New cars travel thousands of miles - by ship, by train, or by truck - before they are delivered to the dealership. New cars can be damaged during the process. If the repairs cost more than $500 or 3% of the vehicle’s value, the dealer is required by law to tell you. Dealers are exempt from voluntarily telling you about repairs that cost less than $500 or 3% of the vehicle’s value. Ask if the dealer made any repairs before you buy a new car. If you ask, the dealer must tell you - even if the repairs are less than the limit. If you suspect that the dealer made repairs that were over the limit, request a copy of the dealership’s pre-sale Repair History.