Fields Automotive Group is a regional car dealer network, not a financial product or loan program
Fields Automotive Group operates as a chain of new and used car dealerships across multiple states. If you arrived here looking for information about financing a car purchase, loan terms, or dealer policies, this guide explains what Fields is, how it operates as a dealership network, and what to expect when working with one of their locations.
Fields is not a lender, a credit bureau, or a financial services company. It is a retail automotive business that sells vehicles and arranges financing through third-party lenders. Understanding the difference matters because your rights, protections, and options depend on whether you are dealing with the dealership itself or the bank or finance company that actually holds your loan.
Key Takeaways
- Fields Automotive Group operates as a dealership network that sells vehicles but does not directly lend money — financing comes from separate banks and finance companies.
- Your loan contract is with the lender, not with Fields, so disputes about interest rates or payment terms go to the lender or a regulator, not to the dealership.
- Dealership practices like spot delivery (taking a car home before financing is final) and yo-yo sales (repossession if financing falls through) are legal in most states but carry real risks you should understand before signing.
- Your state's attorney general office and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau handle complaints about dealership financing practices if you believe something was unfair or deceptive.
How Fields Automotive Group operates as a dealership
Fields Automotive Group owns and operates individual dealership locations that handle the retail side of car sales. Each location has its own sales staff, service department, and financing office. When you buy a car from Fields, you are buying from that specific location, though corporate policies and procedures explore across all locations.
The dealership's role is to sell you the vehicle and arrange financing. The dealership does not hold your loan long-term. Instead, it works with lenders — banks, credit unions, captive finance companies (like Ford Credit or Toyota Financial Services), and buy-here-pay-here operations — to fund the purchase. The dealership may sell your loan to another company after the sale closes, which is why you might receive a notice that your payments should go to a different address.
What happens during the financing process at a dealership
When you finance a car purchase through Fields, the dealership's finance office collects your personal and financial information, runs a credit check, and submits your process to multiple lenders to see what rates and terms you may have access to for. This is called shotgunning or submitting to the market. You do not choose the lender directly — the dealership does, based on which lender approves you and at what rate.
The dealership then presents you with a loan contract that shows the lender's name, the interest rate, the loan term, the monthly payment, and the total amount you will pay. Read this document carefully. The interest rate shown is the rate the lender approved, not a rate the dealership can change later. Once you sign, that rate is locked in unless the lender later discovers fraud or a material error in your process.
Some dealerships use a practice called spot delivery, which means you can take the car home before your financing is officially final. This is legal in most states but risky for you. If the lender later rejects your process or changes the terms, the dealership can repossess the car, even if you have already made payments or modifications. Ask whether spot delivery applies to your purchase and what happens if financing falls through.
Spot delivery and yo-yo sales: what they mean for you
Spot delivery occurs when a dealership lets you drive a car off the lot before the lender has formally approved the loan. The dealership is betting the lender will approve you, but that bet is not may provide. If the lender declines or changes the terms significantly, the dealership can ask you to return the car or renegotiate the deal.
A yo-yo sale (also called a curbstoning or a spot delivery repossession) happens when you take the car home, make payments, and then the dealership repossesses it weeks or months later because the lender rejected the financing. This is legal in most states, though some states have passed laws requiring the dealership to notify you in writing within a certain number of days that financing is still pending. Before you leave the lot, ask the dealership in writing whether your deal is final or conditional on lender approval, and ask what timeline applies.
Your rights when financing through a dealership
Your loan contract is with the lender, not with Fields Automotive Group. This means your rights and protections come from the lender's policies, your state's consumer protection laws, and federal lending regulations — not from the dealership's policies alone.
The Truth in Lending Act (TILA) requires the lender to disclose the annual percentage rate (APR), the finance charge, the payment schedule, and other key terms in writing before you sign. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) prohibits lenders from discriminating based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or receipt of public benefits. If you believe a lender violated these rules, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or your state attorney general.
The dealership itself must follow state and federal laws against deceptive practices. If a salesperson made false statements about the vehicle's condition, the loan terms, or your rights, or if the dealership charged you hidden fees not disclosed on your contract, those are potential violations. Document everything in writing, keep copies of all paperwork, and report violations to your state attorney general or the CFPB.
What to do if you have a problem with your purchase or financing
If the problem is with the vehicle itself — mechanical defects, title issues, or misrepresentation of condition — contact the dealership's service or sales manager first. Many dealerships have a complaint process. If the dealership does not resolve it, your state's lemon law may cover the vehicle, depending on how old it is and how long you have owned it. Lemon laws vary significantly by state, so check your state attorney general's website for the specific rules.
If the problem is with the financing — an interest rate that seems wrong, a payment that does not match the contract, or a fee you were not told about — contact the lender first, since the lender holds your loan. If the lender does not help, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov. The CFPB investigates complaints about lending practices and can order the lender to correct errors or refund charges.
If you believe the dealership engaged in deceptive or unfair practices during the sale or financing, file a complaint with your state attorney general's consumer protection division. Include copies of your contract, any written communications with the dealership, and a clear description of what happened and when.
Understanding the difference between dealership and lender responsibilities
A common source of confusion is not knowing whether to contact the dealership or the lender when something goes wrong. Here is the basic rule: the dealership sold you the car and arranged the financing, but the lender owns the loan and sets the terms you must follow.
| Issue | Contact | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle defect, damage, or misrepresentation | Dealership service or sales manager | The dealership sold you the vehicle and is responsible for its condition at sale. |
| Interest rate seems wrong or payment does not match contract | Lender (address on your loan statement) | The lender set the rate and terms and holds your loan. |
| You were charged a fee not on your contract | Dealership first, then lender if unresolved | The dealership may have added it; the lender may have added it. Start with whoever charged it. |
| Spot delivery repossession or yo-yo sale | Dealership and lender | The dealership initiated it; the lender may have ordered it. Both need to be contacted. |
| Deceptive sales or financing practices | State attorney general | Consumer protection violations are enforced by the state, not by the dealership or lender. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a dealership change the interest rate after I sign the contract?
No, not unilaterally. The interest rate on your signed contract is the rate the lender approved. The dealership cannot change it. However, if the lender later discovers fraud or a material error in your process (such as a false income statement), the lender may contact you to correct the process or reject the loan entirely. This is rare but possible.
What happens if I take the car home and the financing falls through?
The dealership can repossess the car if spot delivery was used and the lender rejects the financing. This is legal in most states. To protect yourself, ask the dealership in writing before you leave the lot whether your deal is final or conditional on lender approval, and ask what timeline applies before the dealership can repossess.
Who do I contact if I think I was charged an unfair interest rate?
Contact the lender first using the address on your loan statement. If the lender does not help, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov or with your state attorney general. The CFPB investigates lending discrimination and unfair practices.
Can I return the car if I change my mind after buying it?
Dealerships are not required to offer a return period or cooling-off period for car sales. Once you sign the contract and take possession, the sale is usually final. Some dealerships offer voluntary return policies, but these are not required by law. Check your contract or ask the dealership directly about their return policy before you sign.
What should I do if the vehicle has a mechanical problem right after I buy it?
Contact the dealership's service department when ready. If the vehicle is new, the manufacturer's warranty covers most mechanical defects. If the vehicle is used, your state's lemon law may cover it if the defect appears within a certain time frame (usually 30 days to one year, depending on the state). Check your state attorney general's website for your state's lemon law rules.