The spare keys are missing. The set of tires that was discussed is missing too. And the seller has long since moved on. This kind of situation after a car transaction is not unusual.
Usually, this does not happen because one side acted dishonestly. More often, the reason is simpler: agreements stay verbal, details are not written down, and documents are filled in quickly or based on a generic car purchase and sale agreement template. At the time, everything seems clear, but later each side remembers the situation slightly differently.
These details can cause misunderstandings after a private car sale in Latvia. If they are not recorded in writing, it is harder to refer back to the exact agreement.
In this article, we look at five common situations that appear most often in practice, and what exactly you can do to prevent them during the transaction, before there is room to understand things differently.
If you want a broader view of which documents are used in vehicle transactions and what to consider before the deal, see also Doqubit’s vehicle contracts section.
Why do these situations happen so often?
Before looking at the specific situations, it is worth understanding why they happen in the first place.
In a private sale, the parties often prepare the documents themselves. A template can help, but it needs to match the actual agreement on payment, promised repairs, accessories and handover. Problems arise when an important detail remains only in the conversation.
First establish whether the seller is a private individual or a trader. Latvia’s Consumer Rights Protection Centre (PTAC) explains that a genuine private sale is different from a consumer purchase from a trader. This does not remove all buyer rights: sections 1612–1620 of the Latvian Civil Law also govern liability for defects and its limits.
1. “But we talked about it...” yet it does not appear in the document
At the moment of buying a car, the conversation between buyer and seller often feels natural and relaxed. Different points are discussed: perhaps a small repair will be done before handover, the tires will come with the car, or the parties can agree on a solution later if needed. At that moment, everything seems clear, and it often feels unnecessary to write it down separately.
Problems usually appear later. After the transaction, the buyer expects the discussed points to be fulfilled, while the seller may not remember them as a specific agreement. What felt like a promise to one side may have been only a mention of a possibility to the other.
This is exactly where the importance of documenting the agreement in writing becomes clear. A car sale agreement is the place where the basis of the transaction is clearly recorded: who sells, who buys, for what price, how payment is made, and what conditions apply. If additional agreements were discussed, this is where they should be included so different interpretations do not arise later.
The practical details that often become a source of confusion are recorded in the handover and acceptance certificate. It states exactly what is handed over with the car, such as tires or keys, as well as the vehicle’s condition and mileage at the handover moment.
In practice, the biggest difficulty is usually not the idea of the documents themselves, but the uncertainty about what exactly to include in them. That is why generic car sale agreement templates are often used: people either search for a sample online, adapt it as best they can, or decide to manage without a sale document at all.
A better alternative is an approach that helps organize the information during the creation process itself. Document creation on the Doqubit platform starts with specific questions about the transaction: the parties, the vehicle, the agreed terms, and handover details. By answering them, the user organizes all essential information step by step, and the system turns it into a clear document.
The guided questions provide a structure for the document. Before signing, both parties still need to check that it accurately records their details, promises and the terms that matter to this sale.
For example, if the seller promises to replace the battery before handover, record the work, its deadline and how you will check it. If it has not been done, agree on the next step before accepting the car.
2. The car’s condition is not recorded at handover
When buying a car, the buyer usually focuses on the essentials: how the car drives, how it looks, and whether there are any obvious defects. At that moment, everything seems understandable, and it often feels as if there is no need to record the car’s condition separately.
Problems usually appear later. After a few days or a week, the buyer notices a scratch, hears an unusual noise, or sees wear that was not as obvious before. Then the key question arises: was it there before the transaction, or did it appear afterwards?
If the car’s condition is not recorded in writing at the handover moment, the situation becomes unclear. The buyer may be convinced the defect existed before, while the seller may not remember it or may believe it appeared later. Without a documented basis, such situations are difficult to assess objectively.
That is why recording the car’s condition in the handover certificate is essential. It clearly states the vehicle’s condition at the exact handover moment, including:
- visual and technical condition,
- mileage,
- visible defects or signs of wear,
- accessories and equipment handed over.
This is a simple step that:
- helps avoid interpretations,
- provides a clear point of reference,
- and allows both sides to rely on the same information.
The certificate provides a written reference point, but it does not replace a mechanical inspection or by itself prove when a hidden defect arose. Keep inspection photos, messages and available service records too.
If you want to understand in more detail how this document works in practice and what should be included, you can read more in the article “Car handover and acceptance certificate: why it is useful and what to include”.
3. “The mileage was different from what the seller said”
Mileage is one of the most important indicators when buying a car, but in practice it is not always clearly recorded in the documents. During the transaction, the buyer sees the odometer reading, the seller confirms it, and that is often where it ends.
Problems usually appear later, when the buyer checks the service history or other records and notices inconsistencies. Then the question becomes: what was the actual mileage at the time of the transaction?
If this information is not recorded in writing, the situation becomes unclear. The seller may refer to what was visible on the odometer, while the buyer may refer to what they remember from the conversation. Without a documented basis, such inconsistencies are difficult to assess objectively.
That is why recording mileage in the handover certificate is essential. It clearly states the odometer reading at the exact handover moment, together with the date and confirmation from both parties.
Record the odometer reading rather than presenting an unverified figure as the true lifetime mileage. Compare it with available inspection and service records; if the seller gives a separate assurance about mileage, record exactly what they confirm.
4. It is unclear what was handed over with the car
In car transactions, attention is often focused on the price and the vehicle itself, and less on what comes with it. These details are exactly what most often cause confusion later.
After the transaction, practical questions may arise: was there one key or two, was a set of tires included, was the service book or other documents handed over, was there any additional equipment? If this information is not recorded in the documents, each side may remember the situation differently.
List the accessories clearly in the handover certificate, including quantity and condition: for example, two keys and four winter tires without rims. If something will be delivered later, give it a separate deadline instead of marking it as already received.
5. “It is unclear from which moment I am responsible for the car”
A car transaction does not always happen at one single moment. The contract may be signed on one day, payment made on another, and the car itself handed over later. In these cases, one question becomes important: at what moment does the vehicle actually pass into the buyer’s responsibility?
For example: the contract is signed on Monday, the money is transferred on Tuesday, the car is collected on Thursday, but damage occurs in a parking lot on Wednesday. Without a clear record of the facts, there is no unambiguous answer as to which side is responsible for the car at that moment.
The handover certificate records the date and time of physical delivery. It does not by itself determine when ownership passes, who bears a loss or how insurance responds; those depend on the transaction, the agreement and the applicable rules. If signing and handover fall on different days, state in the agreement who bears the risk of damage in between.
Under the electronic procedure described by CSDD, ownership passes when the seller approves the buyer’s application; the seller’s OCTA (compulsory motor third-party liability insurance) policy ends at that point. Agree on the order of payment, approval and key handover in advance, and arrange valid OCTA cover before driving.
How to avoid all five situations at once
These situations share one problem: important details were left unrecorded. A car sale agreement records the terms, while a handover certificate records the car and accessories actually received. The documents reduce uncertainty but do not replace checks before purchase.
In practice, the obstacle is often not unwillingness, but uncertainty: what exactly should be written, which document should be used, and whether the car purchase and sale agreement template found online is suitable for the specific situation.
Doqubit offers a guided process for both documents. Answers about the parties, vehicle, price and handover are used to fill in the draft. Review it with the other party; you can edit the downloaded DOCX in a compatible word processor and send the file to them. Sign the final agreed version.