A salesperson’s promise to fix a scratch, replace a missing key or install new tires has little practical value if it disappears when the car leaves the lot. FTC used-car guidance explicitly tells buyers to get promises in writing, and the federal Buyers Guide warns that spoken promises are difficult to enforce. Use the dealer’s due-bill or “we owe” form, the buyer’s order, and the Buyers Guide where relevant to make each promise specific.
Write the promise like a repair order, not a favor
“Take care of scratch” is vague. Identify the panel, expected work and whether the repair must meet a defined standard. “Provide key” should say OEM or aftermarket, programmed to the vehicle, with a deadline. “New tires” should identify quantity, minimum size/specification and whether mounting, balancing and sensor service are included. The more measurable the obligation, the less room there is for the dealer and buyer to remember a different deal later.
| Vague promise | Better written term |
|---|---|
| Fix the bumper | Repair and repaint right-rear bumper cover; no buyer charge |
| Get second key | Provide and program one additional working key fob by date |
| Replace tires | Install four tires meeting OEM size/load/speed spec, mounted/balanced |
| Detail car | Remove listed stain and clean specified interior area |
| Check warning light | Diagnose code and complete agreed repair before delivery |
Put a due date and a contact person beside each item
A promise without timing can sit in a service queue indefinitely. Agree whether the work happens before delivery or by a specific date, who schedules it, whether the dealer provides a loaner, and what happens if a backordered part misses the date. Get a service department or manager contact rather than relying only on the salesperson, who may be off or no longer employed when you return.
Do not let 'we owe nothing' erase a side agreement
Many dealer forms contain a preprinted line saying nothing is owed unless written on the document. If you negotiated a repair, make sure the final due bill lists it before signing. Review every blank. If the dealer says the work is “already in the system,” ask for a printed repair order or signed due bill. The document you possess matters more than an internal note you cannot see.
Synchronize the Buyers Guide with warranty promises
For dealer used cars covered by the FTC Used Car Rule, the Buyers Guide states whether the vehicle is sold as-is or with a warranty and describes dealer warranty coverage. FTC guidance says negotiated warranty changes should appear on the Buyers Guide as well as the contract, and the Guide controls if it conflicts with the sales contract. That matters when a salesperson calls a promised repair a casual 'we owe' item even though the promise actually changes warranty coverage. A promise to repair one preexisting issue is not necessarily a broad warranty, so write the specific repair on the due bill and make sure the Buyers Guide and final contract do not contradict it.
When possible, delay delivery until safety-critical work is finished
If the promise involves tires below safe limits, brake defects, a warning lamp or another safety concern, the cleanest structure is often repair first, delivery second. Accepting the car and returning later transfers inconvenience and sometimes risk to you. If delivery must happen first, understand whether the vehicle is safe and legal to operate and document the dealer’s responsibility precisely. Do not sign an acknowledgment that contradicts the repair you expect.
Save completion evidence with the purchase file
When the dealer performs the work, get a repair order showing parts, labor and mileage even if the balance due is $0. Test the new key, inspect the paint under daylight, verify the tires are the promised specification, and confirm warning lights are gone for the right reason. If the work remains incomplete, communicate in writing and keep the original signed due bill. Escalation options depend on state law and the contract, so preserve evidence before the disagreement grows.
A due bill should survive a change of employees
Write the promise so someone who has never met you can perform it from the document alone. Include the VIN, buyer name, exact item, part or repair specification where relevant, buyer charge, completion deadline and approving manager. If a part is backordered, record how the dealer will contact you and what happens if the original part cannot be sourced. A due bill that survives a change of salesperson is stronger than one that depends on memory.
Treat completion as an acceptance test, not a handshake. For a promised key, confirm it locks, unlocks and starts the car and that any emergency blade is present. For tires, compare the installed size and load/speed specification with the written promise and check that the agreed quantity was actually replaced. For paint or body work, inspect the named panel in daylight for obvious mismatch, overspray and normal operation of nearby doors or sensors. For a warning-light repair, ask which diagnostic cause was corrected rather than accepting a cleared light by itself. If the result does not meet the signed specification, do not sign a blanket ‘complete’ acknowledgment; note the remaining deficiency and the new cure date on the service record.