FINAL REVIEW
Buyer's-order checklist
Do not rush because the payment “looks right.” Match the paper to the deal you actually accepted.
Vehicle
- VIN, year, make, model, trim, mileage, and stock number match the vehicle.
- New, used, certified, demo, prior-rental, or other status is accurately described.
- Included equipment and dealer-installed accessories match what was promised.
Price and discounts
- Selling price matches the final written quote.
- Every discount and rebate is listed separately.
- You actually qualify for every conditional rebate shown.
- No trade allowance or down payment is being used to disguise the vehicle price.
Taxes, fees, and products
- Sales tax rate and taxable amount are reasonable for the transaction.
- Government title, registration, and license charges are separated from dealer fees.
- Every documentation or processing fee matches the quote.
- Every add-on has a name and price, and you intentionally agreed to it.
- Products you declined are removed from both the buyer's order and financing.
Trade-in
- Trade allowance matches the written offer.
- Loan payoff is current and belongs to the correct lender and account.
- Positive or negative equity is calculated correctly.
- The contract shows exactly how negative equity is paid or financed.
Financing
- Amount financed reconciles with price, tax, fees, trade, payoff, and cash down.
- APR—not only the payment—matches the offer you accepted.
- Loan term and number of payments are correct.
- Finance charge and total of payments are visible.
- No optional credit product was added as a condition of approval without explanation.
- There are no blank spaces or promised changes that exist only verbally.
Before taking delivery
- You received complete copies of everything signed.
- Warranty and optional-product contracts are included.
- Any remaining repair, accessory, or delivery promise is written and signed.
- Insurance is active and the final payment fits the full ownership budget.
If the price, APR, term, down payment, trade figure, or products differ from the agreement, pause and recalculate before signing.
Worked example: find the unexplained $1,200
A fictional buyer agrees to a $28,500 vehicle, $700 dealer fee, $350 government fees, and $1,752 tax. The tax is an assumed quoted amount for this exercise, not a state calculation. The trade is worth $9,000, its payoff is $6,000, and the buyer brings $2,500 cash.
| Line | Expected amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle + dealer + government fees + tax | $31,302 |
| Trade allowance − payoff | $3,000 positive equity |
| Cash down | $2,500 |
| Expected amount financed | $25,802 |
| Amount financed shown on hypothetical contract | $27,002 |
| Difference to explain | $1,200 |
The difference does not tell you which line is wrong. It tells you to request the itemization. A newly added product, a different payoff, an omitted deposit, or another financed charge could explain it. Resolve the line that changed before accepting an explanation based only on the monthly payment.
Keep three documents side by side
The written quote records the proposed purchase. The buyer's order itemizes the vehicle transaction. The financing agreement describes the credit obligation. Labels differ, so compare what each amount represents. A total that includes finance charges will not equal the purchase total before financing.
Check deposits without counting them twice
If you already paid a $500 deposit and your agreed total cash contribution is $2,500, the remaining cash may be $2,000. Make the paperwork show how the deposit is credited. Do not enter $2,500 plus $500 into the calculator unless you actually intend a $3,000 total contribution.
Use the calculator as a cross-check
Enter the final written numbers in the purchase calculator, then compare its amount financed with the contract. If the payment differs, check the interest rate, number of payments, first due date, and additional credit charges. The estimator assumes equal monthly payments; the contract may use daily accrual or different timing. Keep complete copies of the signed documents, including any separate product agreements.
Examples created for DealProof; hypothetical figures, not customer transactions. Calculations checked September 11, 2026. Calculation assumptions.
Consumer references: the FTC advises buyers to understand the financing agreement, read the contract, compare offers, and obtain promises in writing. Last reviewed September 3, 2026.