BlackletterCalifornia law

Civil Code § 2984.5

CHAPTER 2b. Automobile Sales Finance Act

Current as of September 28, 2026Civ. Code, § 2984.5Official source ↗

Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 59, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.

(a) A seller shall maintain the following documents for at least seven years or the length of the conditional sales contract, whichever is longer:

(1) A copy of each buyer’s conditional sales contract.

(2) Any documents relied upon by the seller to determine a buyer’s creditworthiness, including, but not limited to, any consumer credit report, as defined in Section 1785.3, or any other document containing a buyer’s credit score, as defined in Section 1785.15.1.

(3) If the conditional sales contract is sold, assigned, or otherwise transferred, a copy of the terms of that sale, assignment, or transfer.

(b) A seller that unlawfully fails to comply with a court order to produce the documents described in subdivision (a) shall be liable in an action brought by the Attorney General for a civil penalty of five thousand dollars ($5,000) per violation. The penalties provided by this section are in addition to all rights and remedies that are otherwise available under law.