A deal jacket holds everything for one sale: the bill of sale, buyer identification and credit application where relevant, the odometer and disclosure statements, any as-is or warranty paperwork, the finance contract if financed, trade-in documents, payoff authorisation, delivery receipt and a We Owe / You Owe form. Review it against a checklist before the deal is closed.
A checklist
- Signed bill of sale
- Odometer disclosure
- As-is statement or warranty terms
- Buyers Guide (US) or regional disclosure
- Credit application and consent forms (if financed)
- Finance contract and security paperwork
- Insurance confirmation
- Trade-in appraisal, ownership and payoff authorisation
- Delivery receipt
- We Owe / You Owe
- Privacy and marketing consents
Keep it complete
Check the jacket before the customer drives away, not afterwards. Dealer Garage includes a deal jacket checklist form for this.
Where to store it
Scan signed copies into the built-in document drive or your own secure storage, and keep the paper according to your retention rules.
Auditing your own jackets
Once a month, pull five completed deals at random and tick them against the checklist. Gaps you find are the ones a regulator or lender would find.
Questions people ask
How long do I keep it?
Retention periods vary. Ask your regulator.
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules differ by state, province and territory and change over time; confirm what applies to you with your regulator or a qualified adviser.
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