Don’t get caught up in the excitement of picking up your new car that you forget to pay attention to the detail.

Spot Deliveries

When it comes to delivery of your car, the very first thing you need to be aware of, and know how to deal with, is the “Spot Delivery.” A spot delivery is when you take delivery of the car as soon as you have committed to buy it.

The purpose of “spotting” a customer is simple; if you sign the papers and take delivery, the car is yours. If you change your mind the next morning when you wake up and see the car in your driveway, it’s too late.

Dealers consider spot deliveries the best defense against buyer’s remorse because by the time the buyer has a chance for any remorse, they already own the car. Some dealerships may not offer spot delivery, which is to your advantage. Others will practically insist on it. Don’t do it.

The salesperson will make it seem that taking immediate delivery is the most natural thing in the world, and for some car buyers, perhaps it is. It is much better, though, to protect yourself and take delivery of the car the next day, than to lock yourself into a commitment that you may not be able to undo. Unraveling a deal after you have taken delivery, even if it is within hours (or minutes) of buying the car, can be a nightmare. There is a good possibility that the deal cannot be undone, depending on the attitude of the dealership. Be aware that if you take delivery and sign the contracts, you will be considered by most or all courts to have closed the deal. Giving yourself a cooling off period, even if it is only for a day, will not only release a lot of the tension associated with buying a car, it will give you an escape hatch if you determine that you simply cannot live with the car or the deal.

Regular Delivery

If you are going to pick up the car sometime after you have made the deal, set an exact time for delivery with the salesperson. Complete any final financing details. Notify your insurance agent that you will need coverage transferred. When you arrive at the dealership, make sure that anything that was promised has been done to the car. Examine the car closely. Reporting a dent on the fender a week after you have taken delivery gives you little chance that the dealership will handle it, but if you note it immediately, they will have no choice but to repair it.

This article was submitted by Car Clicks, the place where you can get all the information-and tools-that you need when buying a car. Submission of this article does not imply an endorsement or recommendation of the Financial Resource Center site.