How to get money back for buying a car

A trip to a car dealership does not always end with the purchase of a car. In some cases, a prospective buyer may not be satisfied with the car’s equipment or its color. The way out of the situation is to buy a car to order.

Salon managers strongly recommend making an advance payment. This arrangement of events is beneficial to both parties. The salon receives a guarantee that the client will definitely return for a purchase, and the buyer frees himself from the exhausting search for a suitable model.

It is not uncommon for a buyer's plans or financial circumstances to change. Therefore, in a situation where the client changes his mind about making a transaction, the question arises about returning the prepayment.

Advance concept

An advance is necessary to record the buyer's intentions. The salon, by prior agreement, accepts from the client an amount of money equal to several percent of the purchase price. That is, the money paid as an advance covers the seller’s upcoming expenses.

The agreement between the parties to the transaction must be in writing. Unlike other types of partial prepayment, an advance payment performs only a payment function and is practically not protected by legislative norms.

Important: If the buyer, after completing the agreement, refuses the transaction, it will not be possible to return the advance payment in full. The refund will be made minus the seller's costs (for example, collecting and preparing documents for the car).

Additional questions

What is the difference between an advance payment for a car and a deposit for a car?

The Civil Code of the Russian Federation distinguishes between the concepts of a deposit and an advance, indicating that if the parties have not directly indicated that the transferred amount constitutes a deposit, it is an advance.
The deposit agreement is always made in writing.

The main difference between these two concepts is the consequences of not concluding an agreement.

In what cases is the deposit for the car returned?

If the buyer and seller of the car directly wrote that the buyer gave a deposit for the car, and subsequently the sale and purchase never happened, then the deposit is returned in the following order:

• The transaction did not take place by agreement of the parties or it became impossible to complete it (the car burned down, drowned, was broken into an accident, was stolen, it was not the seller’s fault) - the seller returns the deposit to the buyer;
• The transaction did not take place because of the seller (changed his mind about selling, found another buyer and sold the car at a higher price, lost the key to the garage, etc.) - the seller returns double the amount of the deposit to the buyer;
• The transaction did not take place because of the buyer (he found a cheaper car, decided to buy a car of a different make or year, lost the need for the vehicle due to revocation of his driver’s license, etc.) - the deposit amount remains with the seller.

If the buyer refuses to purchase a car for subjective reasons, the deposit amount cannot be returned.

The party through whose fault the purchase and sale of the car did not take place shall reimburse the other party for all expenses incurred due to this situation.

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In what cases is the advance payment for the car returned?

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If in the agreement the seller and buyer do not call the transferred amount a deposit, it is considered an advance. The Civil Code of the Russian Federation does not contain separate provisions on advance payments under preliminary contracts for the purchase and sale of vehicles, however, based on the general conditions of civil law, the meaning of an advance payment is in advance payment for the purchased item.

The advance payment is returned to the buyer, regardless of the reasons why the purchase and sale of the car did not take place.

What is the minimum deposit required?

The amount of the deposit and the conditions for its return, as a rule, are immediately discussed in writing. This creates a guarantee for the seller and the client.

If the duties assigned to the car dealer are violated, the client, according to the law, can without any problems return material compensation in the amount of double the amount of the deposit.

Despite the existence of its own rules for the deposit return procedure, they should not contradict the Civil Code of the Russian Federation. A car dealer must act in accordance with the law and not abuse his rights.

Simply put, when making an advance payment for a new car, you should not confuse the terms “advance” and “deposit”. These concepts are completely different. Since a deposit is common when concluding a transaction at a car dealership, it is necessarily accompanied by a subsequent agreement.

And an advance is transferred when purchasing a vehicle from a private person or at a car dealership, but without an appropriate agreement.

Now, after reading this article, you will be much more legally savvy, more vigilant when paying an advance and giving a deposit when purchasing transport.

Also, the deposit, as included in the price of the car, must be returned by the seller if the car is returned to the dealership under warranty.

