Terms and Conditions

01About these terms

These terms are an agreement between you and Downtown Transmissions ("we," "us," or "our"), a family-owned transmission shop at 631 S State Rd 7, Plantation, FL 33317. They apply when you use downtowntrans.com, place a preorder, buy a rebuilt transmission from us, or have work done at our shop.

By using the site or placing an order, you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the site. Our Privacy Policy explains how we handle your information and is part of these terms.

Please read the section called "Florida law, arbitration, and resolving disputes." It says that disputes we cannot settle are decided by a neutral arbitrator or in small claims court, one customer at a time, instead of by a jury or in a class action. You can opt out within 30 days.

Some details live in other written documents we give you, such as your quote, your repair estimate, your invoice, and your written warranty. If one of those documents conflicts with these terms, that document controls for that order or repair.

02Using the website

You are welcome to use the site to learn about our services, contact us, and buy from us. When you do, you agree to:

• Give true and accurate information, including your VIN and contact details.
• Submit only your own information, or information someone gave you permission to share.
• Not send spam, harmful code, or automated requests, and not try to break into, overload, or copy the site or its data.
• Not use the site for anything illegal or to harass anyone.

You must be at least 18 to place an order. We may block anyone who misuses the site. We may change, pause, or remove any part of the site at any time. We work to keep it running and accurate, but we cannot promise it will always be available or free of errors.

03The chat assistant and symptom checker

Our chat assistant uses artificial intelligence to answer common questions, and it can be wrong. Its answers are general information only. They are not a diagnosis, an inspection, a price quote, or a promise, and they do not change these terms, your quote, or your written warranty.

The symptom checker runs in your browser and gives general information based on the answers you pick. It cannot see or test your vehicle.

Only a hands-on inspection can show what is really wrong with a transmission. Please do not make safety decisions based on the assistant or the symptom checker. If your vehicle does not feel safe to drive, stop driving it and have it checked.

Prices and diagnoses count only when someone at our shop gives them to you in writing, such as in a quote, an estimate, or an invoice.

04Our content and photos

The text, photos, videos, logos, and design of this site belong to Downtown Transmissions or are used with permission. You may view pages and share links for personal, non-commercial use. You may not copy, republish, or use our photos or content for any business purpose without our written permission.

Our name and logo belong to us. Please do not use them in a way that suggests we endorse you, your business, or your product.

05Prices, typos, and errors

Prices on the site are "from" prices, meaning the starting price for that transmission. Your final price depends on your exact vehicle, which we confirm from your VIN before you pay.

We try hard to keep prices, descriptions, and photos correct, but mistakes happen. Product photos may show a similar unit rather than the exact one you will receive.

We may correct any price or product error at any time. If we find an error after you pay, we will contact you before going further. You can then accept the correct price or cancel for a full refund, including your core deposit.

We may also decline or cancel an order before we start building it, for example if we cannot build a unit that fits your VIN or cannot verify the order. If we cancel, we refund everything you paid.

06How online preorders work

Buying a rebuilt transmission on our site happens in steps:

• You send a request. You give us your name, email, phone number, VIN, vehicle details, drive type, and either a shipping address or pickup. This is a request, not a purchase, and nothing is charged.
• We check your VIN. A person at our shop reviews every order to make sure the unit matches your vehicle, then confirms the final price.
• We email your quote and a secure payment link. The quote lists the unit price, the core deposit, and any sales tax. You pay through Stripe.
• You pay, and we build. Your order is accepted once your payment goes through. We then build your unit to order.
• Pickup or freight. When the unit is ready, you pick it up at our shop, or we email you a separate freight quote with a second payment link and ship once that is paid.

Build time is usually 4 to 6 weeks after payment. That is an estimate, not a guarantee. Parts shortages, supplier delays, and other things outside our control can stretch it. If your build runs late, we will let you know.

Quotes are based on current parts costs. If a quote sits unpaid for a while, we may need to send you an updated one, and we will tell you before anything changes.

Please double-check your VIN and vehicle details. A wrong VIN can mean a unit that does not fit. The Returns and refunds section explains what happens in that case.

