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Car Shopping Help :: Paperwork

Completing Your New Car Paperwork

You want to do the final step right - double check all the paperwork, examine your car closely, and avoid any hassles.

Objectives:
1. Finalizing your new car purchase
2. Understand best way to proceed

Advantages:
1. Not getting ripped off at the last minute
2. Taking your time and doing it right

Action item:
1. Closing the deal at the dealership

Time required:
1. Completing paperwork: 30--45 minutes

What to expect
You are on your way to the dealer to pick up your new car. You’re excited and elated. You are also extremely vulnerable! Most people rush through the last step, exposing themselves to considerable financial harm as a result.

Here’s what’s ahead of you:

  1. Vehicle inspection - inside & out
  2. Test drive your new car
  3. Problem correction and/or documentation
  4. Paperwork review
  5. Paperwork correction
  6. Paperwork signing

You need to be thorough and cautious. That way, when you drive off in your new car there won’t be any unpleasant surprises.

What to bring
Don’t just rush to the dealership unprepared.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  1. Your new car folder with online quotes
  2. Your winning dealer’s price quote
  3. Four inspection checklists we provide
  4. Calculator for checking paperwork numbers
  5. Notepad for recording extra information

What to watch out for
There are plenty of things to watch out for during this step. That’s why we provide you with four checklists for inspecting the car.

We’ve also provided a paperwork checklist to remind you of what to watch out for on the paperwork.

Here are the general categories:

  1. Correct model information
  2. Correct option list
  3. Correct base price
  4. Correct option pricing
  5. Correct fees per quote
  6. Correct down payment
  7. Correct math
  8. All items complete
  9. All blank spots marked off and initialed

Use this paperwork checklist only after completing a thorough vehicle inspection and test drive. If the vehicle is a lemon or even if it only has a minor defect (or two), then you want to catch it now.

Otherwise, the problem is much harder to deal with. In fact, you might find that you are 100% responsible for fixing any problem that wasn’t reported.

Buying a new car is a big purchase. Take the time to do it right.

Related: Forms      Related: Inspection      Related: Insurance