Is There a Compensation for Delayed Car Delivery? Our Thoughts

As a new car owner, waiting for weeks for a new car or car spare part can cause the seconds to grow longer every minute that passes. Since everybody enjoys shopping for a new car, most people spend their valuable time looking for a model that will fulfill all their needs.

If you have selected your model and received a delivery date from the dealers, it may be annoying and tough to understand why the given date has come and gone without your car being delivered. Such delays may make you frustrated and stressed, especially if you do not have a convenient alternative means of transport.

This article has got you covered. It will answer all the questions you may have regarding the vexatious delay; including:

• Likely reasons for your new car's delay
• What to do when your car is delayed
• How to avoid losing due to the late delivery
• How to get compensated when your car is delivered late

There are several likely reasons for your car's late delivery. You have probably heard some of these excuses from the dealership that was obliged to honor the delivery. If your dealer is one of those who only says 'wait a little bit longer', resist the temptation to demand a full refund of our deposit. Before looking for an alternative (that may face a similar delay), consider some of the likely reasons below.

Reasons For New Car Delays

• Distance and customs are the most common reasons for late delivery. If your vehicle originates in a different state or country, it may delay due to customs control measures.
• Poor communication between the dealership and manufacturer on the expected delivery window is sometimes to blame. When a dealer promises delivery by a certain date, be sure to ask whether it syncs with the manufacturer's timeline.
• A global chip shortage that has affected electronics since the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic is one reason new car delays are plaguing expectant motorists worldwide. Some buyers have faced a delay period that extended up to six months. The good news is that the backlog is clearing, and chip shortage will not be a problem by the end of this year.
• Your new vehicle may also be delayed due to the manufacturer underestimating consumer demand for the new model.
• Human error may also be to blame for your late car woes. Dealers are human and may sometimes forget to place your order or place the order with the wrong specifications, thus causing the delay.
• Unforeseen transportation challenges may also contribute to delayed car delivery. Some events like harsh weather conditions, roadworks, accidents, or shipping delays are beyond the control of your manufacturer and dealership.
• The company that is supposed to do the delivery may face internal maintenance or technical issues, which will automatically result in the company informing you that your car delivery could be delayed.

Unsuccessful Versus Delayed Delivery

Buyers who get a message that the delivery was unsuccessful should not keep waiting. Unsuccessful delivery means that the courier could not deliver the parcel at the first attempt, and it may be because of several reasons, like misspelling your address or an outdated address that needs clarification.

An incomplete order form and unclear writing may contribute to the late delivery. Getting to you may be difficult due to difficult access; you may have a late delivery. This translates to when your property has no mailbox or doorbell and you have dangerous pets in your yard; it may be tough to complete the delivery.

How To Avoid Losing When Your Car Is Delayed

Many things can go wrong when ordering your new car; it is essential to know how to cover your bases in case you find yourself in a similar situation. You should receive your delivery date in writing whenever you place your car order.

Though the date you will be given will be an estimate, it will come in handy when you want to negotiate your position. You can read the fine print or ask outright about the margin of error on the date provided

After receiving your delivery date, you should make sure that you enquire about what happens if your car is delayed in delivery. If by any chance you are trading in your old vehicle as part of the exchange, you should ensure that the dealer agrees to the price they will pay regardless of the delivery date.

You must write your agreement since you don't want to be disappointed by being out of pocket. If any of the dealers do not agree to that, it is a clear sign that they don't have faith in the delivery date that they are promising you. Always ensure that you get a frank and accommodating dealer that takes your requests seriously.

If by any chance you are not trading in your old vehicle, you should get the dealer to agree in writing to provide you with a car on loan to cater for any extra time between the delivery date and the arrival of your vehicle. If the dealer refuses, that should be a clear warning sign that your car may be delayed.

You should make sure that you also get in writing the agreement of the price of the vehicle you have chosen, and this will come in handy whenever the car price rises during the delay period, and thus you end up not paying an extra penny for it.

Always ensure that you follow up with your dealer a few days after placing your order to reduce the chances of human error being the cause of your vehicle's delay. Doing this makes you feel at peace when waiting for your car to be delivered.

What To Do If Your Car Is Delayed

After realizing your car will be delayed, you should speak to the dealer to get an updated delivery time and date through the company's customer service department. By contacting customer care, you should be given the reason for the delay and whether the new date will be honored.

You will be required to remain in close contact with your dealership because the contract for the car is between you and your car dealers.

Is Your Car Delayed, Or Does It Have Missing parts?

It is very easy for a new car owner to be frustrated in the case of a delay from either the car manufacturers or the car dealers. This also includes vital spare parts for your vehicle if they are out of stock. This can be very disadvantageous as your car can be off the road for weeks or even months as your source for the parts.

Whenever you contact your dealers and say they can't get any parts, you should call the car manufacturer's customer care for further assistance. Most motor industry companies have a code known as New Car Code. This New Car Code states that any new car should have enough spare parts to maintain the vehicle on the road.

What To Do When the New Car Code Does Not Cover Your Vehicle

Whenever you buy a car and discover that the New Car Code does not cover it, you should ensure that you open a case with the car maker's customer care department. It is because of the new car code that you should be in a position to know about any supply chain issues and lead times on parts.

As a new car owner, it is highly recommended that you keep in touch with third-party suppliers. By doing so, you might get they have the required part in stock, and if they don't have it, the third party may be able to offer you a suitable replacement compatible with your car.

Before installing a third-party spare part, it is crucial that you contact customer services and put it in writing that any warranty left on your car won't be invalidated. You should try and explain that your vehicle should be back on the road, and waiting for any official parts to be tracked down is pretty challenging.

If the customer service cannot guarantee the warranty, you should request a loan car for moving around while waiting for the part to arrive.

How To Get Compensated When Your Car Is Delivered late

Different companies have specific policies regarding refunds for any late deliveries. Primarily their money-back guarantee only applies to particular delivery issues or postal services. You should do your due diligence and try to find the best criteria to see whether it suits you.

• Calling the customer care support
• Sending an email explaining the issue to the company
• Submitting an online refund request via their original website
• Visiting the company in person to request the refund
• Signing up for DoNotPay and filing your refund claim in minutes

But you should keep in mind that most contracts that are signed when you are making deposit for the new vehicle are tricky and foxy, so according to them you aren't eligible to any compensation. In most cases, courts will not be the best solution.

Conclusion

It is very unlikely to find that your new car has been delivered in one or two days of booking. This is even after the vehicle is stated as readily available in the dealership. Some procedures may delay your car delivery, such as PDI (Pre-delivery inspection), fitment of accessories, vehicle registration, etc., which may take several days to complete, resulting in a delay in delivery.

When buying a popular car, you may have to wait for your car even longer, depending on the waiting period of the specific model. However, this article will assist you on how to avoid late deliveries of your new car.