Car Dealer Buyer's Order Checklist

What it should state. What's commonly not stated. What to ask before you sign.

You're about to sign a buyer's order at a car dealer. This page lists what a complete one states, the lines that are commonly not stated, and the questions worth asking before your name goes on it.

This is a reading checklist, not advice. Spend Defense doesn't tell you whether to sign — we make sure you've actually seen what's on the page, and what isn't.

What a complete buyer's order states

The out-the-door total — the full amount including vehicle price, taxes, title, and every fee, as one number.
Vehicle identity — year, make, model, trim, and the VIN of the actual car being sold.
Each fee, named — documentation fee, title/registration, dealer prep — listed individually rather than bundled into one unexplained line.
Trade-in, as two numbers — the value given for your trade and the payoff owed on it, stated separately (the difference matters).
Add-ons, itemized — protection packages, appearance plans, VIN etching, nitrogen, accessories: each named with its own price.
Down payment and amount due — cash down, rebates applied, and the amount still to be paid or financed.
Odometer statement — the mileage disclosure, signed separately or included.
Delivery terms — whether the price is final today or "subject to" anything (financing approval, rebate changes, manager review).

What's commonly not stated

What each add-on actually is — names like "protection package" don't say what they cover, for how long, or who provides them.
Whether add-ons were optional — items may appear pre-printed on the form whether or not they were discussed.
The financing terms — the buyer's order often isn't the loan; APR, term, and total of payments live on a separate document you may sign minutes later.
Spot-delivery conditions — if the deal is "subject to financing," the buyer's order may not spell out what happens if the financing falls through.
Fee explanations — a doc fee is a real line, but "prep" or "reconditioning" on a new car may duplicate what's already in the price.

None of these gaps decide anything by themselves. They're the lines to ask about before you sign, not after.

Questions to ask before you sign

“Is this the out-the-door total — everything, including tax and all fees?”
“Can you walk me through each fee line and tell me what it is?”
“What is my trade worth, and what do I owe on it — as two separate numbers?”
“Which of these add-ons are optional, and what does each one cover?”
“Is this deal final today, or subject to financing approval?”

Want a second set of eyes on the actual document?

Send us the paperwork before you sign. A Quick Check reads your document and shows you what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask — for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Longer documents: Document Review $19, Premium Review $49.

Check my document →

We don't decide for you. We make sure nothing on the page — or missing from it — surprises you later.

FAQ

How much should a car cost out the door?

We don't price other people's cars, and there's no standard markup to compare against — the same model sells at different totals across dealers and days. What matters on this page is simpler: the buyer's order should state the full total, every fee named, your trade as two numbers. If it doesn't, ask before signing.

What if something on this checklist is missing from my buyer's order?

Ask for it in writing before you sign. A fee you can't get explained, or a trade figure you can't get split in two, is an unknown in a binding document. Getting it stated costs nothing at the desk — and is much harder after delivery.

Can Spend Defense read my actual buyer's order?

Yes — that's the Quick Check. Send the document and you'll get back what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask, for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Buying paperwork is often exactly the length the Quick Check was built for.

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Spend Defense — we read the paperwork before you sign. We don't decide for you.