Consumer returns and warranty in Hungary (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: In Hungary consumers can withdraw from distance and off-premises contracts within 14 days without giving a reason (Decree 45/2014). No law obliges a shop to take back goods bought in a traditional shop. A defect found within one year of delivery is presumed to have existed at delivery.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Right to cancel online purchasesReturning a purchase | For distance and off-premises contracts the consumer has a right to withdraw without giving a reason within 14 days. For the sale of goods the period runs from the day the consumer, or a third party named by them other than the carrier, takes the goods. [1] |
| Returns from shopsReturning a purchase | For goods bought in a traditional shop, no law obliges the trader to take them back. Many shops offer to exchange or refund goods voluntarily. [2] |
| Legal guarantee for defectsReturning a purchase | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Burden of proofReturning a purchase | Until proven otherwise, a defect found within one year of delivery of the goods is presumed to have existed at delivery, unless this does not fit the nature of the goods or the defect. [3] |
| Goods excluded from cancellingReturning a purchase | The consumer cannot use the right to withdraw, among others, for goods made to the consumer's instructions or clearly personalised, goods that spoil quickly, sealed goods unsuitable for return for health or hygiene reasons once opened, goods inseparably mixed with others, sealed recordings or software once opened, newspapers and periodicals (except subscriptions), public auctions, and digital content not on a physical medium after performance began with the consumer's consent. [1] |
Notes
- The period for defect claims is set by the Civil Code (Ptk.), whose text could not be read in full on the legal portal. Decree 373/2021 adds that a repair extends the period once by twelve months.
Sources
- Nemzeti Jogszabálytár (Magyar Jogi Információs Portál): 45/2014. (II. 26.) Korm. rendelet a fogyasztó és a vállalkozás közötti szerződések részletes szabályairól (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- Magyarország Kormánya (kormany.hu): Karácsonyi fogyasztóvédelmi jótanácsok – Vásárlás tudatosan, az ünnepi időszakban is (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- Nemzeti Jogszabálytár (Magyar Jogi Információs Portál): 373/2021. (VI. 30.) Korm. rendelet a fogyasztó és vállalkozás közötti, az áruk adásvételére, valamint a digitális tartalom szolgáltatására és digitális szolgáltatások nyújtására irányuló szerződések részletes szabályairól (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.