System and method for automated auditing, pricing validation and consumer protection in automotive finance transactions

Abstract

SmartBuyer AI is an automated quote analysis and scoring system for current or previous vehicle purchases. The system accepts car deal quote images or data inputs, extracts product and pricing details, and audits these against a rule-based engine. It generates a SmartBuyer Score (0-100) and a detailed PDF report flagging overpriced or missing items such as GAP insurance, vehicle service contracts, maintenance plans, and add-ons. The system provides real-time consumer education and optional challenge-based incentives to promote fair and transparent automotive transactions.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising: (a) receiving an image or document of a vehicle purchase quote; (b) extracting structured data from the quote using optical character recognition (OCR); (c) identifying and classifying line items including GAP insurance, vehicle service contracts (VSC), maintenance plans, dealer add-ons, fees, and finance-related incentives; (d) applying one or more audit rules to detect pricing anomalies, omissions, or bundled products based on MSRP, mileage, loan term, and predefined thresholds; (e) generating a numerical scoring metric ('SmartBuyer Score') representing deal fairness based on audit results; (f) producing a downloadable PDF audit report containing the SmartBuyer Score, visual indicators, and rule-based flags; (g) optionally enrolling the user into a competitive incentive program based on score ranking or quote fairness.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein GAP insurance pricing is evaluated against a cap defined as the lesser of a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of the vehicle MSRP.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence of a finance certificate triggers an advisory flag if the financing condition negates eligibility for lease or cash incentives.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising a badge generation system displaying the user's SmartBuyer Score for public or social media sharing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein all audit engine logic is executed on a secure server and is protected from manipulation by frontend clients or external users.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein quote uploads are rate-limited and fingerprinted to prevent duplication or submission-based abuse.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein audit results are used to dynamically adjust a Dealer Trust Score displayed publicly, impacting dealer verification eligibility.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising auto-deleting uploaded quote data after audit generation, while retaining extracted metadata for scoring analytics and trust evaluations.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the SmartBuyer Score is displayed in a public-facing badge or leaderboard format as part of a competitive consumer challenge program.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the audit results and scoring report are delivered through a multilingual user interface, enabling translation of audit explanations, product definitions, and recommendations into the user's preferred language, with support for real-time or Ai-generated translations.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising logic that, based on audit score results, routes to a list of verified dealerships or offers alternative options from participating Verified dealers, using Smartbuyer Score thresholds to trigger eligibility

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising a fingerprinting mechanism for uploaded quotes that detects repeated or modified submissions by the same user, using metadata, hash comparisons, and submission patterns to flag potential abuse or manipulation of the scoring system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein scoring thresholds are dynamically adjusted based on vin-specific data, regional msrp variations, or localized incentive programs, enabling personalized audit logic that reflects real-time market conditions or dealer geography.

14. A system for analyzing vehicle purchase quotes, comprising: an OCR engine, an audit rules module, a scoring engine, a report generation module, and a user interface for receiving quote uploads and delivering downloadable audit reports containing scoring results.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0046] The following figures provide illustrative support for the structural and functional components of the disclosed invention. Each diagram is described in detail to demonstrate the relationship between modules and the logical progression of the system's operation.

FIG. 1: System Overview Diagram

[0047] A block diagram showing the overall architecture of the SmartBuyer AI platform. The flow begins with the Input Module and proceeds through OCR processing, an Audit Engine, Scoring Module, and PDF Output Generator, ultimately reaching the secure backend and administrative controls.

FIG. 2: Audit Engine Flow

[0048] A flowchart showing the sequence of logic used by the Audit Engine to apply pricing rules and detect violations.

FIG. 3: Dealer Trust Score Engine

[0049] Illustrates how dealership behavior is monitored and scored over time using unique quote submissions and scoring adjustments.

FIG. 4: User Interaction Flow

[0050] Maps the end-to-end user journey from initial quote upload to interaction with the output and optional upgrades.