Business partnerships are a lot like personal partnerships in more ways than one. The people involved in these relationships need to establish clear communication and proper understanding to make…
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18+ Sample Auto Contracts
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Contract and Bill of Sale for Automobile
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Model Shared Living Contract
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Standard Form Contract
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Current Contract Information Form
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Contract Update Form
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Auto Sales and Purchase Contract
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Vehicle Sales Agreement
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Auto Dealer Consignment Agreement
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Vehicle/Equipment Use Agreement
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Auto Dealer Agreement
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Vehicle Use Agreement
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Car Buyer’s/Seller’s Contract
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Second Hand Car Sales Contract
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Auto Pay Contract
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Retail Installment Sale Contract
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Consignment Agreement
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Private Vehicle Sales Agreement
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Dealers Borrowed Vehicle Agreement
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Vehicle Service Contract
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What are Auto Contracts?
When you make an agreement, write it on an official document, and seal it with signatures, said document becomes a contract. It has been practiced by many people for years ever since 1871 by Christopher Columbus Langdell’s idea, which was later polished by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. to Williston. By then, formal agreements get settled thanks to these written forms. If the contract tackles vehicles and automotive services, then the deal is already considered an auto contract. In short, auto contracts are the official forms concerning agreements of vehicle-related functions.
Besides automotive purchase agreements, there are more applications concerning auto contracts too. An example is a seller or owner financing loan contract wherein a car buyer receives financial aid, in the form of a loan, from the seller or owner. Although, monthly payment with interest will be scheduled to cover the loan. The automotive repair contract is another example, and it focuses on the bond between a vehicle owner and an auto mechanic about when a regular car service takes place. And these samples given above are just a few examples of auto contracts.
According to Statista, a consumer survey reveals that around 273.6 million vehicles—motorcycles, cars, trucks, and the like were registered in the US by 2018 alone. Statista also added that the United States had sold around 17 million light automobiles in 2019 alone.
What Makes an Auto Contract Important?
A survey from Statista mentioned that around 273.6 million vehicles—motorcycles, cars, trucks, and the like were registered in the US by 2018 alone. With that many cars and car owners, a lot of auto contracts are at work as well. Why are they important, you may ask? It is all about documentation. Without these official documents, certain agreements could be forgotten and ignored. Having a contract turns necessary for quick reference in case certain parties require evidence about particular details inside such forms. Furthermore, a contract is a reliable source for courtroom proceedings when asked for proof about any claim, agreement, and other factors inside its content. While covering numerous automotive-related services and functions, it is no question that contracts are also essential for setting regulations.
What are the Common Elements of a Car Dealership Contract?
One of the notable auto contracts is the car dealership contract. Vehicle dealerships refer to any seller or company that sells retail vehicles that are either used or new. A contract becomes pivotal in dealerships, particularly in setting the payment plans and terms between the buyer and the seller. When both parties fulfill their responsibilities as stated on the form, the process will end in a mutual agreement. What is inside such an agreement? Here are the basic elements usually found in this type of contract:
What Are the Basic Parts of an Auto Contract?
Have you signed any privacy policy or checked the full details of some terms and agreements online? Believe it or not, but The Guardian found a study that the majority of people hardly read the terms of service or online contracts. In relating that statement to auto contracts, everyone must take time in reading and understanding what those documents contain. Hence, you might end up signing something you do not practically agree with. The question is, are you familiar with the common parts of these automobile contracts? Take a look at the standard parts you would notice in auto contracts:
Buyer and Seller Background
From a private sale, car repair service, and other related automobile-related deals, it is imperative to identify the buyer and the seller. Without doing so, it will be hard to determine who is signing the agreement in the first place. Indeed, some people plan to keep their full personal information private because 74% of US citizens even observe the importance of controlling their online personal details, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). However, only 9% believed that they are in full control of such information. Back to contracts, only the relevant information must be given anyway for compliance in identifying who agrees to the content inside.
