Guarantee period on second-hand goods, by country
EU law reduces the guarantee on used goods from 24 months to 12 months; most sellers cannot shorten it further. Non-EU countries vary widely.
| Country | Minimum guarantee period | Can seller shorten it? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 12 months | No (for consumer goods) | Reduced from 24 months for new goods |
Under review
The statute text for these countries has changed since we last checked it, so their figures are hidden until we review them again: Germany, Spain, Austria, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Australia, Japan.
Country by country
France
- Rule
- Code de la consommation L217-7
- For used goods in consumer sales, the guarantee period is 12 months instead of 24 months; cannot be shortened by contract
Pour les biens d'occasion, ce délai est fixé à douze mois Countries not in this table yet
No additional live countries are missing for this guide.
How this table was built
Every row is taken from the official, consolidated text of the statute, which LawAsked loads from each government’s legislation service.
Each figure is tied to a passage quoted word for word from that text. When the page is served, it checks that every quoted passage is still in the current text of a law that is in force; if a law is amended and its wording changes, that row is hidden until a person reviews it again.
The table shows the statutory minimum only. Collective agreements, awards and individual contracts often give more than the statute, and some countries let a collective agreement set different terms.
Use this data
The table and the CSV are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit LawAsked and link to this page. Quoted statute text stays under the terms of its official source.
How to cite this page
LawAsked, “Guarantee period on second-hand goods, by country”, https://lawasked.com/guides/second-hand-goods-guarantee (reviewed October 25, 2026).
Important Legal Disclaimer
General legal information, not formal legal advice. The information provided on LawAsked does not constitute formal legal advice and creates no attorney-client relationship. If you require legal assistance, please consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.