For context, I purchased this vehicle (Vauxhall Astra) from a local garage with a 3rd Party Lender on Car Finance in September of 2025. It has recently developed an issue which will result in the Engine restart being prevented after x amount miles (currently at ~350).
I took it to a registered Vauxhall mechanic/dealer to be inspected and repaired but they have informed me that they will not perform any work on the car because:
- The vehicle has been illegally modified
- The DPF system has been completely removed (gutted)
- The vehicles MOT certificate is likely invalid and it should not have passed (Passed by the garage who sold me the vehicle)
- It is not in alignment with the UKs emissions regulation
- Quote of £6000 to return the vehicle to a roadworthy and legal condition
Of course none of this was disclosed in the original advert for the car, and was not disclosed to me at the time of sale.
I have contacted both my finance company and the garage, explaining the issue and stating that I would like to reject the vehicle under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 as the vehicle is not of satisfactory quality, not fit for purpose, and not as described at the time of sale. Given the seriousness of these faults, they constitute a fundamental breach of contract. The garage has pushed back saying to me that they were not aware of any of these issues at the time of sale and that they would have picked up on these issues on their MOT, of which I suspect this is where they are lying/being unfaithful as in the nicest way possible, it does not appear to be the most reputable establishment if you understand me.
Now I categorically have not made these modifications to the vehicle, I know next to nothing about cars besides how to drive them. The garage are essentially asking me to prove that the modification was in place before the point of purchase but I don't know how to do that?
I am looking at £6000 repairs OR £6.5k to buy out of the finance, neither of which I can afford. What are my options from a legal point of view, what can I do? Ideally I would like the car returned and all money paid by me returned as I have been paying for an illegal vehicle? I don't know if this is worth a solicitor or small claims court I really don't know what to do?
I have a video from the mechanic detailing the issue but nothing really establishing a timeline of when the modifications took place, and I am trying to get some more information from them at this time regarding the vehicle.
Additionally, there was some other issue with the car when I bought it which resulted in it going back to this garage for about 3 weeks for them to fix/replace something, after which the garage offered me a free MOT and Service next year for my troubles which I am suspecting is so they can pass the cars MOT and not draw any suspicion to the vehicle??
Please help, any advice is welcome and I can answer any questions.
Thank you