A Folder That Works as a Form
A deal jacket is different from a presentation folder. It is rarely handed to the buyer, and its job is to keep one sale's paperwork together inside the store. The printed front is the part that matters most.
Most dealers print lines for the buyer name, stock number, VIN, salesperson and deal date. Below that sits a checklist of the documents the store requires in every file. Staff tick each box as the page goes in, and the office can audit a jacket at a glance.
We print the fields and checklist you design. Your office manager knows which items belong on it, so we simply lay them out clearly and proof them back to you.
Deal Jacket Specifications
| Spec | Options |
|---|---|
| Style | Open-end envelope, envelope with flap, or open pocket folder |
| Size | 10 x 15 in for legal pages, or 9.5 x 12.5 in for letter pages |
| Stock | 100 lb uncoated cover, 14 pt board, kraft board |
| One or two color, or full color logo with black form lines | |
| Front layout | Deal fields and document checklist you supply |
| Color coding | Different stock or ink colors per department |
| Coating | Uncoated for writing, or aqueous on the logo area |
| Packing | Bulk boxed in counts sized for each desk |
Envelope Style or Open Folder
The classic deal jacket is an envelope open on one long or short side. Pages slide in and stay put when the jacket is stacked in a desk tray or filed upright. Some stores prefer an envelope folder with a flap that closes over the opening.
Others use an open folder with a single deep pocket inside. That style is easier to flip through at the finance desk but loses pages more easily in transit. Ask your finance team which they handle more often before you choose.
Designing Your Deal Jacket
- Collect the checklist your office uses today, even if it is a stamped or stapled sheet.
- Decide which deal fields go at the top, such as stock number, VIN and buyer name.
- Choose envelope or open style after asking the finance desk how they handle files.
- Pick colors for each department if you want jackets sorted by deal type.
- Proof the layout with pen in hand to check that every field has room to write.
Custom Car Dealership Deal Jackets for New, Used and Service
Many dealers color-code jackets so files sort themselves. New vehicle deals might go in one color, used in another and wholesale or lease returns in a third. Printing the same layout on different colored stock or in different ink colors keeps the system simple.
Service departments sometimes use a smaller version for repair orders and warranty paperwork. A shared layout with a different checklist ties both departments to the same filing method. Your quote can cover each version together.
Stock and Size for Daily Handling
A deal jacket is opened and closed dozens of times before it is filed. A heavy 100 lb cover or 14 pt board stands up to that use. Uncoated stock takes pen and pencil marks best, which matters on a form that staff write on every day.
Legal size is common because many retail contracts and title forms run long. Our legal size folder format shows those measurements, and a letter size jacket is available if your forms are shorter.
Pages a Deal Jacket Usually Holds
- Buyer's order and retail contract copies
- Trade-in appraisal and payoff details
- Title and registration paperwork
- Finance and lender documents
- Copies of the buyer's license and insurance card
- Delivery checklist and signed receipts
Custom Car Dealership Deal Jackets: questions we get
What is a deal jacket?
It is a heavy envelope or folder that holds all the paperwork for one vehicle sale. The front works as a form with deal details and a document checklist printed on it.
Can you print our own checklist on the front?
Yes. Send us your current checklist and we lay it out as printed lines and boxes. You approve every item on the proof.
Which stock is best for writing on?
Uncoated cover stock takes ballpoint, pencil and marker without smearing. Coated stock looks brighter but can resist some pens.
Can we order different colors for new and used deals?
Yes. We can print one layout on several stock colors or in different ink colors. Each version is packed separately.
Do dealer groups order jackets for several stores?
Yes. A group can share one layout and change the store name and logo on each version. Send the list of stores with our dealership quote request form and we split the order by location.