8/27/2026 · VIP Cars prodajni tim
Warranty when buying a used vehicle — what you actually get
Price and condition are the first things a buyer looks at — and the legal framework of the purchase usually the last. The order should be reversed: it is precisely the legal framework that determines what you can do when something goes wrong. Below we explain the difference, without legal jargon.
Buying from a private person
A purchase contract between two private individuals means, in practice: sold as seen. If a hidden fault appears a week after the purchase, exercising any right comes down to the seller’s goodwill or to court — a long, uncertain and expensive road. The lower price of a private purchase is real, but all of the risk is priced into it.
Buying from a company
A vehicle dealer is liable to the buyer for the vehicle’s material defects by law — that is not a courtesy but an obligation. In addition you receive an invoice, a contract clearly stating the vehicle’s condition, and a legal entity that will exist at the same address tomorrow. When buying from a company and buying privately are compared in full — with the risk priced in — the difference looks quite unlike the first impression.
Warranty and liability are not the same
Statutory liability for defects exists independently of any additional warranty and covers defects that existed at the moment of purchase. A warranty is an additional, contractual layer — with it the seller also assumes obligations for what happens after the purchase, to the extent stated in the warranty. When buying, always ask for the warranty’s scope in writing: what it covers, how long it lasts and where it is honoured.
Why the vehicle’s origin is part of the warranty
Every one of our vehicles comes from our own Uni Rent fleet: every owner is known (one — us), every service and every kilometre. A warranty is most readily given by someone who truly knows the vehicle — which is why fleet vehicles with a complete history come with the fewest unknowns, and you review the documentation before purchase, without haste.
A practical checklist before signing
Ask for an invoice and a contract with the vehicle’s details and odometer reading. Ask for the warranty’s scope in writing. Check that the seller is a legal entity you can find tomorrow as well. Three simple steps that cost five minutes — and are worth more than any verbal promise.
What is the difference between statutory liability and a warranty?
Statutory liability covers defects that existed at the moment of sale and always applies when you buy from a dealer. A warranty is an additional contractual obligation by which the seller also covers the period after the purchase, to the extent stated in the warranty document.
Does a warranty apply when buying from a private person?
As a rule it does not — private sales are most often agreed as sold-as-seen, and statutory consumer protection applies to purchases from a dealer. That is the largest, though least visible, price difference between the two routes.
What do I receive when buying a vehicle from you?
An invoice, a contract, the vehicle’s complete service history from our own fleet, and a legal entity that stands behind the vehicle. All warranty details for the specific vehicle are provided in writing before the purchase.