Frequently Asked Questions

CarmaScore is our proprietary rating (0-100) that evaluates how good a deal is compared to the market. Unlike other ratings that only look at asking price, CarmaScore factors in the estimated out-the-door cost, including typical fees and taxes in your area. A higher score means a better deal relative to similar vehicles.

We show confidence levels to be transparent about our data quality. A "low confidence" score means we have limited comparable data—perhaps few similar vehicles in the area or few community deals to reference. The score is still useful, but you should do additional research. As more people share deals, confidence improves for everyone.

The out-the-door price is the total amount you pay to drive the car home—including the vehicle price, all taxes, documentation fees, registration, and any other charges. This is the only number that matters when comparing deals. A $25,000 car at one dealer might cost $28,000 out-the-door, while a $26,000 car elsewhere might cost $27,500 total.

Generally, government fees (tax, title, registration) are fixed by law. Dealer fees like documentation fees, dealer prep, and advertising fees are negotiable—though some dealers are firm on doc fees. Add-ons like paint protection, VIN etching, and extended warranties are almost always removable. Carma flags negotiable fees in our deal analysis so you know what to push back on.

We analyze fees from real deals shared by our community. When buyers share their complete purchase breakdowns, we aggregate this data by dealer and by state. This means we can tell you that "Doc fees at this dealer typically run $499" or "Buyers in Texas usually pay $1,200 in total fees." The more deals shared, the more accurate our fee estimates become.

This is a red flag. Any reputable dealer should be able to provide a complete breakdown of the out-the-door price. Ask directly: "What is my total out-the-door price including all taxes and fees?" If they won't give a straight answer, consider it a negotiating tactic and be prepared to walk away.

Yes! You can submit deal details without an account. We'll give you a claim link so you can link it to your account later and receive your Carma points. However, creating an account first ensures you get credit immediately and can track your contribution's impact.

Absolutely! You can submit deals at any stage—whether you're just starting negotiations, have received an offer, or have completed the purchase. In-progress deals help others see current market offers, while completed deals show final results. Just indicate the deal status when submitting.

Yes! "Bad" deals are just as valuable to the community—they show others what to avoid and what price points to negotiate away from. Plus, sharing helps you earn Carma points regardless of whether you got a good or bad deal. No judgment here; we've all been there.

Our AI generates specific, actionable tips based on your deal data. For example: "This dealer typically gives 5% off—target another $1,200 in savings" or "The doc fee here is $300 above their average—ask them to match." We provide actual dollar amounts, not vague advice, and sometimes include sample scripts you can use.

It depends on your negotiation style. Some buyers find it effective to show dealers that they've done their research: "I see that similar buyers at your dealership paid around $X out-the-door." Others prefer to keep their sources private and just negotiate confidently. Either way, having the data gives you confidence.

Some dealers (especially no-haggle dealers like CarMax) have fixed pricing policies. In these cases, use Carma to verify whether their price is actually fair—sometimes "no-haggle" means you're getting a good deal, other times it doesn't. If a negotiating dealer won't budge, be prepared to walk away. Often, they'll call you back with a better offer.

Not at all! We believe in transparency that benefits everyone. Dealers who offer fair, competitive pricing actually benefit from Carma—they show up with great CarmaScores and attract more informed buyers. We use collaborative language in our tools (like "consider asking" rather than "demand") because we see dealers as partners, not adversaries.

Our data comes directly from real buyers sharing their actual purchase documents and details. We have validation checks to flag suspicious submissions, but we're transparent that community data isn't independently verified. We show sample sizes and confidence levels so you know how much data backs each estimate. The more deals shared, the more accurate our insights become.

We have automated systems that flag suspicious submissions based on patterns (e.g., prices that are unrealistic, repeated submissions from the same source, etc.). Flagged deals are reviewed before being included in community averages. Additionally, when you upload a photo of your worksheet, our AI verifies that the numbers match what you entered.

We prioritize recent data. Community deals from the past year are weighted more heavily than older deals, and our AI analysis considers market conditions and seasonal trends. For active listings, we refresh data regularly to ensure prices and availability are current.

