Can Dealer Keep Deposit On Used Tacoma

Looking for awhile and finally found a hard to find Tacoma, problem is I am getting it inspected by a 3rd party as I am distance away. Dealer told me to put a $500 deposit refundable if report is good none if bad. 1st of all dealer is not going to see this report as its between me and the company inspecting it. Can the dealer keep this deposit or is it refundable. By putting it on credit card will this protect me.

 

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Shouldn't it be the other way? i.e. you put the deposit, then get the truck inspected. If inspection shows the truck is good, then the deposit becomes non-refundable. If inspection show the truck is bad, then the deposit is returned.

 

A copy of your licence and your vehicle/car keys should be all the deposit you need if it's a reliable dealer; I'd never pay a penny deposit to have a vehicle checked out . I'd say as a condition of possible sale, that I'd want to have another party, (BCAA in my case) inspect the vehicle.

 

Most dealers will not let u have there truck inspected without an agreed on price and a deposit on the vehicle first.

This is the right way to do things. If you are serious about buying the truck, you should show a commitment with a deposit. Money talks.

Just make sure, before you give the deposit, that its 'Subject to inspection' and also 'Subject to rates/payments' if you are financing.

Have it written on the worksheet you and the salesmen wrote up so u have it in writing.

That way if the inspection shows the truck is not in good shape, you can take your deposit back.

 

Myself personally? I wouldn't give them a dime! There are other trucks out there. If they won't let you have it inspected? Go somewhere else.
They'll take your money or information and try to hold it over you to make a high pressure sale.

An honest dealer with nothing to hide, would welcome an inspection, even let you test drive the truck!LOL!

I hate car salesmen! Used car salesmen even more!

 

On the other hand, it's not easy for a dealer to trust people- just like it's the other way around. Working for one, in sales-then finance-then service, I see all kinds've people lying about everything (on both sides!)... But, if they're going to tie up a vehicle on the lot for someone that's far away and then allow some 3rd party take the car off the lot for inspection, a $500 deposit to show serious interest on a $20,000 vehicle that is not yours is not alot to ask. If it takes the vehicle off the market for 4 days, they may have sold it in that period of time. I had a lady go to lunch "to think about it" and then came back an hour later to find a person at my desk signing on the dotted line. She was pissed but had the opportunity to place a deposit down. Expecting them to trust a customer on their word? Well, that's like trusting them on theirs. A trustworthy dealer may require the deposit, but will refund it as they stated. Just get it in writing. And do a carfax.

 

Must be a Canadian thing.....The last time I looked at buying a used car, the dealer told me to take it for a day to see if I liked it, have it checked out. whatever. All he needed was 2 forms of ID, no deposit neeeded.

 

I would never leave a deposit on a vehicle. Ever. Even if the dealer is supposed to refund it I've heard to many stories of people having to fight like hell to get deposits back.

 

Leave the deposit on American Express. If the dealership gives you any grief for any reason, call AmEx and tell them. You'll have the money back on your credit card before you get off of the phone.