07Payment, sales tax, and billing disputes

Payments on the site are processed by Stripe through secure links we email you. We do not store your card number. All prices are in U.S. dollars. Freight is quoted and paid separately from the unit.

We add sales tax where the law requires it. Florida sales tax, including any county surtax, applies to units picked up at our shop and units delivered to Florida addresses. When tax applies, it is shown on your quote. For deliveries outside Florida, your state may require you to pay use tax on your own.

If you think a charge is wrong, please contact us first at (954) 764-5060 or Contact@downtowntrans.com. Most billing problems get sorted out quickly with one phone call. This does not limit any right you have with your bank or card issuer. If a chargeback is filed, we will respond to it using our order records.

08Core deposit and core returns

Rebuilt transmissions are sold as an exchange, so we need your old transmission, called the core, back. When you pay for a unit, we also charge a refundable core deposit for each unit. The amount is shown on your quote.

Once your core arrives at our shop and we inspect it, we refund the deposit to the card you paid with. Your bank may take a few business days to post the refund.

To get your full core deposit back, your core must be the same model as the unit you bought, complete and not taken apart, drained of fluid, and free of cracks, burn damage, and water or flood damage. It must reach our shop within 30 days after you receive your new unit.

You pay to send the core back unless we agree otherwise in writing. Pack it so it arrives in the same condition it left, and include your order number.

If the core is damaged, incomplete, the wrong model, or late, we may refund only part of the deposit, or none of it, depending on what it would cost us to repair or replace that core. We will tell you what we found, and we will send photos if you ask. If your core is going to be late, call us before the deadline.

Keep your old transmission until your new unit is installed and working. Do not scrap it, sell it, or throw it away. Ask your installer to drain it and keep all of its parts together.

09Cancelling an order

• Before you pay: cancel any time, for any reason. Nothing has been charged.
• After you pay, before production starts: you get a full refund, including the core deposit and any sales tax.
• After production starts: because your unit is being built for your vehicle, we may keep a cancellation fee of up to 15% of the unit price to cover parts and labor already spent. We refund the rest, including the full core deposit, any freight you prepaid, and the sales tax on the refunded amount.
• After the unit ships or is picked up: the order can no longer be cancelled. The Returns and refunds and Limited warranty sections apply instead.

To cancel, call (954) 764-5060 during business hours or email Contact@downtowntrans.com with your order number. Your cancellation date is the day we receive your request, and we will tell you whether production had started. Refunds go back to the card you paid with.

10Picking up at the shop

If you chose pickup, we will contact you when your unit is ready. Pickup is at 631 S State Rd 7, Plantation, FL 33317, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Bring your order number and a photo ID, and bring a vehicle or trailer that can safely carry a transmission. If someone else is picking up for you, tell us their name ahead of time.

We can help load the unit, but once it leaves our property you are responsible for securing and moving it safely. Please look it over before you leave and point out any concerns right then.

Please pick up within 14 days after we tell you the unit is ready. If you need more time, just let us know. If a finished unit is not picked up and we cannot reach you, we may charge reasonable storage after that, and we will contact you before we do.

11Freight shipping and delivery

Transmissions are heavy, so they ship by freight truck, not regular parcel service. After your unit is built, we email you a freight quote and a second secure payment link. We ship once the freight payment goes through, and we send you the tracking details.

Freight carriers may require a business or commercial delivery address, or have you pick up at their local terminal. If you need home delivery, a liftgate, or another special service, those fees are part of your freight quote. Tell us about any delivery limits, such as a gated community, a narrow street, or no loading dock, before we book the shipment.

Carrier delivery dates are estimates. We are not responsible for carrier delays, but we will help you track down a late shipment. Someone must be at the delivery address to receive and sign for the unit. If the carrier cannot deliver because nobody is there or the address is wrong, the carrier may charge redelivery or storage fees, and those are your responsibility.

Inspect the shipment before you sign. If you see any damage, write it on the delivery receipt or bill of lading before you sign, take photos, and contact us within 48 hours of delivery. Keep all the packaging until we tell you otherwise.

