i.
Dealer add-ons.
Fabric protection, nitrogen tires, theft etching, extended warranties. Most are bundled, most are pure margin. FinePrint itemises them so you can decline what you didn't negotiate.
§ Car
The dealer's contract
is not a quote.
By the time the paperwork hits the desk, half the negotiation is already over. Add-ons, APR, arbitration, mileage caps — they're all in the fine print. FinePrint reads new and used purchase agreements, leases, and private-sale contracts and tells you what's worth pushing back on before you sign.
§ 01 What We Flag
The lines that
don't add up to the quote.
ii.
APR & financing.
"Subject to lender confirmation" is how yo-yo financing starts. We flag the wording and tell you what to demand in writing before you take delivery.
iii.
Binding arbitration.
Most contracts now strip your right to sue. Some let you opt out within thirty days — but only if you know it's there. We flag both the clause and the opt-out window.
iv.
Warranty & "as-is."
For used cars, "as-is, no warranty" is a red flag — and one most dealers will negotiate if asked. We surface the clause and what's reasonable to ask for instead.
v.
Mileage caps (leases).
10,000 miles per year is below the U.S. average. Three years of normal driving costs you thousands at turn-in. Either negotiate to 12k–15k or pre-pay for a discount.
vi.
Disposition & excess wear.
A flat fee at lease-end. A wide definition of "wear and tear." Both are often waivable or negotiable — but only if you read the clauses before you sign.
§ 02 Three Reads
Buyer. Lessee.
Private seller.
-
Buyer
New or used, at a dealer or private. APR, add-ons, arbitration, warranty, lemon-law. We flag the lines that don't match the quote.
-
Lessee
Mileage, excess wear, disposition, GAP. The clauses that determine what you actually pay at turn-in, not what's on the sticker.
-
Private seller
Selling to a private buyer? Make sure the "as-is" and odometer disclosures are in writing — and that you can prove payment cleared before keys change hands.
7.2
Risk Score · HIGH
critical
Sold "AS-IS" — no warranty
If something fails the day after you drive it home, you have no recourse. For a near-new used car this is unusually buyer-unfriendly.
high
Mandatory binding arbitration
You give up your right to sue or join a class action. Cross it out before signing — or use the opt-out window if one is offered.
high
$3,847 in bundled add-ons
Fabric protection, nitrogen tires, theft etching, extended warranty. Decline what you didn't negotiate. Worth maybe a tenth of the price.
Verdict
Don't sign at the desk. Walk it back to the line items. Two of these will come off if you push; one is non-negotiable.