Outstanding recalls on a car you are selling
The short answer
DVSA’s guidance for the used car trade says outstanding safety recalls must be attended to before a consumer buys the car. That is DVSA’s reading of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, which bar a distributor from supplying a product it knows or should presume is dangerous. Check every car, get recall work done through the manufacturer, and show the buyer the car is clear.
Buyers can see a car’s outstanding recalls on the free GOV.UK recall checker. A car sold with a safety recall still open is a problem for the buyer and for you. Here is what the rules say.
What the regulations say
The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 say a distributor must not supply “a product to any person which he knows or should have presumed, on the basis of information in his possession and as a professional, is a dangerous product” (regulation 8). DVSA notes that “the legislation does not distinguish between new and used products” (DVSA guide).
What DVSA says that means for dealers
DVSA’s guide for the used vehicle industry covers used car outlets, car supermarkets, franchised dealers, auction houses and online sellers. It says:
- DVSA “considers that this identifies that a product with an outstanding safety recall should not be passed to a consumer”.
- “If you are selling a vehicle to a consumer you will need to check for outstanding recalls and these safety recalls must be attended to prior to the consumer purchasing the vehicle.”
- “If you are passing vehicles within the trade you need to share information about any outstanding safety recalls.”
(DVSA guide to safety recalls, used vehicle industry.) DVSA’s code of practice on recalls, updated in March 2024, adds that recall work would normally be expected to be done, and where it cannot be, the customer should be briefed on how to reduce the risk.
This is DVSA’s guidance on how the regulations apply, not a separate law with those words in it.
What to do
- Check every car when it comes in, part-exchanges included.
- Get outstanding recall work done through the manufacturer. GOV.UK says owners will not usually have to pay for recall repairs or parts (check vehicle recall).
- Keep the proof and show the buyer the car has no outstanding safety recall.
A trade report shows the recall status beside the MOT, road tax and mileage at the top, so the buyer sees it in the first line of the document you hand them.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a law that says “fix recalls before you sell”?
Not in those words. The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 say a distributor must not supply a product it knows, or should presume, is dangerous. DVSA reads that as meaning a car with an outstanding safety recall should not be passed to a consumer.
Who pays for recall work?
GOV.UK says the manufacturer fixes or replaces the part, and owners will not usually have to pay for repairs or parts.
What about selling to another trader?
DVSA’s guide for the used vehicle industry says that when vehicles pass within the trade, you need to share information about any outstanding safety recalls.
How do I check a car for recalls?
Use the free GOV.UK recall checker, or enter the reg here: the free profile shows DVSA’s outstanding recall status for that car.
Sources
Checked on 25th September 2026. This page explains the rules in plain English; it is not legal advice.
- General Product Safety Regulations 2005, regulation 8 (duties of distributors)
- DVSA: a guide to safety recalls in the used vehicle industry (issue 3, April 2014, PDF)
- DVSA: vehicle safety defects and recalls, code of practice (updated 6th March 2024)
- GOV.UK: check if a vehicle, part or accessory has been recalled