If you report damage this way, we will file the claim with the carrier and work with you to repair or replace the damaged unit as quickly as we can. Damage you could not see until you unpacked the unit must also be reported within 48 hours, with photos. If damage is not noted on the delivery receipt or is reported late, the carrier may deny the claim, and we may not be able to cover the loss.

12Installation requirements

Each unit is built for the vehicle it was quoted for. Unless we install it at our shop, it should be installed by a qualified technician. Installing a transmission is detailed work, and small mistakes can ruin a new unit.

For your warranty to apply, the installer must:

• Flush the transmission cooler and cooler lines, or replace them. Debris left behind by the old transmission can destroy a new one.
• Fill the unit with the correct type of fluid, to the correct level, as the vehicle maker specifies.
• Find and fix whatever caused the original transmission to fail, such as a cooling problem, an engine problem, or an electrical or wiring fault.
• Complete any required programming or relearn procedure.
• Keep installation records and receipts, including the date, mileage, fluid used, and who did the work.

Some units need programming or a relearn after installation to shift correctly. If yours does, we will tell you. Follow any break-in or first-drive instructions we give you.

We are not responsible for installation work done by others, or for damage caused by incorrect installation or by problems elsewhere in the vehicle. If you have a question during installation, call us before guessing.

13Limited warranty

Every rebuilt unit we sell comes with a written limited warranty. How long it lasts and exactly what it covers are stated in writing on your invoice, and that written warranty controls. This section explains how our warranty works in general.

If a covered failure happens during the warranty period, we will repair or replace the unit, at our choice.

Unless your written warranty says otherwise, the warranty does not cover:

• Damage from improper installation, or from not meeting the installation requirements above.
• The wrong type of fluid, or too much or too little fluid.
• Overheating, including overheating caused by a clogged or damaged cooler or cooling system.
• Lack of normal maintenance.
• Racing, drag strip use, or any other competition use.
• Modifications or tuning, including engine or transmission tuning, beyond what we approved in writing.
• Accidents, collisions, fire, flood, or water damage.
• Towing or hauling more than the vehicle's rated capacity.
• A unit that someone else opened, took apart, or repaired without our written approval.
• Parts that were not part of the unit we sold, such as coolers, lines, mounts, driveshafts, and vehicle computers.
• Labor, towing, rental cars, lost time, lost income, or other costs that result from a failure.

This warranty is in addition to your rights under the law. Any implied warranties, including the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, last only as long as your written warranty, to the extent the law allows. Some states do not allow limits on how long an implied warranty lasts, or do not allow incidental or consequential damages to be excluded, so those limits may not apply to you. You may also have other legal rights that differ by state.

14How to make a warranty claim

Call us at (954) 764-5060 before anyone opens, removes, or repairs the unit. Do not take the unit apart or let another shop tear it down. Work done without our approval can void your warranty.

• Call first, during business hours. Have your order or invoice number, VIN, current mileage, and a description of the problem ready.
• Keep your records. We may ask for installation receipts, proof the cooler was flushed or replaced, fluid receipts, maintenance records, and any trouble codes.
• Follow our instructions. We may ask you to bring the vehicle to our shop, have it checked by a shop we approve, or send the unit to us for inspection.
• Stop driving if the unit is slipping, overheating, or making unusual noises. Driving on a failing unit can turn a small repair into a big one, and damage from continued driving may not be covered.

We decide whether a claim is covered after we inspect the unit. If it is covered, we repair or replace it as your written warranty describes. If it is not covered, we will explain why, and you can choose to pay for a repair or have the unit sent back to you at your cost. Before you ship anything, we will tell you who pays the freight for the claim.

15Returns and refunds

Each unit is built to order for your VIN, so once production has started we cannot take it back just because you changed your mind. Cancelling before that point is covered in Cancelling an order.

We will make it right if:

• We sent the wrong unit for the VIN you gave us.
• The unit was damaged in shipping and you reported it as described in Freight shipping and delivery.
• The unit has a defect. Defects are handled under the warranty.

