24-Hour Car Deal Review Checklist Before Signing

Final errors and markup often appear in the last 24 hours before signing.

Use this checklist to stay in control.

Deal Structure

• Confirm final worksheet matches prior agreed version
• Check selling price did not drift
• Verify all optional products are either approved by you or removed

Fee Review

• Separate government fees from dealer-controlled fees
• Challenge doc/admin lines that feel padded
• Remove duplicate or vague processing charges

Finance / Lease Review

• Confirm APR or money factor in writing
• Confirm term length and total financed amount
• Recalculate total cost over full term, not just payment

Paperwork Consistency

• VIN, trim, mileage, and equipment match listing
• Trade-in and payoff terms match prior discussion
• No new products added in final contract review

Decision Guardrails

• Set your walk-away OTD before arriving
• Bring outside financing benchmark
• Leave if pressured to sign without clean itemization

One-Line Final Check

I will sign once the final contract exactly matches the clean itemized terms we agreed.

That sentence protects you from end-of-process surprises.

For a fast second opinion, upload the worksheet to Deal Review and run the instant checklist + script output.