By not informing you of the prior damage, the dealer who sold you the car is in breach of The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations May 2008 (CPRs), which incorporate The Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002 and contain a general prohibition against unfair commercial practices and, in particular prohibitions against misleading actions, misleading omissions and aggressive commercial practices. The Regulations are enforceable through the civil and criminal courts.

The CPRs create an offence of misleading omissions which would not previously have been an offence if the consumer had not asked the right questions. So if a salesman knows a car has, for example, been badly damaged and repaired and does not tell the customer, he could later be held liable if the customer subsequently discovered that the car had been damaged and repaired. So, if you are prepared to take the matter to Small Claims you will almost inevitably win your case. More here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/ Small Claims here: www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money / But your problem might be that dealers working this end of the market often do not comply with County Court Judgements so it you get a ruling in your favour you need to pay an extra £80 for a High Court Sheriff's Enforcement Order that leaves the defendant with no right of appeal. Even then, if the dealer has no assets that can be seized, you may not get your money back.