A big part of my work at TrueCar involved writing explainer copy and disclaimers. Our complicated pricing data needed to be explained simply and clearly, so that the customer would easily understand it. Because we were working in a space that could be misconstrued as brokering, we also had to make sure our legal disclaimers were airtight. I worked with product owners and data scientists on our explainer copy, and collaborated closely with our legal team on disclaimer copy.
When we call a vehicle a “great lease price,” our assessment of that vehicle is based on what other consumers paid for similar makes and models nationwide. We put that right in the headline, and then add a Learn More drawer for more info.
When we open the Learn More drawer, I’ve included more information about how the pricing graph works, and I’ve also included definitions of the pricing terms we’re using.
It’s important to give some specific reasons why vehicles in this price range might be priced this way.
When we’re showing estimated finance payments before a customer has registered on the site, we need to explain how we calculated this number and what it may not include.
Here is a combination explainer and disclaimer. We explain how the buying power calculator works, and we also let the customer know that these are not actual offers from lenders.
This disclaimer is displayed when TrueCar connects a customer with dealers who will then contact them about cars they’re interested in. We need to let them know that this contact will take place, but that it also doesn’t mean they are now legally obligated to buy a car.
We called this filter “Expanded Home Delivery” because it included dealers outside the customer’s area who were willing to deliver to them, and it also included dealerships that didn’t have physical lots you could visit.