Is it possible to back out from a car contract once you signed it but did not take the car off the dealer parking lot?
no If you live in California and you sign any contract, you will
be unable to return the vehicle. In a rare case, I practically
begged the manager of a used car lot to unwind the deal. I told him
that my wife purchased a car for me prior to my purchase of their
car, but I was completely unaware of it. They finally let me out,
but withheld a $40.00 documentation fee and a 2.9% credit card
surcharge. $178.00 is better than a $6000 used car that I decided
that I didn't want. Also, when I purchased the car, I left it at
the car lot and told them that I'll pick it up in a matter of days.
I guess the unwinding of the deal helped for the simple fact that
the car never left the lot and I came back the next morning. It
only took me one night to think about the deal and realize that I
wanted out. The most important thing is to not let the sales person
pressure you into signing anything. Don't listen to 'this car may
be gone tomorrow,' 'this is as low as I can go,' 'you will not find
a deal better,' etc. It's all bull. It will get you in trouble if
you sign the contracts, but you later want out. THERE IS NO WAY OUT
AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. Everything is
monitored and recorded from the minute you step on the car lot
until you go to the back office to sign the 'nail in the coffin'
contracts. Before you sign anything, go home and think about it. It
will save you a lot of headaches. DON'T SIGN ANY CONTRACTS UNTIL
YOU ARE COMPLETELY HAPPY WITH THE CAR! If you already have and you
want out, the best advice that I can give is make up any good
believable heartbreaking lie such as: Someone passed in my family
and I need the money to help fund the burial expenses, etc. Go in
the office crying if you have to. It may work, but it may not. YOU
WILL BE CRYING FOR REAL IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO UNWIND THE DEAL. The
best time to put on an act is when a sales person is with a
potential car buyer. The car lot or dealership people most likely
won't show their true colors in front of potential car buyers.
They'll put on an act and most likely, unwind the deal. But again,
this is rare, like in my case. DON'T SIGN ANY CONTRACTS UNTIL YOU
ARE COMPLETELY HAPPY WITH THE CAR! Yes. If you have not taken
delivery of the vehicle and do not want it, stop payment on any
checks and go back to the dealer's MANAGER. They will do their
damndest to keep you in the deal, including threatening your credit
(which may be illegal) but unless you have a trade involved, which
makes this a little more dicey, you are back on the street with no
obiligation. In Virginia and Texas, 2 states in which I have
managed car lots, the law favors the dealer once 'the tailpipes
leave the curb.' Until then the dealer owns the vehicle. If you
have a trade involved, and you know where it is on the dealer's
lot, you should go over to it, or have a friend, guard it until the
deal is 'blown out.' If they have a chance to take your trade and
title certificate and hide them from you, you are in the jackpot.
Although most honest dealers will just give you the keys to your
trade and wish you good luck, the nature of the used car business
is a little nastier. Good luck!
