What to Bring When You're Buying a Car

The number one thing people find most annoying when buying a vehicle is the time it takes for the entire process. However, the bulk of time spent buying a car can be avoided if your are well prepared and bring in everything you need at time of purchase.

Buying a New Car? You need these things:

Driver’s license
Anybody who is going to test drive the vehicle, and especially the person purchasing must bring their valid driver’s license to the dealership. Your license must be valid and not expired. If your driver’s license is from another country, it’s a good idea to let the dealer know beforehand, although this should not prevent you from purchasing or driving a car.

Proof of insurance
You also need proof of automotive insurance when buying a new car. Forgetting to bring proof of insurance is one of the most common things that slows down the purchase process. Avoid delays at the dealership by making sure you have a copy of your auto insurance policy with you, and if you can’t find it, call your insurance agent and get a copy from them.

Form of payment
If you are going to pay all in cash, it’s easy. Bring the total amount of cash to the dealership at purchase. But the clear majority of automotive purchases are not done with cash. If you are getting a loan, or looking to lease your new vehicle, you will be required to complete detailed financing or lease forms. Luckily, with the advent of the internet, you can now do the majority of this online, in advance of your visit to the dealership. Don’t forget to bring your down payment or “due at signing” funds as well. If you are paying that amount by check, contact your dealer to see if you need to provide a “cashier’s check” for the amount you have to pay at purchase. Some dealers and/or amounts of deposit require more security than regular personal checks.

Recent pay stubs
If you plan on financing or leasing your vehicle through the dealership, you may have to show proof of your recent employment, and proof of employment for all co-purchasers or guarantors associated with the purchase. It’s best to bring a couple of your most recent pay stubs to address this requirement.

Credit score and history
The dealership will be able to pull your credit score and history. But it’s a good idea for everyone to check your credit score yourself and review before you go to the dealership.  You should check for signs of unpaid or late bills and resolve them before the dealership or any other lender does a formal credit score pull. Moreover, by knowing your credit score in advance, you’ll be better prepared to know what type of financing or lease terms you’ll be able to obtain.

What to Bring to Trade in Your Car

If you’re going to trade in a vehicle you currently own when you buy your new car, you will need to bring additional items to make sure the purchase goes smoothly:

Current certificate of title (Pink Slip)
The dealership will help you transfer your car’s title to them. But they will need the original Certificate of Title for the vehicle. If you can’t find your Pink Slip, contact your local DMV to get a duplicate, but be prepared to pay a fee.

Current vehicle registration
You also need to provide the dealer with your current vehicle registration. If your vehicle registration is expired, you can still trade it in, but the dealer will most likely deduct an amount needed to bring the registration up to date from your trade-in value.

All sets of vehicle keys
When you trade-in your vehicle, you need to provide at least one full set of keys. It’s better to bring at least two sets of keys with you, since you’re usually provided with two sets at time of purchase. If you only provide one set of keys, the dealer would have to pay to duplicate the key if they resell the vehicle you trade in. And whatever the dealer has to pay to make the vehicle resalable, generally comes out of trade-in value. Don’t forget any ancillary keys if your vehicle has different keys for the trunk, doors or trailer hitch and the engine, or if you have a commercial vehicle with additional storage areas that use other keys.


Clear out your vehicle
It’s not necessary to have your trade-in washed and detailed, but you should pull out all of your personal belongings ahead of time. That way you will be less likely to leave behind something important to you.  Make sure you check the trunk (including any storage areas under the trunk or storage area floor), and check all glove and storage compartments, chair back pockets and cup holders. Make sure any equipment that came with the vehicle (jack, tire wrench, lighter – if applicable, etc.) is returned to its original position in the vehicle. By doing this and making sure your vehicle looks as neat as possible, you can help ensure your trade-in value is not adversely affected.

Service records
Although it’s not required, it’s helpful to bring copies of any service and repair reports with you when you trade in a vehicle. This will give the dealer better information regarding your vehicle’s previous maintenance beyond the vehicle history report they may be able to pull. By showing a good maintenance history, you may be able to increase the trade-in value you would get.

One last thing…
These days many dealerships offer online purchase options. You can handle most of the processes for purchase and trade-in ahead of time. Once the purchase is made, the dealer can deliver your new car to you and take your trade-in back to the dealership for you. They can do this at your home or at your workplace. This is especially helpful during these times where COVID protocols have us avoiding unnecessary travel… or if your workday is too packed to allow for time to go to the dealership. The dealership I work at handles many vehicle sales in this manner and have many customers that really appreciate this option. Don’t hesitate to let me know if I can help you with an online-only purchase.