You earn Carma points by contributing to the community. Sharing deals, claiming vehicles you own, uploading photos, and writing reviews all help you build your Carma score. The more complete and helpful your contributions, the more you're rewarded!

Your Carma score reflects your contribution to the community and unlocks additional features on the platform. As a community-driven platform, we reward members who help others—so the more you contribute, the more you can access. We're always adding new ways to reward active community members.

No, your Carma points don't expire. Once earned, they're yours to keep. Your total Carma score is a measure of your overall contribution to the community.

No. When you share a deal, your personal identity (name, email, contact info) is never displayed publicly. Other users see your username and the deal details, but not your personal information. Vehicle info, pricing, and dealer info are shared to help the community—your personal data stays private.

When you submit a contact request to a dealer, your contact information (name, email, phone) is shared with that dealer so they can respond to your inquiry. This is necessary for dealers to follow up with you about the vehicle. We're working on features to give you more control over your contact information and dealer communications in the future.

No. Dealers cannot see the identity of users who submitted deals. They can see aggregated feedback and ratings, but individual submissions are anonymous. This protects you while still providing valuable transparency to the market.

We collect account information (email, name), deal data you choose to share, and usage data to improve our service. We don't sell your personal information. See our full Privacy Policy for complete details on data collection, use, and your rights.

Yes. You can request deletion of your personal information through your account settings or by contacting us. Note that anonymized deal contributions may be retained to maintain community data integrity, but your identity will be removed.

We take data security seriously and implement appropriate measures to protect your information. For complete details on our security practices, please see our Privacy Policy or contact us with specific questions.

Our mobile app can scan the VIN barcode (usually on the lower windshield or door jamb) using your phone's camera. We instantly decode the VIN to identify the year, make, model, trim, and specifications. This makes deal entry fast and accurate—no need to manually type vehicle details.

Yes! If you own a vehicle, you can "claim" it on Carma by verifying ownership. This links the vehicle to your profile, lets you share photos and your ownership story, and helps you track its value over time. It's also a great way to share your purchase deal with the community.

Absolutely not. We believe transparency benefits everyone. Dealers who offer fair, competitive pricing show up with great CarmaScores and build trust with informed buyers. We're not trying to squeeze dealers—we're trying to make the car buying process more transparent and efficient for everyone.

We're building tools for dealers to engage with the platform constructively. Dealers can respond to reviews, understand their market positioning, and see how their pricing compares. We believe dealers who embrace transparency will thrive, and we want to support that.

Dealer ratings are based on community feedback across dimensions like honesty, transparency, professionalism, and overall experience. Only verified buyers (those who've shared a completed deal) can leave ratings, ensuring authenticity. We also track fee patterns and pricing history to give a complete picture.

Dealers can contact us to discuss any concerns about information displayed. We investigate disputes and correct any verified inaccuracies. We're committed to fairness and accuracy for both buyers and sellers.

Yes! Carma is available as a mobile app for iOS and Android. The app includes VIN scanning, deal entry, browsing, and all the features of the web platform—optimized for when you're at the dealership and need information fast.

The mobile app includes VIN barcode scanning using your camera, which makes deal entry much faster. It's also optimized for use at the dealership—you can quickly look up a vehicle, check comparable deals, and review negotiation tips while you're sitting across from the salesperson.

Yes, the Carma app is completely free to download and use. All features are available at no cost.

Community deal data depends on users sharing. For newer, less common, or niche vehicles, we may have limited data. You can still see market comparables from active listings and get a CarmaScore estimate. As our community grows, coverage improves for all vehicles.

Our AI does its best to read buyer's orders and worksheets, but handwriting and different document formats can cause errors. You can edit any extracted information before submitting. If you notice consistent issues, let us know and we'll improve our system.

You can reach us at support@joincarma.io for any questions or issues. We typically respond within 24 hours on business days. You can also use the feedback button in the app to report bugs or suggest improvements.

Please email us at support@joincarma.io with details about the error. Include the vehicle VIN or deal ID if possible. We investigate all reports and make corrections as needed to maintain data accuracy.