What to do if the car dealership refuses to voluntarily return the prepayment

If the dealer refuses to resolve the situation amicably, the consumer must send him a pre-trial claim. The document is also drawn up in free form and sent to the address of the legal entity. The organization must provide a response within thirty days from the date of receipt of the papers. After which, if the claim was ignored, the claim should be sent to court.

Is it possible to return a prepayment for a car at a car dealership?

This is where the question arises: is it possible to return the advance payment for a car left with the first car dealer?
The topic is quite slippery, because the deposit is taken so that the buyer does not refuse the purchase. And the seller does not sit idly by: he orders a car from the manufacturer (perhaps not the most popular configuration), and organizes delivery to the showroom. First you need to understand such concepts as: prepayment, deposit, advance payment, advance payment.

What is a deposit and what functions does it perform?

The concept of this type of prepayment is explained in Art. 380 Civil Code of the Russian Federation.

The deposit performs two functions:

Important: The agreement to make a deposit must be drawn up in writing and must indicate the amount of the advance payment. Otherwise, this amount is considered paid as an advance!

Procedure for returning the prepayment

To ensure that problems are eliminated later, require an agreement that clearly states the amount. Until this moment, money should not be transferred. You should not expect that sellers will easily and simply return the amount you paid if they violate the terms of the contract, but with the right actions you will be able to protect your rights.

The first step is to notify the car dealership that you want to terminate the car purchase and sale agreement and return the advance payment. This must be done in writing. Typically, this notice is filled out on the premises of the salon. You take two forms. One is intended for an application to terminate the contract, and the second is for an application for the return of the prepayment you made. It is advisable to obtain copies of both documents indicating the date of their acceptance and the signature of the official who accepted the papers.

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If the management of the car dealership does not want to give you copies of applications with a mark of their acceptance, it means that they are set up for confrontation and are trying not to leave you with legal evidence of the fact that you contacted them.
In this case, it is better to immediately seek help from a lawyer. Review of the application will take some time. The car dealership employees are obliged to inform you about the decision; leave them your phone number and email address. If the answer is positive, the money spent will be returned to you, and the purchase and sale agreement will be terminated. If the decision is negative, then you need to start preparing for a judicial solution to the problem that has arisen.

Properly conducting the process with filing all necessary claims, statements and lawsuits, collecting and presenting evidence is a job that should be done by a qualified lawyer. If you yourself do not have such experience, it is better to hire a lawyer who will represent your interests and achieve a verdict in your favor.

When a buyer decides to make an advance payment, he expects to receive a car of exactly the make, model, configuration and color that he ordered. An important factor is compliance with machine delivery deadlines. It should be noted that car dealership employees in some cases take on obviously impossible obligations, hoping to increase their earnings.

Their calculation is based on the fact that a buyer who has been waiting for a car for a long time will be convinced. For example, they will tell you that not the pale green color you chose, but orange is the most fashionable color this season, that you don’t need a number of functions at all, and you can take a car with a smaller configuration. Finally, they may offer you a higher-class model, convincing you that this is what you deserve, thus offering to significantly increase the amount of money you planned to spend on purchasing a car. It must be said that sales specialists in salons, as a rule, pursue the goal of earning as much as possible, and not of choosing the ideal model for you, and they often manage to put their plan into action.

There are also objective reasons for the salon’s failure to fulfill its obligations. A manufacturing company, for example, may stop producing a car in the color you have chosen, and the showroom will not be able to provide it to you, or they will change customs rules, and the car will seriously rise in price.

In both cases, it is the buyer who decides what to do next. If the terms of the contract are not fulfilled by the supplier, you have the right to demand a refund of the advance payment and even double this amount. However, practice shows that people and organizations that have received money are extremely reluctant to return even the bulk of it. If such problems arise, there will be a trial.

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You have the right to represent your interests in court in person, but if you are interested in achieving an acceptable result as quickly as possible, it is better to hire a lawyer.

Experienced lawyers cooperating with our website are always ready to help you and defend your interests during pre-trial proceedings or in court. Fill out the form on the website or call the numbers provided and schedule a consultation.

