What to Bring When Buying A Vehicle

Vehicle Purchase

• Driver’s License: You have to drive the car off the lot, so we’ll need to know that you are a legally registered driver. The driver license also serves as identification for your check or other form of payment.
• Proof of insurance: To drive a new car off the lot you need to prove that you have insurance on that car. You can call ahead and set up the new insurance policy if you know which car you are buying. Or you can call from the dealership and give your insurance company the new vehicle ID. Your insurer will fax or email an insurance card to the dealership. In some cases, however, all the dealer requires is for you to show that you have a current auto insurance policy. To protect yourself, it’s best to plan ahead and set up the insurance for the new car when you can.
• Payment: This can be a bank or credit union check for a pre-approved loan, or it can be a cashier’s check, personal check or even a credit card payment for a down payment when the financing is done at the dealership. Ask about pre-approved financing, to make things even quicker.
• Social Security Number: Your social security number will be needed for credit approval, whether financing at the dealership or an outside source. For pre-approval ahead of purchase the dealership will need a copy of the front & back.

Credit Challenges?

• Recent pay stubs: If you plan on getting a loan through the dealership, they may require you to show proof of your recent employment. Bring a couple of your most recent pay stubs just in case.
• Proof of Residence: If you don’t have great credit and are applying for a loan through the dealership, you will also have to supply at least one proof of residence. At least one utility bill in your name at said address is most preferred by lenders (ex: Power, Gas, Electric, Water, Cable).
• Landlord Name & Contact Info: If you don’t have great credit and are applying for a loan through the dealership, you will also have to supply your landlords name & contact info so the lender can confirm your residence with your landlord.
• A List of References: If you don’t have great credit and are applying for a loan through the dealership, you will also have to supply a list of 3 to 5 references who don’t live with you. Have this on hand with the names, address and contact information of people who can vouch for you.

Vehicle Trade-In

• Current vehicle registration for trade-in: You will need a copy of your current registration for your trade-in vehicle. Locate this important document, verify that the registration is current and also check that the sticker is on the license plate.
• Account number for trade-in loan: If you are trading in a car for which there is an unpaid loan, you will need to bring the loan’s account number, you can find this on one of your payment notices.
• Title for your trade-in vehicle: The title shows that you are the owner of the trade-in vehicle. Locate that document and see how the car is “titled” (meaning, who legally owns it). If there is a co-signer or a loan against the title, get the required signature ahead of time. Be careful at this stage. Any mistakes in how the title is signed might make it unacceptable to us, or lead to it being rejected by the state’s motor vehicle registry. Again, if you are unclear on what to do, call your sales representative, or one of our managers. NOTE: If you currently have a loan on the vehicle, you won’t have the title.
• Remove all your personal things: It will save you time if you empty it out at home and help ensure you don’t forget something important.
• Service records: Have any available service and repair information ready, as the dealer will want to know of the vehicle’s previous maintenance beyond the vehicle history report they’ll pull.

Dealer Info