cancel car contract after cooling-off period vic

In Victoria, once the statutory cooling‑off window has closed—typically three clear business days for most used‑car purchases from a licensed trader, and not available for auction sales—the deal is generally locked in. After that, you can usually only unwind it if there’s a breach or a legal right kicks in: think major fault under the Australian Consumer Law, not‑as‑described or misleading conduct, odometer/title problems, or failure to deliver as agreed. New‑car contracts don’t usually have a statutory cooling‑off at all. For context, if you do cancel within the window, the trader may keep the prescribed fee (the greater of $400 or 2% of the purchase price). Pragmatic next steps: put your complaint in writing, assemble evidence, talk to Consumer Affairs Victoria, and be ready for VCAT if it needs a referee. Sorry—no magic eject button, but there are levers if the car or contract isn’t what was promised.