If you sue

There are situations when, after filing a claim, the car finally arrives. And then a dilemma arises: do you still have to pay the double deposit or pick up the ordered car? Here everyone is free to decide for themselves. But as practice shows, many people opt for the car option.

If the car is no longer needed or another option has been chosen to purchase it, then it makes sense to file a lawsuit. In this case, it is advisable to consult with a lawyer in advance about the possible contents of the document. He will tell you which arguments are best to emphasize and which documents to attach to the statement of claim.

It is better to consult with a lawyer in advance about all the nuances of filing a claim and considering a lawsuit. It is possible that it will be possible to find a compromise that suits all parties.

When the court decision comes into force, the lawyer will help to collect the money forcibly through enforcement proceedings. Here the specialist will establish close cooperation with bailiffs.

Refund of advance payment upon cancellation of purchase

Chapter II of the Law “On Protection of Consumer Rights” regulates the issue of refusal to purchase a car after making an advance payment. Namely, if within 15 days from the date of purchase, the buyer provides evidence that the car has significant defects, he has the right to demand a refund of the entire amount paid, including the deposit.

If these conditions are violated, the managers of the car dealership have the right not to accept the vehicle (based on Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of January 19, 1998 No. 55).

If the buyer changes his mind about bringing the transaction to its logical conclusion, he also has the right to demand the return of the deposit amount. However, this condition must be specified in the contract. To do this, the buyer must come to the salon where the agreement was signed and declare his intentions. The dealer will ask the customer to fill out two applications:

1. Application to terminate the contract.
2. Application for the return of the paid amount.

If the dealer refuses to return the deposit, the buyer has the right to go to court to resolve the dispute.

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A less conflicting way is to choose cars from nearby deliveries or directly from the lot. In this case, it will be easier for the dealer to take on obligations, and you will be sure that delivery times at least do not depend on customs.

What if the dealer refuses?

If the dealer does not fulfill his obligations and does not want to return the advance, you can and should threaten him with legal action. Well-written pre-trial claims detailing all the “Egyptian executions” that will befall him in case of excessive persistence are very sobering. Under certain circumstances, you can even demand bankruptcy of the company. In the end, if the dealer is sane, he will want not only to sell you a car (the profit from the sale is usually small), but also to keep you as a customer of the service - the main cash flow generator for any dealership. This means that he will probably want to come to an agreement with you. As part of a “settlement agreement” (without quotes, this only happens in movies or after a case you win), you can get a discount on a car, and most often, free additional equipment. In some cases, its cost can be measured in hundreds of thousands of rubles.

If you are unable to reach an agreement with the dealer, negotiate with a lawyer. In the most favorable case for you, he will be able not only to return the advance, but also to collect from the failed seller a fee for using someone else’s money. Or at least a penalty for failure to deliver goods on time. According to the Consumer Protection Law, it is one percent per day. Not bad, right?

Does it make sense to make an advance payment?

The car dealership did not fulfill its obligations. How to return a prepayment

The law establishes the right to demand the return of the deposit amount in case of violation of contractual obligations by the seller (Part 3 of Article 487 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation).

It is not only the Civil Code of the Russian Federation that protects the rights of the buyer. Article 23.1 of Law No. 2300-1 gives him the right to demand full compensation for losses incurred as a result of failure to fulfill contractual obligations.

By paying a deposit, the car dealership client expects to receive the car within a strictly specified time frame. If the vehicle does not go on sale within the specified period, the dealer is obliged to notify you in advance. Typically, the buyer is offered three options for the development of events:

1. Refund of the deposit amount.
2. Changing car delivery dates.
3. Buying another car with similar characteristics.

The choice is always up to the buyer. However, the managers of the car dealership are aimed at maintaining the prepayment amount. Therefore, they will tactfully insist on changing delivery dates.

Is it possible to return a prepayment for a car at a car dealership?

At the time of transfer of the prepayment, its size is fixed in the agreement. If the client changes his mind about making a purchase, he can notify the dealership management about this in writing.

Usually you need to fill out two forms: the first is for notification of the desire to terminate the purchase and sale agreement, the second is an application for a refund of the prepayment. It may take several days for the application to be reviewed, and the buyer is notified of the decision by telephone.