Sale and Pricing Information
Recognizing what is for sale is a must, especially for an auto contract example. The motor vehicle model, identification number, and the like will get stated. The same goes for finalizing if the product is a new or used car sale. Moreover, the prices need clarification. Merely stating the total amount of price is not detailed enough since it is vital to know what causes specific amounts. Pricing details may cover the documentation fees, registration fees, dealership fees, and others.
Financing Details
Besides the pricing information, clarifying the financing terms is essential as well. The down payment fee, trade-in value, loan interest rate, payment plan schedule, and term duration will most likely become covered here. A mutual agreement should occur to both customers and dealers here. Because of car purchase contracts, different financing regulations might happen.
How to Create an Auto Purchase Contract
While many people dream of purchasing cars, there have also been a lot of sales in the automotive industry. The US has sold around 17 million light automobiles in 2019 alone. Many purchasing contracts were used by vehicle owners out there for sure. If you are interested in buying and signing a similar arrangement or being a dealer who plans to make such a deal, then you benefit in identifying the steps of crafting auto purchase contracts.
Step 1: Learn the Basics
Before drafting a purchase contract or car dealer purchase agreement form, there are a few topics worth learning first. Start by complying with the standards from legal services to prevent conflicts. Dealers may need a license first, so there are requirements to comply with. Criminal background checks, state tax numbers, employee identification numbers, inspection tests, license application fees, and the like are some examples to complete. Moreover, you cannot forget that the auto purchase contract is also a bill of sale. Any certification that fails to cover the requirements will only turn null.
Step 2: Download a Template
After learning the basics, you choose a template to download from our collection of sample auto contracts. You concentrate on getting the template involving a purchase agreement to adapt relevance. What else is in store for you? You can freely customize these templates to stick with your preferred format or design. With a template prepared, that means you only input the required information next instead of starting from scratch. Bothering with your time and effort is out of your worries already.
Step 3: Determine All Parties
Any agreement or contract should identify every party, particularly the customer and the dealer. Thus, you provide a segment on the form specifically for background information only. Parties eventually will get identified according to their names, contact details, addresses, ID numbers, and other requirements. Nothing wrong should be present from the spelling and figures, or the entire contract would never be granted, perhaps.
Step 4: Specify the Car Details
Another segment in the agreement which should have correct figures and spelling is the vehicle information. Buyers want the specifics of what particular car they are getting. Maybe the promise in a spoken agreement is entirely different from what got described and mentioned inside the contract. The automobile identification number, color, model, and more about the vehicle shall cover this part.
Step 5: Never Forget the Conditions
Do not end with the signature line just yet if conditions and considerations are absent. Penalties like a breach of contract should even be part of these considerations. Ways to deal with consequences for those penalties must be present on the form as a preparation. If anyone fails to meet the obligations in the agreement, then that person knows what consequences will follow already. You review the conditions for that. Lastly, you provide fair and realistic considerations for those to be honored.
FAQs
Are contracts needed for selling cars?
Contracts are needed in car selling to comply with the law. Without that contract, there is no proof of sale involved. Contracts even prove if the automobile is in worthy condition to become sold. Therefore, buyers must be hesitant in having no contract or proper documentation in their auto purchases to prevent possible scams.
What if I bought a used vehicle and it broke down?
You check if there is a warranty covered from the purchase despite being a used car. Without that warranty, no maintenance service might be around once the automotive breaks. Nevertheless, you should remember that returning used automobiles merely because you changed your mind is deemed unacceptable by law. This reason is why you should think twice before signing a contract to remain careful.
Is it worth it to sign a car maintenance contract?
Absolutely. That turns recommended if you have a used vehicle. Albeit, those with new cars that have a warranty almost similar to that of the maintenance service contract should no longer find the contract necessary. New vehicles hardly need maintenance for the first few years anyway.
Are you ready to form your auto contract? Just make sure to ask these questions. Do the agreements stated in the contract seem fair for both buyers and sellers? Did you provide enough detail on the document already, or some changes are still necessary? Have you reviewed all information before submitting it or provided an addendum in case of possible additional conditions? With that said, there is a need for assurance in finishing the process of making an auto contract carefully. Otherwise, that typical buyer’s dream of finally driving a car may cease without an introduction to the real deal of automotive contracts yet.