Confirm the deal in writing before you go
When it is used
After a dealer has agreed to a number and before the buyer drives in. It asks the dealer to confirm the car, the out-the-door price and that no add-ons are included, in writing, and to have the paperwork prepared to match.
The template
Copy it and replace each {{placeholder}}; a line whose placeholder has nothing to say can be deleted.
What the placeholders stand for
{{car}}The car- year, make, model and trim, such as "2026 Toyota RAV4 XLE"
{{stock}}Stock number or VIN- the listing's stock number or the car's VIN; the whole line is dropped when empty
{{otd}}An out-the-door total- a dollar amount, such as "$32,294"
{{financing}}A line about financing- such as "I already have pre-approved financing, so I'm comparing on the out-the-door price."
{{inspection}}A line about inspection- for a used car: "Since it's a used car, I'd like the sale to be contingent on an independent pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic I choose, and any deposit to be fully refundable if I don't go ahead after it. Could you confirm both in writing before I pay anything?" Empty on a new car, and the line is dropped
{{deadline}}The date to decide by- a date, such as "Friday"
Next in the method: Email your lender about the car and the numbers. All templates: emails.