How Many Copies of the Car Purchase Invoice Should Individuals Keep?
3 Answers
Car owners should keep the sixth copy of the car purchase invoice. A standard car purchase invoice is a computer-generated six-part invoice. The first copy is the invoice copy, the second is the tax deduction copy, the third is the tax payment copy, the fourth is the registration copy, the fifth is the accounting copy, and the sixth is the stub copy. Car owners should retain the stub copy. Here are the details: 1. First Copy: The first copy serves as the payment voucher for the purchasing unit, which is retained by the 4S store, typically in brown. 2. Second Copy: The second copy is the tax deduction voucher for the purchasing unit, in green. 3. Third Copy: The third copy is the tax payment copy, retained by the vehicle purchase tax collection unit, in purple. 4. Fourth Copy: The fourth copy is the registration copy, retained by the vehicle registration unit, in blue. 5. Fifth Copy: The fifth copy is the accounting copy, serving as the accounting voucher for the selling unit, in red. 6. Sixth Copy: The sixth copy is the stub copy retained by the selling unit, in black.
I've bought several cars, and each time after the purchase, the salesperson would mention that the invoice comes in three copies: the invoice copy is for me to keep personally, the accounting copy goes to the dealership, and the stub copy is kept in their archives. This copy must never be lost because it serves as the legal birth certificate of the car. It's needed for warranty claims to verify the purchase date, for second-hand market valuation during resale, and to prove the actual value when filing insurance claims. I also recommend making an electronic backup to store on your phone or cloud storage, while keeping the original in a fireproof file cabinet. A friend of mine once lost the invoice copy and ended up paying more for parts during repairs due to lack of proof, so it's always good to ask the salesperson for advice on safer storage methods—it saves hassle and ensures peace of mind.
As a newbie who just bought my first car, after paying, the salesperson handed me the invoice and explained there were three copies. The bright red invoice copy was for me to keep, while the other two copies were taken by them. At first, I didn't quite understand why I only needed one copy, but later when registering the license plate and buying insurance, I had to present it, and then I realized this was a crucial document. In case of resale or warranty claims, without this piece of paper, it would be difficult to prove the car's origin and price. I keep it in a small box on my bedside table—mustn't be careless and lose it, otherwise, getting a replacement would mean a tiring trip to the DMV. The learning process was quite interesting.
