The Homework Guy 

Ultimate Car Buyer’s Checklist: 

Avoiding Scams at Car Dealerships

& Getting the Best Deal

(Make sure you take this with you)

Print the PDF by clicking here

Buying a car in today’s Car Market can make you feel uneasy, like walking into a shark tank, with dealerships constantly inventing new ways to squeeze extra money out of Car Buyers. We get how scary it is! Dealers typically try to sneak in $3,000 in Extras and Fees. But don’t be afraid of Dealer harassment! With this Car Buyer’s Checklist, you’ll be confident and prepared to avoid mistreatment and scams. You’ll be able to negotiate like a pro and get the best car deal available. If you don’t feel like you want to be bothered by negotiating this plan on your own, please see The Homework Guy Hassle Free Car Buying Service on this website! 

For you DIY Car Buyers, whether you’re shopping for a NEW or USED vehicle, this guide will ensure you stay in control of the process.

🚨 Step 1: Research Before You Visit the Dealer

✅ Know the Car’s Market Value

• Check KBB.com, Edmunds, and TrueCar for fair pricing. You can also sign up for a THG Texting Consulting package ($69.99/mo) and get direct help from Amazing Elizabeth. The cost is just cheap for you DIY Car Buyers, and she’s the Master Negotiator on our Homework guy Team! Liz will help you determine the correct vehicle sale price (NEW or USED), using Black Book and AI Tools, and help you correctly implement The Homework Guy OTD Pricing Method. To sign up with Liz, visit https://thehomeworkguy.com/store/ 
• Look at CarGurus or AutoTrader for real selling prices in your area as well as further away. What one dealer can do, any other dealer can do. 

✅ Check for and be aware of Dealer Markups

• Avoid “market adjustments”—most are added by greedy dealers, and are NOT due to real car shortages.
• Contact multiple Dealerships to compare OTD out-the-door pricing.
• Always be ready to WALK AWAY if they won’t remove markups.

✅ Get Pre-Approved for Financing

• Do NOT let the dealer control your financing options—they will try to add hidden fees.
• Apply for an auto loan with a Bank or Credit Union first.
• Bring your Pre-Approval letter to the dealership. (Interestingly, this doesn’t intimidate the dealer as much as a Cash Buyer does!)
• Do not discuss payment options until the price is finalized.

✅ Know Your Trade-In Value

• Get offers from Carvana, CarMax, and local dealers before trading in. You can also check in with Elizabeth through our THG Texting Consulting Service to see what your car is worth according to Black Book.
• Don’t let the dealer lowball you with fake recalls or fake damage claims.

🚗 Step 2: At the Dealership – Stay in Control

✅ Refuse to Talk Monthly Payments First

• Dealers manipulate payments to hide the real price.
• Instead, negotiate based on the total price of the car.
• Use a loan calculator (good sites include Bankrate or NerdWallet) to check interest rates.

✅ Demand an Itemized OTD Out-the-Door Price

• Ask for a breakdown of all fees in writing.
• Watch out for fake add-ons like:
  ❌ Nitrogen-filled tires ($300+)
  ❌ VIN Window etching ($500+)
  ❌ “Dealer prep” fees (they already get paid for this)

✅ Double-Check Dealer Math

• Bring a calculator and add up the numbers yourself If things don’t match up with your written OTD, get out of there or demand they fix it right there!
• Dealers often “accidentally” add extra fees or round numbers up.
• If they refuse to fix errors, WALK OUT.

✅ NEVER Let Them Run Your Credit Until You Agree on Price

• Some dealers run multiple credit checks, effectively “Shotgunning” your credit, for the purpose of hurting your score and trapping you into financing with THEM.
• If you plan to use their financing, ONLY let them run credit AFTER finalizing the car price & financing.