If the answer is yes, the person will be immediately returned the money, otherwise the only option is to go to court with a statement of claim.

What laws govern the return of prepayments?

Issues of prepayment are regulated by the provisions of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation. The main ones are:

• Article 487, which establishes the possibility of preliminary transfer of money for goods;
• Article 328, which determines that in the absence of fulfillment of a counter-obligation by one party, the other has the right to refuse the contract.

Prepayment return algorithm

In order to return the prepayment, the buyer must personally appear at the car dealership with a statement of termination of the contract. The dealer is given 10 days to review the request.

The application is submitted to the manager. The form of compilation is free, but the following details and information must be indicated in the text:

1. Full name of the car dealership, its address, full name of the manager.
2. Information about the buyer (full name, registration and/or residence address), telephone number.
3. Date of the transaction.
4. Terms of a transaction.
5. Deposit amount (be sure to write it in letters).
6. Reasons for termination of the contract.
7. Expressing a demand for the return of the deposit.
8. Date and signature.

If, at the end of the period for consideration of the application, the car dealership refuses to return the advance funds, the client must proceed to the stage of drawing up a claim.

The claim is drawn up in two copies. One of them is given to the dealer. On the copy that remains with the buyer, it is necessary to put the incoming registration number of the document and the date of its acceptance for consideration. If the salon employees refuse to accept the claim, it should be sent by registered mail with notification.

The dealer is also given 10 days from the date of receipt to consider the claim (the date of receipt will be indicated on the postal notification). If the reason for termination of the transaction was a poor-quality product, an examination is appointed, based on the results of which a final decision will be made.

Complaint to Rospotrebnadzor

Rospotrebnadzor is a federal service that protects consumer rights. A complaint should be filed with this authority only after a refusal to return the deposit has been received from the dealer. The absence of an official response from the management of the car dealership (if there is a mark indicating that they have received the complaint) is also grounds for a complaint.

The application to the federal service contains the same information as in the application for termination of the contract. The complaint must also be accompanied by a copy of the contract, a receipt for payment of the deposit and the claim.

Rospotrebnadzor considers citizens' appeals within 30 days. If the outcome of the review is an order to eliminate the violation, the dealer will be required to comply with all requirements of the federal service. In case of non-compliance, the management of the car dealership will be held administratively liable.

Going to court

A lawsuit is an excellent way to protect your rights. Art. 131 of the Code of Civil Procedure of the Russian Federation establishes the form and content of such an appeal. A sample application can be found on the Internet.

In order for a positive decision to be made during the consideration of the case, the plaintiff will need to provide evidence of the validity of the return of the advance.

The main evidence in this situation is:

1. Contract of sale.
2. Car warranty card.
3. A check for payment of the deposit amount.
4. A copy of the application for termination of the contract and the outcome of its consideration.
5. A copy of the complaint and the response to it.
6. Conclusion of the expert commission on the vehicle malfunction.
7. An order to eliminate violations issued by Rospotrebnadzor (if any).

If the prepayment was made without concluding an agreement, the plaintiff must provide testimony from third parties. However, in most cases, the return of undocumented advance funds is impossible.

How is a deposit for a car set?

If we are talking about such a payment, then it is important to have an idea of ​​how to fill out a deposit when buying a car correctly.
In any case, the agreement on payment in the form of a deposit must be made in writing. As a rule, the conditions for the deposit are stipulated in a separate section of the car purchase and sale agreement. Therefore, you should make sure that in the main transaction, a separate clause states the amount of the deposit, as well as the timing and procedure for its return if the car is not delivered on time.

When a car dealership insists on a deposit, a specific date of transfer should be specified in the contract for the car. This will be an additional incentive for the seller to fulfill his obligations on time.

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In addition, you must keep a receipt or other payment document confirming the deposit of funds.

If the deposit clause is not expressly stated in the contract, the amount paid is considered an advance. How to return a deposit for a car at a car dealership? When the refusal of the car follows on his initiative. It is possible that in this case you will have to go to court.

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