How to Read a Car Buyer's Order
Trace a dealer worksheet from negotiated price to OTD total and amount financed.
Start at the selling price
Confirm the VIN, vehicle, negotiated price and included destination charge. Match discounts and incentives to the terms you qualify for.
Separate charges by owner
Government taxes and registration should be distinguishable from dealer fees and products. Ask who receives each unclear charge.
Follow the trade arithmetic
Find the gross allowance, payoff and net equity. Make sure negative equity is not hidden inside another vehicle-price or financing line.
Recalculate the total
Add every positive line and subtract every credit. Compare that sum with the stated OTD amount and the amount financed.
Rates and fees can change. State-specific calculators identify their source date and separate fixed source-backed amounts from user-entered or location-dependent estimates.
Review official sources