PistonPaper guide
How to use your Deal Review report
Keep the downloaded PDF beside the final buyer’s order. Compare the figures, mark anything unclear, and use the report’s questions to prepare a calm conversation with the dealer.
Before you begin
Know what each number represents
Copied or extracted from the order
These values come from text entered from or read from your buyer’s order. They have not been independently verified, and an unclear or misread entry can be wrong. Check each one against the document.
PistonPaper calculations and estimates
Lines labeled “calculated,” “estimated,” or “what-if” are arithmetic based on the figures and assumptions shown. They are not independently verified deal terms or a lender quote. Confirm terms with the dealer or lender.
A value appearing in the report does not make it verified. If a figure is unavailable, missing, or unclear, leave it open until you can check the source paperwork.
A page-by-page walkthrough
Work through the report at your own pace
01
Deal Summary
Start by checking that the report describes the vehicle and transaction you mean to review.
- Compare the vehicle details and VIN with the buyer’s order so you know you have the right paperwork.
- Check the selling price, taxes, rebates, and balance due against the matching lines on the order.
- Mark any missing, unclear, or different entry. Confirm it against the document before relying on it.
02
Financial Breakdown
Separate the figures shown on the order from the calculations that help put them in context.
- Compare the order amount financed, APR, loan term, monthly payment, down payment, trade allowance, trade payoff, fees, and add-ons with the buyer’s order.
- Review calculated totals and payment comparisons as arithmetic based on the displayed figures. Check the inputs first, then confirm deal terms with the dealer or lender.
- Read lines marked “estimated” or “what-if” as PistonPaper calculations with stated inputs and assumptions, not as a lender quote or a confirmed term.
03
Potential Red Flags
Treat each item as a prompt to review, not a finding that something is wrong.
- For each item, find the related line on the buyer’s order and decide whether the report’s description matches what is written there.
- Mark it as explained, corrected, or still unclear. If information is missing, note exactly what you need clarified.
- Ask the dealer to explain an unclear item and, if a term changes, request an updated buyer’s order that shows the change.
04
Questions to Ask the Dealer
Use the list to make the conversation specific and easy to follow.
- Pick one question at a time and point to the matching line or amount on the order.
- Keep the wording neutral: “Could you walk me through how this amount is calculated?” or “Can you show me where this term appears on the final paperwork?”
- Write down the explanation and ask for any agreed change to appear in the updated paperwork. Confirm financing terms with the lender as well.
05
Final Assessment
Read this as a short summary of the information available to the review.
- Compare its summary with your own notes and the buyer’s order. It is not a verdict on whether the deal is good, correct, or approved.
- List what you confirmed, what the dealer or lender explained, and what remains unresolved.
- Use that list to decide what you want to follow up on. The report does not make the decision for you.