If the unit does not fit because the VIN or vehicle details you gave us were wrong, call us. If the unit has not been installed or filled with fluid, we may be able to exchange it or take it back, minus return freight and a restocking charge to cover our costs. We will tell you the amount before you decide.

Every return needs our approval first. Call us and we will explain how to send the unit back. We may refuse units sent without approval. A returned unit must be uninstalled, unused, and packed the way it arrived.

Approved refunds go back to your original payment method through Stripe. Your bank may take several business days to post the refund.

16Repairs at our shop

When you bring your vehicle to our shop, Florida's Motor Vehicle Repair Act protects you. Among other things:

• You have the right to a written estimate for repairs expected to cost more than $100.
• You have the right to get your replaced parts back if you ask for them when you approve the work. Parts that must go back to a supplier under a warranty or core exchange may not be returnable, but you can ask to see them.
• We do not do any work without your approval. If we find something new or the job changes, we call you and explain before we do more work or go over the amount you approved.

If finding the problem means removing or taking apart the transmission, we will tell you what that step costs before we do it.

Payment is due when the work is finished, before we release the vehicle, unless we agree otherwise in writing. We will let you know when your vehicle is ready, so please pick it up promptly. If a vehicle is left for more than a reasonable time after we tell you the work is done, we may charge reasonable storage fees, and Florida lien law may give us a lien on the vehicle for unpaid repair and storage charges.

We take reasonable care of every vehicle left with us. Please remove valuables and personal items before you drop off your vehicle.

17Financing

We offer financing through Snap Finance, a separate company. Your application is between you and Snap Finance. Approval is not guaranteed, and Snap Finance alone decides whether to approve you and on what terms.

Snap Finance's own agreement, terms, and privacy policy apply to any financing. We do not control them. Please read them carefully, including the total cost, before you sign, and send questions about your financing account to Snap Finance.

18Limits on our liability

We stand behind our work, and this section does not take away rights the law gives you. Some limits are still needed so we can keep our prices fair. To the fullest extent Florida law allows:

• Our total liability for any claim about a product or service is limited to the amount you paid us for that product or service.
• We are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential losses, such as towing, rental cars, lost wages, lost profits, or lost time, unless your written warranty says otherwise.
• The website and its content, including the chat assistant and symptom checker, are provided as is, with no promise that they are complete, accurate, or always available.

Nothing in these terms limits liability that Florida law does not allow us to limit, such as liability for fraud, intentional misconduct, or gross negligence. Nothing here takes away consumer protection rights that cannot be waived.

19If you misuse the site

If you misuse the site, knowingly break these terms, or give us false information, and that leads to a claim, loss, or legal cost for us, you agree to cover our reasonable costs, including reasonable attorney's fees. This does not apply to anything caused by our own mistakes.

20Florida law, arbitration, and resolving disputes

Please read this section carefully. It affects your legal rights. Disputes we cannot settle ourselves are decided by binding individual arbitration or in small claims court. You and we each give up the right to a jury trial and to take part in a class action. You can opt out of arbitration within 30 days, as explained below.

Florida law applies to these terms, to your use of the site, and to anything you buy from us or have us repair, without regard to conflict of law rules. The agreement to arbitrate in this section is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act and, to the extent it applies, the Revised Florida Arbitration Code (Chapter 682, Florida Statutes).

Talk to us first. Before either of us starts an arbitration or a small claims case, the one with the complaint sends the other a written notice describing the problem and what would fix it. Send yours to Contact@downtowntrans.com or by mail to Downtown Transmissions, 631 S State Rd 7, Plantation, FL 33317. We will send ours to the email or address on your order. We both agree to try in good faith to settle it within 30 days after the notice arrives. Any deadline to file a claim is paused during those 30 days.

Arbitration. If we cannot settle it within 30 days, any dispute or claim between you and us that comes from or relates to these terms, the website, a preorder or purchase, any product we sell, any repair or service we perform, our written warranty, or our advertising will be resolved by binding arbitration instead of in court, except for the matters listed under "What stays out of arbitration" below. This includes claims based on contract, warranty, statute, fraud, or any other legal theory, and claims that arose before you agreed to these terms. The arbitrator, not a court, decides any question about whether a dispute must be arbitrated, except questions about the class action waiver, which a court decides.

