal footing.
4. Decide whether an extended warranty is worth it. Before agreeing to one at the till, compare the cover against what the manufacturer's guarantee already provides and what your statutory rights cover. In many cases the overlap is significant.
5. Understand insurance backing. An insurance-backed guarantee means that if the trader goes out of business, an insurer steps in to honour the cover. This matters particularly for home improvement work such as windows, roofing or solar installations. Ask for the insurance certificate in writing.
6. Make the claim in writing. Whether you are claiming against the retailer under the Consumer Rights Act, the manufacturer under the guarantee, or a warranty provider, put your complaint in writing, describe the fault clearly, include photos where helpful, and keep copies of every response.
7. Escalate if refused. If the trader refuses a valid claim, you can escalate through an ombudsman or trade association, or use the routes covered in our guide on alternative dispute resolution before considering court.

Recent changes: stronger regulator enforcement

Since 6 April 2025, the consumer enforcement provisions of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 have been in force. This gives the Competition and Markets Authority a direct administrative enforcement power for breaches of consumer protection law — including the ability to investigate and fine traders itself, rather than needing to bring a case through the courts first, with fines of up to 10% of a business's global annual turnover for the most serious breaches. This sits alongside, and reinforces, the court-based enforcement route already available under section 30(8) of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 for guarantee-specific breaches such as refusing to put a guarantee in writing.

This guide provides general information about warranty and guarantee rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 in England and Wales. It is not legal advice and is not a substitute for advice tailored to your specific circumstances. The law described was accurate as at August 2026 and is subject to change — always check GOV.UK and legislation.gov.uk for the most current position.

Last reviewed: August 2026 by a non-practising solicitor · Next review due: August 2027 or on legislative change.