Consumer returns and warranty in United Kingdom (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: In the United Kingdom consumers can cancel distance purchases within 14 days. There is no right to return a shop purchase just because you changed your mind. Faulty goods can be rejected within 30 days, and faults in the first 6 months are presumed to have been there at delivery.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Right to cancel online purchasesReturning a purchase | Consumers can cancel a distance or off-premises contract within 14 days without giving a reason. For goods the period ends 14 days after the day the goods come into the physical possession of the consumer or a person named by the consumer (other than the carrier). After telling the trader, the consumer has another 14 days to return the goods. [1] |
| Returns from shopsReturning a purchase | A shop does not have to take back goods the customer no longer wants (for example the wrong size or colour) when they were bought in person and seen before buying. The right to return goods bought in person applies to faulty goods and to goods not as described. [2] |
| Legal guarantee for defectsReturning a purchase | There is no fixed guarantee term. The consumer has a short-term right to reject faulty goods within 30 days of delivery (shorter for perishable goods), then a right to repair or replacement and a final right to a price reduction or to reject. A claim can be made for up to 6 years after the purchase (5 years in Scotland), under GOV.UK guidance. [3] |
| Burden of proofReturning a purchase | Goods that do not conform to the contract within 6 months of delivery are taken not to have conformed on the day of delivery, unless the trader establishes that they did conform or the presumption does not fit the goods or the fault. After 6 months the customer can be asked to prove the item was faulty when bought. [4] |
| Goods excluded from cancellingReturning a purchase | The 14-day cancellation right does not apply to: goods or services priced on financial markets; goods made to the consumer's specification or clearly personalised; goods that deteriorate or expire rapidly; alcohol priced now but delivered after 30 days with a market-dependent value; urgent repair visits requested by the consumer; newspapers, periodicals and magazines (not subscriptions); public auctions; and accommodation, transport of goods, vehicle rental, catering or leisure services for a specific date. It also ends if sealed hygiene goods, sealed audio, video or software are unsealed, or goods are inseparably mixed with other items. [5] |
Sources
- legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives): The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, regulation 30 (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- GOV.UK: Accepting returns and giving refunds: the law - GOV.UK (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives): Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 22 (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives): Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 19 (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives): The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, regulation 28 (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.