Is a car sale final after you drive it off the lot?
This is just an opinion, not legal advice.This question sounds like it's really a proxy for "is a contract binding?"The answer is "yes," but with caveats too numerous to mention.Driving a car off a lot doesn't have any special legal significance. Even a handshake deal isn't usually enforceable (at least unless you have recorded evidence of the agreement, like a video - otherwise it's just your word against the other party's).If I were in this situation, I would remind the dealer that I signed a contract agreeing on a specific payment schedule. If this has changed, I'd ask them to cite where exactly the contract states that they're allowed to change the payment terms at will. If they can't do so, I would tell them that I plan to continue to honor the original terms of the contract. If they threaten legal action, repossession, etc., then I'd have to decide whether it's worth my time to fight it legally, or whether I should just negotiate a deal to return the car, nullify the contract, and take my business elsewhere. I'd almost certainly try the latter first.One thing to note, though - based on how you worded the question, it sounds like you may have fallen victim to a common dealer trick, which is to obfuscate the total cost of a car loan by focusing only on the payments. Many people care more about the impact to their monthly budget than about how much they're actually going to pay in total, so dealers exploit this by mentioning the term of the loan (e.g., 60 months) only in the fine print. If your girlfriend had an impression of what the car would cost in total (based on advertising, the sticker price or MSRP) and the dealer has now informed her that it's higher than what she expected, then this may be the reason why. Unfortunately, that's almost certainly written in the contract, and whatever is in the contract will override anything that the dealer may have told her through advertising or even verbally.
Can I back out of a new car contract, if I havn't taken delivery?
First of all, until you take delivery of the vehicle, you have received no consideration for the contract (legal term), which means it is not enforceable! Second, any dealer that would try to force you to follow through with a deal is a fool. In the time it would take for the issue to go through the courts, he could have sold the car to someone else. They may try to convince you to follow through, but the buyers order (what you signed) is not binding!! Until you take delivery, and drive the car over the curb, the deal is not binding!
Where can I find a dealership in Sacramento that will sell me a car if I only have my permit, and haven't taken the driver's test yet?
There is no Legal requirement to have a Driver’s License in California to purchase a car. You will need some legal identification however. You would obviously be unable to legally drive the vehicle with only a Learner’s permit; however it is possible to insure the car and register the car in the state without a Driver’s license.Here is one site discussing it[1].A Dealership wants to make money, without liability. To do that they want to find a buyer that can pay for the car (cash, finance, etc.) and prove there is insurance before it leaves the lot. If you have those things, you should be able to complete a purchase.Edit: I’ve got some grief for My answer. Others are assuming the OP doesn’t have a valid Driver’s License AND is under the legal age of 18. Being a minor does change things, but only that more Dealerships will balk at entering into a legal contract (eg: sale of vehicle) with a minor that does not have the legal binding.It is not illegal, but it is not something a Dealership might risk.Can I legally buy a car at the age of 16 in California without my parents? If so can I buy it from a dealer or can I only buy it privately?At what age can a teen own a car?However, the OP did not state the issue being under 18, only that they did not yet posses a valid DL, only a permit. My answer stands for a prospective Buyer over 18 that can afford to buy a car prior to acquiring a valid Driver’s License.Footnotes[1] Loophole lets unlicensed buy vehicles
Can I cancel a new car purchase contract in California, if I haven't received the delivery of the vehicle yet?
If you executed a contract and paid for the car or signed a finance contract completing the associated paperwork then you indeed own the vehicle. You don't need to drive it off the lot to obtain ownership it just has to be paid in full. The bank contract secures the dealers interest in payment.If you traded a car you really didn't trade it. You sold it. The dealer executed paperwork buying your existing automobile.I've worked in many stores over 40 years. Unwinding a deal is a big deal. It's almost never done. If the title work has been processed the new vehicle is now a used car. I've often sold trades within an hour of acquiring them. The F&I departments number 1 job is to lock the deal down. Period. It's job as a profit center is 2nd.With that said… what's the reason to unwind?Death, Divorce, layoffs? You need to appeal to the general manager. But California… the original birthplace of hard selling culture. Home of Cal Worthington, Chick Lambert, Larry Robinson and Ralph Williams. Good luck. These names will not reasonate with anybody but old dogs like me but they are the reason consumer laws were enacted. All of these guys were hard selling notorious California Automobile Dealers. Want a laugh or be shocked. You Tube their old commercials.I sincerely hope you are able to escape a purchase you don't want to complete. But I suspect you are an owner.Good luck.
My son bought a new car, the contract is signed and he drove it home. The dealership called and said that he was not approved for the loan and to bring the car back. What should he do?
Unfortunately these things do happen. What happens is the dealership will “roll the car” and try to work out the financing later. By working out the financing later I mean they did not get an approval or they had an approval based on stipulations (i/e Your son was looking at a $25k car, he was putting $2,000 dn but the bank came back saying they needed more money down or they will only finance him $17k). The hope being that the dealership can call the bank and try to sell them on the loan.HERE is what your son has to do. To begin with, with no financing secured there is no contract so he has to return the car.With that said the dealership HAS TO give him back his down payment IN FULL. They can not charge him for usage, a restocking fee, nothing. If he put down $2k the dealership has to give him back the $2k.When he returns the car, make sure its in the morning or early afternoon while the business office is still open so he can receive his check on the same day he returns the car.Most business offices at dealerships close at 5pm. If he goes in after 5pm he will have to wait the till the next day to get his money back.
Second thoughts on buying a new car?
The simple answer to your question is yes, you can walk away from the deal. Possession is 9/10 ths of the law. The deal isn't done until you take delivery. Also, be very cautious with some answers you receive. The answer by jaded is just plain wrong. If you have a credit score of under 500 you'll need money and/or cosigner. She's crazy. If she works in the business, she must be a porter.
If I signed the contract for a new car, but never took possession of the car, can I cancel the deal?
I made the deal at 11.30 pm at night as th dealer was not allowing any other way. I was unsure but he convinced me otherwise. I signed the deal, paid deposit money, left without the possession of the car and without any insurance papers. After reaching home I realised what I had done, I stopped the check first thing in morning and called the finance manager of the dealer. But he didn't pick up the phone, so I left voice mail. Further I mailed and faxed the letter saying I am cancelling the deal. Am I still tied to the contract that I was really pressured to sign? It was the next day at morning around 8.15 am when I called them up and I have stopped the payment but I worry they could try to force me to stick with the deal. I never test drove the car because it was brand new and just packed. They of course told me that they would deliver the car at my conveinence. I was supposed to give my electricity bill and insurance papers when they would do the delivery. I fell for it. What is their recourse against me. I have my check. I never drove the car. Can they still try to charge my account or sue for the down payment? Will it affect my credit history, as I had signed the loan papers with them?