Finance office: Washington
General information, not legal advice. Laws change. Facts last checked on 13 November 2026 against the sources linked.
We name no lender and sell nothing.
At a glance
| Topic | Can I cancel? | Window | Refund |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancelling the car purchase | No 3-day right | 4 working days, financing or other conditions | Not binding: down payment, trade-in offered back |
| Vehicle service contract | Yes, if no claim made | 30 days for full refund | Full, then unused part; $25 fee cap |
| GAP waiver | Yes, for at least 30 days | 30 days or more | Full, if no benefit paid |
| Credit life and disability insurance | Rules quoted cover refunds only | No number of days set | Paid or credited promptly |
Cancelling the car purchase
The Washington Attorney General says there is no 3-day right to cancel a car purchase.
It also says that if a deal depends on financing and the dealer has not settled the financing within 4 working days of purchase, there is no binding contract.
Washington Attorney General guidance and the statute quoted below. Your contract says what applies to you.
“You DO NOT have a three day right of cancellation on vehicle purchases or lease contract”
More from the law (4)
“By law, the dealer has 4 working days from the time of purchase (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) to find financing or resolve the contingency and finalize the sale.”
Washington Attorney General, Buying a car
“If that is not done, there is no binding contract and the dealer must offer to return your contract documents, down payment and trade-in vehicle”
Washington Attorney General, Buying a car
“If you have taken possession of the car, you must promptly return it.”
Washington Attorney General, Buying a car
“the ’bushing’ period, which is four calendar days, exclusive of Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday”
Vehicle service contract
If you have made no claim, you can return the contract within 30 days of purchase for a full refund (less a fee of up to $25 from day 10).
After 30 days with no claim, the refund is for the unused part, less a fee of up to $25.
Our summary of the law quoted below. Your contract says what applies to you.
Optional? No lender or seller may require you to buy a service contract as a condition of the loan or the sale.
“every provider shall permit the service contract holder to return the contract within 30 days of its purchase if no claim has been made”
More from the law (6)
“unless the service contract holder returns the contract 10 or more days after its purchase, in which case the provider may charge a cancellation fee not exceeding $25.”
Revised Code of Washington 48.110.075(4)(a)
“If no claim has been made and a contract holder returns the contract after 30 days, the provider shall refund the purchase price pro rata based upon either elapsed time or mileage computed from the date the contract was purchased”
Revised Code of Washington 48.110.075(4)(b)
“less a cancellation fee not exceeding $25.”
Revised Code of Washington 48.110.075(4)(b)
“Within 9 calendar days”
Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Extended warranties and service contracts
“Contract seller can charge you a cancellation fee of no more than $25”
Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Extended warranties and service contracts
“shall not require the purchase of a service contract or protection product as a condition of a loan or a condition for the sale of any property.”
GAP waiver
You have at least 30 days to cancel GAP at no cost, with a full refund if no benefit was paid.
After that it depends on the waiver: the unused part may be refunded unless the waiver says otherwise, if you ask in writing within 90 days of the loan ending. This law does not cover a GAP insurance policy, or GAP from a bank, a credit union or a consumer loan company, unless that company chooses to follow it.
Our summary of the law quoted below. Your contract says what applies to you.
Optional? For GAP that this law covers, a lender may not make the loan, its terms, or the terms of the car sale or lease depend on you buying GAP.
“the date the borrower may cancel the waiver without penalty, fees, or costs to the borrower. This period of time must not be shorter than thirty days.”
More from the law (7)
“the borrower will be entitled to a full refund of the purchase price, so long as no benefits have been provided”
Revised Code of Washington 48.160.060(1)
“or in the event benefits have been provided, the borrower may receive a full or partial refund pursuant to the terms of the waiver”
Revised Code of Washington 48.160.060(1)
“the borrower may be entitled to a refund of any unearned portion of the purchase price of the waiver unless the waiver provides otherwise.”
Revised Code of Washington 48.160.060(2)
“within ninety days of the event terminating the finance agreement”
Revised Code of Washington 48.160.060(2)
“In order to receive a refund, the borrower, in accordance with any applicable terms of the waiver, must provide a written request to the creditor, administrator, or other party, within ninety days of the event terminating the finance agreement.”
Revised Code of Washington 48.160.060(2)
“Guaranteed asset protection waiver agreements may be cancellable or noncancellable after the free look period.”
Revised Code of Washington 48.160.060(1)
“Neither the extension of credit, the term of credit, nor the term of the related motor vehicle sale or lease … may be conditioned upon the purchase of a waiver.”
Credit life and credit disability insurance
If this insurance ends before the loan was due to end, any refund must be paid or credited promptly.
The section of law quoted below says "promptly" and gives no number of days.
Our summary of the law quoted below. Your contract says what applies to you.
Optional? If a lender requires this insurance, you may ask to supply the required insurance yourself; the section quoted does not say whether a lender may require it.
“any refund of an amount paid by the debtor for insurance shall be paid or credited promptly to the person entitled thereto.”
More from the law (1)
“shall, upon request to the creditor, have the option of furnishing the required amount of insurance.”
- Who to ask: Office of the Insurance Commissioner 800-562-6900
Not covered yet
These pages do not yet cover paint and fabric protection, tire and wheel protection, key replacement, theft etching or prepaid maintenance plans, and state no rule for them. For questions, read the contract or ask the offices below.
- Paint and fabric protection
- Tire and wheel protection
- Key replacement
- Theft etching
- Prepaid maintenance plans