✅ Remember there are only 2 Reasons to visit a Dealership

• 1. To Test drive a Car (and then get out of there immediately) NEVER agree to sit down, and go over the numbers! Proper negotiation happens from the comfort of home!
• 2. To sign out and pick up the car you purchased. (NOTE: If we negotiated the car Deal for you, make sure all the details match the written OTD your car coach sent you)

📝 Step 3: Before Signing the Contract

✅ Read the Contract Line by Line

• Check the final price—it should match your negotiated OTD price.
• Look for sneaky add-ons and insist they are removed before you sign. If the “mistakes” continue happening, tell them “This is your LAST CHANCE to get this right! If I find just ONE error this next time, I’m OUT!”
• Verify the interest rate, loan term, and monthly payment are correct.
• Carefully read the TILA “Truth in Lending Act” disclosures box to verify total cost paid on a vehicle over the life of the loan as well.

✅ Refuse Unnecessary Add-Ons & Upsells

• Extended warranties: Most factory warranties already cover issues, and according to Dave Ramsey, MOST Extended Warranties only pay out .10 to .12 cents per dollar spent on them..
• Prepaid maintenance plans: Often filled with exclusions, enough to cut you entirely OUT of ANY maintenance.
• GAP insurance: Get it MUCH cheaper through your own bank or credit union, or from an insurance provider.

✅ Verify the Car’s Condition

• New cars: Check the odometer (some have extra miles from test drives. In general, the miles should not exceed 200 miles on a new car).
• Used cars: Get a Carfax report and have an independent mechanic inspect it. If it’s too far away for you and/or you don’t know a good mechanic in the dealers community, contact POMCAR or LemonSquad to do an independent inspection. We have had great experiences with both services.
• Test all features: Backup camera, Bluetooth, A/C, heat, power windows, power seats, etc. NOTE: If a dash component is starting to fail, it can affect many of the power options in the car.

📌 Step 4: After the Purchase – Protect Yourself

✅ Double-Check Loan Payments

• If you financed through the dealer, make sure the first payment date is correct.
• Avoid “Yo-Yo Scams”—some dealers try to change financing terms later. If the dealer calls you back to sign another contract claiming your car contract is “screwed up,” the only thing to get screwed on the second contract is YOU! If they insist you must sign a new contract, just give them the car back.

✅ Register the Car ASAP (if the dealer didn’t)

• Some dealers delay sending paperwork to keep control over the car.
• Call and complain to your DMV if you don’t get your registration/title within 30 days.

✅ Refinance If Needed

• If the dealer gave you a bad interest rate, get a membership with a Credit Union (if you don’t already have one) and refinance with them after a few months. You can usually do this within 90 days after the sale.
• Watch out for prepayment penalties in the loan terms. If you want to automatically protect yourself from this problem, make sure you have a loan term over 61 months long.

🚀 Bonus Tips: How to Win the Car Deal

✔ ALWAYS be ready to walk away – The best deals come to those who don’t seem desperate.
✔ Shop closer to the end of the month – Salespeople need to hit quotas and many dealerships may drop prices to make this happen.
✔ Bring a friend – It’s harder for the dealer to pressure two people. Have your friend sit with you in finance, and make sure they are prepared to be a critic of the process.
✔ Be patient – While dealers drag out the sales process to wear you down, Finance Officers want you to rush through ANYTHING (important documents) that you’re signing. Take your time reading everything.

⚠️ Final Rule: Be TOTALLY aware that the Dealer is NOT Your Friend

💰 Their job: Get as much money from you as possible.
🛡️ Your job: Keep as MUCH of your hard-earned cash as possible.

🚗 DOWNLOAD & print this THG checklist, and take it with you when visiting a dealer or shopping for a car! It should be in your hand ANY time you visit a dealership!

Hassle Free Car Buying

If you DON’T want to do all of this yourself, sign up now for our Hassle Free Car Buying Service. It’s best that you don’t go it alone if you aren’t sure of yourself! A Car Coach will cost $1,000 for Veterans, and $1,050 for everyone else! We offer a great ROI. Here’s where to find it: thehomeworkguy.com/hasslefreecarbuyingservice 

And of course, you can watch more videos at https://www.youtube.com/@KevinHunter