Tips on Buying Cars: new car purchase, paperwork, new car

Question
my daughter recently purchased a new car. this car had preexisting damage on the rear right bumper. the damage was a scrub mark with wrinkled paint in the area about 3 inches long. should this damaged have been recorded on paperwork before sale along with a discount for damage prior to signing of paperwork?

Answer
Was the damage repaired before she looked at the car, or was the damage visible at the time of sale?  Major damage, repaired or not, needs to be disclosed to potential buyers, but the laws regulating this vary from state to state.  The damage you're describing is minor, in that it was all cosmetic and wouldn't affect the safety or operating ability of the car.  If it was obvious at the time of purchase, then nothing needs to be disclosed, as the consumer is at the very least responsible for looking over a vehicle before leaving the dealership with it.  If the damage wasn't noted in writing at the time of delivery, then the dealer is just going to tell you that the damage must have occurred AFTER you drove the car off the lot, and they're not responsible for that.  As for a discount, that's between you and the dealer.  If you didn't ask for one, they're not going to offer it.  If she hasn't yet taken delivery, then you need to resolve this before she drives it off the lot, or you're stuck with the damage.  If she has the car, I don't see what you can do at this point, unless you can prove without question that the damage was there when she bought the car.