• Who runs it: the American Arbitration Association (AAA), under its Consumer Arbitration Rules in effect when the claim is filed. The rules are at adr.org. If the AAA is unable or unwilling to handle the case, we will agree on another administrator, or a court will appoint one.
• One neutral arbitrator decides the case.
• Where: Broward County, Florida, or by phone or video if you prefer. For claims of $25,000 or less, you may choose to have it decided on written submissions alone, without a hearing.
• Cost: you pay no more than the consumer filing fee set by the AAA rules. We pay all other AAA and arbitrator fees for a claim you bring, unless the arbitrator finds your claim frivolous or brought for an improper purpose. If your filing fee is more than what it would cost to file in court, we will pay the difference.
• Attorney's fees: each side pays its own, unless a law or these terms let the arbitrator award them. The arbitrator can award you the same individual relief a court could, including remedies under Florida consumer protection and motor vehicle repair laws.
• The arbitrator's decision is final and binding, and any court with authority can enter judgment on it. Arbitration is private, and there is less discovery and less appeal than in court.

What stays out of arbitration:

• Small claims court: either of us may bring an individual claim in small claims court in Broward County, Florida, if it qualifies, as long as it stays there and is not moved or appealed to a higher court as a group claim.
• Government agencies: nothing here stops you from reporting a problem to a government agency, such as the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or the Florida Attorney General. Those agencies may act on their own.
• Repair liens: this section does not limit our rights under Florida's repair lien laws for unpaid work on a vehicle or unit in our possession.
• Misuse of the site: either of us may ask a court to stop unauthorized access to the site or misuse of our content, logos, or photos.

Individual claims only. You and we may bring claims against each other only individually, and not as a plaintiff or class member in any class, collective, or representative action. The arbitrator may not combine more than one person's claims or oversee any class or representative proceeding, and may award relief only to the individual party that asked for it. You and we each give up the right to a jury trial.

If a court finds the class action waiver unenforceable for a particular claim, that claim alone is decided by a court in Broward County, Florida, after the individual claims are arbitrated, and the rest of this section still applies. If any other part of this section is found unenforceable, the rest still applies.

Your right to opt out. You can opt out of arbitration and the class action waiver within 30 days after you first accept these terms, for example by placing a preorder or using the site. Email Contact@downtowntrans.com with the subject "Arbitration opt-out" and include your name, mailing address, and order number if you have one. Opting out does not change anything else in these terms or your order.

Courts. If a dispute is not arbitrated, for example because you opted out or it belongs in small claims court, it goes to the state or federal courts in Broward County, Florida, and you and we agree those courts can hear it.

Changes to this section. If we change this section later, the change does not apply to a dispute either of us already gave notice of. You may reject a future change by emailing us within 30 days after it takes effect, and then the version you last accepted continues to apply to you. This section still applies after your order is finished and after you stop using the site.

21Other important terms

• Events outside our control: we are not responsible for delays or failures caused by things we cannot reasonably control, such as hurricanes, floods, power outages, supplier or carrier problems, or government orders. If one affects your order, we will keep you informed and get things back on track as soon as we can.
• Changes to these terms: we may update these terms from time to time. The date at the top shows the latest version. The version in effect when you place an order applies to that order.
• If a court finds any part of these terms unenforceable, the rest still applies, and that part is limited only as much as needed.
• Full agreement: these terms, our Privacy Policy, and the written documents for your order or repair (your quote, estimate, invoice, and written warranty) make up the whole agreement between us. Nothing the chat assistant says changes them.
• If we do not enforce part of these terms right away, we can still enforce it later.

22Contact us

Questions about these terms, an order, or a repair? We are glad to help:

• Phone: (954) 764-5060, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM
• Email: Contact@downtowntrans.com
• Visit or mail: Downtown Transmissions, 631 S State Rd 7, Plantation, FL 33317