This guide provides information on the ACL for the motor car and motorcycle sales and repair industries.

It covers issues about which industry bodies have requested more detailed guidance and which consumers have frequently reported to national, state and territory consumer protection agencies.

This information will be relevant to:

• licensed motor vehicle traders (including of cars and motorcycles)
• mechanics and repair shops
• motor vehicle manufacturers
• motor vehicle industry associations.

The guide’s main focus is on consumer issues related to defects and failures (both one-off and repeated) in new and used motor vehicles. In particular, it provides guidance on the legal rights and obligations created by consumer guarantees provided by the ACL.

Remedies are available when motor vehicles do not meet the consumer guarantees in a way that is a:

• major failure
• minor failure that cannot be fixed, or
• minor failure that can be fixed but is not fixed within a reasonable time.

What is not in this guide

This guide gives general information and examples – not legal advice or a definitive list of situations where the ACL applies. You should not rely on this guide for complete information on all your obligations under the ACL. In addition, this guide does not cover your obligations under state and territory motor car trader licensing laws.

This guide supplements the ACL guides for business and legal practitioners:

• Consumer guarantees
• Sales practices
• A guide to unfair contract terms law
• Avoiding unfair business practices
• Compliance and enforcement: how regulators enforce the Australian Consumer Law
• Product safety.

This guide gives general information and examples – not legal advice or a definitive list of situations where the ACL applies. You should not rely on this guide for complete information on all your obligations under the ACL. 

Go to the Australian Consumer Law websiteconsumerlaw.gov.au