Which Copy of the Car Purchase Invoice Should the Owner Keep?
3 Answers
The car owner should keep the sixth copy of the car purchase invoice. A standard car purchase invoice is a computer-generated six-copy document. 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, which is the one the owner should retain. Below are the details of each copy: 1. First Copy: The invoice copy serves as the payment voucher for the purchasing unit (usually the 4S dealership) and is typically brown in color. 2. Second Copy: This is the tax deduction voucher for the purchasing unit and is green in color. 3. Third Copy: The tax payment copy is retained by the vehicle purchase tax collection unit and is purple in color. 4. Fourth Copy: The registration copy is kept by the vehicle registration unit and is blue in color. 5. Fifth Copy: The accounting copy serves as the accounting voucher for the selling unit and is red in color. 6. Sixth Copy: The stub copy is retained by the selling unit and is black in color.
When I first bought my car, the salesperson emphasized the importance of keeping the second copy of the purchase invoice, which is specifically the owner's proof. He said buying a car is like handling a major event, and this piece of paper is particularly crucial because it is not only needed for vehicle registration and recording information at the DMV but also involves troublesome matters like insurance claims and accident settlements. Initially, I didn’t take it seriously and casually tossed it into a drawer. Later, during the annual inspection, the staff asked to check it, and I had to search high and low for it. Now, I’ve learned my lesson and suggest that after buying a car, you should immediately confirm this copy and make a duplicate to keep on hand, so you don’t have to go through the same hassle as I did.
My friend always asks me about car stuff, and I just tell him: the car owner should keep the second copy of the invoice, which is the invoice copy. This copy serves as proof of your car purchase and is needed for license plate registration and insurance. Last time, my neighbor's car was stolen, and the insurance company required him to submit the original invoice to verify the value—luckily he had kept the second copy. I think everyone should develop good habits and not carelessly discard documents. Take a photo with your phone and store it in the cloud for easy access. Small details in life shouldn’t be overlooked, especially for big-ticket items.
