‘Did You Drive Off The Lot?:' Woman Gets Buyer’s Remorse After Signing Car Paperwork. Now She Wants to Know If She Can ‘Cancel’

'Helpppp...'

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By: Alexandra Samuels

Jul 14, 2025 at 9:19am ET

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A woman on TikTok is going viral after sharing her regret over a rushed car trade-in that may have left her feeling scammed.

In a recent clip, TikTok user @veepeeursfavv asked whether it’s possible to back out of a car deal, even after signing the paperwork.

“Helpppp does anyone know if we can cancel a deal if everything has been signed?” she wrote in the text overlay of her clip.

Commenters flooded in with questions before they could offer advice: What state does she live in? How long ago did she sign? Did she drive off the lot?

Those details could determine whether she has any legal wiggle room. Without them, though, it’s hard to say whether her buyer’s remorse can turn into a return.

As of this writing, her video has racked up more than 11,600 views.

Why Does She Want to Return the Car?

In a second clip, @veepeeursfavv explained that she was looking to trade in her family's old car for a larger SUV to better fit her needs. At the dealership, she said, staff offered to “pay off” the old vehicle, but tacked on several extra fees, including a $3,000 charge for “wheel repair.”

In the caption, she took accountability for missing the fine print before signing the paperwork. “Now I look back and it all seemed so rushed,” she wrote.

She’s not alone in her experience. In a 2018 Quora thread, one user described a similar situation, saying they were billed for repairs on their old car even after the dealership accepted it as a trade-in. A top commenter suggested that the key is negotiating those terms before signing anything.

“That’s the kind of thing you negotiate before,” they wrote. “So what were the terms when you traded the car? Did they say they would cover all expenses required to bring the old one back to usable shape? If you were led to believe that they were picking up all expenses, just take the bill back to the garage and tell them, ‘These repairs took place after you took ownership—so I shouldn’t be receiving this bill.’”

What to Know If You’re Having ‘Buyer’s Remorse’

@veepeeursfavv didn’t specify what kind of SUV she bought, or which state she lives in. But those details matter. Depending on where you are, backing out of a car deal after signing paperwork can be tough, if not impossible.

Some states, like Utah, make it crystal clear that buyer’s remorse isn’t enough to cancel a sale.

“Once you purchase a vehicle, you assume responsibility for it,” the Utah Department of Commerce notes on its website. While some dealerships may offer return policies, those are optional, not legally required.

Texas seems to have similar rules. The state doesn’t provide a legal right to return a new or used car just because you regret the purchase.

Chase Bank, meanwhile, also warns that once you’ve signed a purchase agreement, there’s usually no easy way to undo it. Still, there are a few exceptions where a deal might fall through.

Contingent Financing:

If your purchase is based on getting approved for financing and that falls through, the agreement may be void, and the car can be returned.

Dealer Non-Delivery:

If the dealership fails to deliver the agreed-upon vehicle (wrong model, missing features, etc.), you could have grounds to cancel the deal.

Fraud or Misrepresentation:

If the dealer misled you about the car’s condition, history, or financing terms, that may void the contract under state consumer protection laws.

Chase noted that some people wrongfully assume that car sales include a “cooling-off period,” or a window of time to change your mind. But, according to the Federal Trade Commission, that doesn’t apply to vehicle purchases. Once you sign, you’re locked in.

Viewers Urge Her to Contact the Dealership Directly

With no federal “cooling-off” period and state laws varying widely, many viewers encouraged @veepeeursfavv to take her concerns straight to the dealership.

“If immediate, tell them you want to unwind the deal,” one commenter advised.

“Usually not because it’s a legal contract, but it really depends on the dealership,” another noted. “Contact them ASAP.”

“No matter the state, the dealership can always unwind the deal as long as it has not made it all the way through the titling department,” a third chimed in.

Others held back, asking key questions before weighing in.

“How long since signed?” one asked. To that, @veepeeursfavv responded that she signed the paperwork on June 28.

Some offered glimmers of hope based on their own experiences.

“Nissan gave me 90 days,” one woman shared.

What do you think?

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“They’ll hassle you about it but, yes, for the most part, you do have a grace period,” another added.

Motor1 has reached out to @veepeeursfavv via a TikTok direct message.