What to check before signing a car contract: a 15-point checklist

Before you sign at the dealership, check the car, the price, every fee and add-on, your trade-in and deposit, and the loan terms. A printable checklist, and the questions to ask when something does not match.

By Eyal Malka · November 7, 2026

The paperwork at the end of a car purchase arrives fast and in a stack. Most of it is standard, but a few minutes of checking can catch a wrong number before it becomes your number. Here is a checklist, in the order the documents usually present things.

Take a photo of each page before you sign. You are allowed to read what you are signing, and to ask for time to do it.

The car

1. The VIN on the paperwork matches the VIN on the car. Check the dashboard plate or the driver's door jamb.
2. Year, make, model and trim are right. The trim decides the equipment.
3. The mileage is right (for a used car), and matches the odometer.
4. For a used car, the FTC Buyers Guide is on the window, showing whether it is sold with a warranty or as is. The final contract should match what it says.

The price

1. The selling price is the one you agreed. Compare it with the written quote you were given.
2. Every discount and rebate is there, once each, and you qualify for each rebate. See rebate vs dealer discount.
3. Every fee is named and itemized. No single "fees" line. You know what each one is. See dealer fees explained.
4. Every add-on is one you chose. No new products appeared since the quote. See dealer add-ons explained.
5. The lines add up to the total. Rebuild it: how to calculate the out-the-door price.

What you are paying

1. Your deposit is credited. If you paid one, it is listed.
2. Your down payment is the amount you agreed.
3. Your trade-in allowance and payoff are both shown, and the payoff matches your lender's figure. See negative equity explained.

The loan (if you finance)

1. The amount financed equals the total, minus what you are paying, plus any payoff. If it is higher, something was added. See amount financed vs out-the-door price.
2. The APR, number of payments, payment amount and any balloon are what you were told, and the total of payments makes sense. See APR vs interest rate and loan length.
3. The first payment date and the lender are right, and you know how to make payments.

If something does not match

Ask, calmly and specifically. It is often a typing error or a line in a different place, and it is much easier to fix before you sign than after.

• "This total is $[amount] more than the lines add up to. Which line is it?"
• "This [product] wasn't on the quote. Is it optional? Please take it off."
• "My deposit of $[amount] isn't on here. Where is it credited?"
• "The payment on the quote was $[amount] for [number] months. Why is it different here?"
• "Can I have a moment to read this, or take a copy home?"

Check the paperwork with us before you go

Photograph the buyer's order or quote and upload it to Explain My Dealer Quote (you can black out your name and account numbers first). You confirm the figures it reads, and it checks the totals, the amount financed and the payment against the quote's own lines, lists anything missing, explains each fee and add-on, and gives you questions to ask, plus a reply you can send. Comparing offers? Use Compare Dealer Quotes.

Frequently asked questions

What should I look for before signing a car purchase contract?

Check that the vehicle details match the car, the price and every fee and add-on match what you agreed, the lines add up, your deposit, down payment and trade-in are credited, and the loan terms (amount financed, APR, number of payments, payment and total of payments) are what you were told.

Can I take a car contract home before signing it?

You can always ask, and you can always photograph it. If a dealer will not let you review the paperwork, that is worth noticing.

What if the numbers on the contract are different from the quote?

Ask the dealer to explain each difference, and to correct anything that is a mistake before you sign. Keep the written quote to compare against.

Can a car contract be cancelled after signing?

In many places there is no general cooling-off period for car purchases, although some dealers, states or products have their own rules. Do not assume you can cancel later; check before you sign.

What is the FTC Buyers Guide?

It is a notice that US dealers must display on used cars they sell, stating whether the car comes with a warranty or is sold as is. The terms in it become part of the sale contract.