Dealership Damaged My Brand-New Car: What To Do Next

When buying a brand-new car, everybody expects it to be in top condition with perfect paint and fully functional systems. After all, it’s one of the reasons why people prefer new cars over used ones.;

Unfortunately, a new car doesn’t always mean it’s perfect. Cars fresh from the dealership can incur some damage one way or another.

What Is New Car Damage?

New vehicles might look shiny and new at showrooms, but a lot can happen behind the scenes to change that.

Damage During Transportation

New cars aren’t just magically transported from one place to another. They’re heavy cargo that travels thousands of miles from the factory to the dealership and then to your home. Each time they’re loaded onto a ship, train, or truck is another opportunity for them to get damaged.

Lot Damage

Of course, car damage doesn’t just happen in transit. Salespeople constantly shuffle and organize cars around at showrooms and dealership lots. Every time they bring out a new car to show a potential customer, there’s a big chance for lot damage to occur.

How To Avoid New Car Damage

In most cases, new car damage is hardly noticeable. Customers are often too excited to notice anything off about their new purchase, and minor scratches are easy enough for detailers to buff out.

Dealers don’t even have to tell you about any damages. While the law can vary depending on which state you live in, dealers are only required to tell you about repairs that cost more than $500 or 3% of the vehicle’s value.&

To protect yourself from buying a new car with damage, consider some of these tips:

Inspect the Car in Daylight

If you can, make room in your schedule to seal the deal on a bright morning. It’s all too easy to miss details during the night, but daylight can help you catch even the tiniest scratches on your new car.

Inspect the Car When It’s Dry

If your new car’s been recently washed or rained on, ask the dealership to dry it off first. Water can make your car’s paint look perfect even when it’s not.

Be as Thorough as Possible

Before you drive off with your new vehicle, make sure you’ve covered all your bases. Don’t rush through your checklist, or you might miss a flaw that can be a hassle to fix later on. Are your windows spotless and fully functional? What about your wheels? Don’t forget to check every body panel too. You can never be too thorough when it comes to inspecting a new car.

Is a Car Dealership Responsible for Damage?

If a dealership damages your car, are they responsible for repairs? Yes, they are. It isn’t your fault, so you shouldn’t have to foot any portion of the bill. In case a salesperson or staff accidentally damages a new vehicle, the repairs are typically covered by insurance.

You just have to file a complaint, including evidence that proves the dealership was at fault. However, not every dealership will honor your complaint. Some will try to get out of it, while others might even ignore your calls.

In this case, you can either complain directly to the insurance company or sue your dealership. Suing a car dealership can seem daunting, but it’s your right and you can always hire a lawyer.

What Happens If a Dealership Damages Your Car?

Consider this scenario: you noticed some minor scratches on your new car’s hood. You point it out to the salesperson and they’re amicable about it. The dealership admits it’s their fault, but now what? Well, here are a couple of ways you can suggest for them to resolve the issue:

Ask for Another Model

You can always ask for another one. After all, it’s unlikely for the dealership to only have one unit of your vehicle of choice. If they agree, make sure you inspect the new one too.

Have the Dealership Fix the Damages

In most cases, your dealership will typically offer to fix the damages for you. They should have commercial insurance, which should cover any damages that might occur even before the car leaves the lot.

Request a Discount

If you aren’t bothered by a few minor flaws, then you can always request for a discount instead. Just be sure not to get swindled. Ask a mechanic you trust to assess the damage, so they can advise you on the discount amount you should ask for.