Why wasn't a contract provided when purchasing a car?
2 Answers
The reasons for not receiving a contract when purchasing a car are as follows: 1. Salesperson oversight: Due to the negligence of sales staff, they may forget to provide the purchase contract to the consumer. In such cases, the consumer should proactively request the contract from the salesperson. 2. 4S shop contract retrieval: Some 4S shops may retrieve the contract after vehicle delivery, even though all prices are clearly stated in the contract. This is often done to prevent customers from discovering potential issues upon closer examination of the contract later. 3. Dealer contract retrieval: To avoid certain responsibilities during after-sales services and prevent customers from reviewing the contract again, dealers may retrieve the contract either at the time of purchase or after vehicle delivery.
During my time working at a car dealership, I noticed there are mainly three situations where buyers don't receive their contracts: either the salesperson forgot to provide it during an incomplete process, or the customer was too busy taking delivery to notice. The most troublesome scenario is when small local dealerships intentionally withhold contracts, making it difficult for customers to protect their rights later. Not having the contract directly affects insurance purchase, warranty claims, and future vehicle transfers - I've frequently seen customers facing frustrations at both the DMV and insurance companies. My advice is to verify all documents against the checklist immediately after payment. If the salesperson says 'the company will mail it to you after stamping,' insist on getting a handwritten commitment letter with the company stamp. Nowadays, recording the entire process with your phone is also a good practice. When taking delivery, it's best to bring along a car-savvy friend to help keep an eye on things.
