Buying from a trader in the European Union gives you two main protections: a right to withdraw from distance purchases and a legal guarantee on goods. The European Union's Your Europe site explains both.

This guide is based on the public sources listed at the end. We have not tested the products or services mentioned.

This is a short reference page. The full guide is Online Shopping Rights and Returns: UK, EU, US and Canada Compared.

14-day withdrawal

  • You can cancel a distance purchase within 14 days with no reason. For goods it starts on delivery. For services it starts on the day the contract is agreed.
  • A deadline on a non-working day moves to the next working day.
  • The buyer pays postage for a cooling-off return unless the seller offers to pay or failed to tell the buyer about the cost before purchase. Returning defective goods is the trader's responsibility.

Exceptions

Travel and event tickets, hotel and car-rental bookings, catering for set dates, fast-spoiling food, made-to-order or personalized items, volatile-price fuels, opened sealed media and urgent repairs. Fully performed services and downloaded or streamed content can lose the right if you expressly agreed to start early.

  • Sellers must guarantee goods for at least 2 years from receipt (some countries give more).
  • Faulty goods must be repaired or replaced free. If that is impossible or too slow, you get a full or partial refund.
  • Defects appearing within 1 year are presumed to have existed at delivery, unless the seller proves otherwise (some countries extend this to 2 years).
  • Second-hand goods from professional sellers carry the same cover, though some countries allow a shorter period of at least 1 year if this is made clear.
  • Commercial guarantees add to your legal rights and cannot reduce them.
  • Digital content and services are covered for at least 2 years.

Limits

Purchases from private individuals, including many marketplace listings, are not covered. Start with the seller, and for cross-border problems contact the European Consumer Center.

Compare with the UK rules.

Last checked: 15 October 2026. Sources: Your Europe, returns; Your Europe, guarantees.