The world of car buying can often feel like navigating a maze. Dealers, financing, and the sheer volume of choices can be overwhelming. But what if your Costco membership could unlock a simpler, more transparent path to purchasing a vehicle? That’s the promise of the Costco Auto Program. While you might associate Costco with bulk groceries and unbeatable hot dogs, their auto program offers a unique way to buy cars, and it’s important to understand exactly how it works.
This article dives deep into the Costco Auto Program, drawing directly from the official terms and conditions to give you a clear and comprehensive picture. We’ll explore what it is, how it operates, and what you need to know before leveraging this member benefit.
Demystifying the Costco Auto Program: What It Is and Who’s Involved
It’s crucial to understand upfront that the Costco Auto Program isn’t directly run by Costco Wholesale itself. Instead, it’s operated by Affinity Auto Programs, Inc., an independent company that uses the “Costco Auto Program” name. Think of it as a separate entity that partners with Costco to offer car buying services to its members. Throughout this discussion, when we refer to “Costco Auto Program,” “CAP,” “we,” “us,” or “our,” we are talking about Affinity Auto Programs, Inc., unless specifically mentioned otherwise.
To understand how you interact with the program, it’s helpful to define a few key terms as outlined in their agreement:
- Visitor: This is anyone browsing the public areas of the Costco Auto Program website. You can explore general information without needing to provide personal details or request any services. However, simply by using the website, even as a Visitor, you agree to their terms and conditions.
- Guest: A Guest is someone who takes the next step and submits information to the Costco Auto Program to use one or more of their CAP Services. This means you’re actively engaging with the program, potentially looking for a dealer referral or participating in a specific offer.
- Agent: An Agent is someone who provides information to the Costco Auto Program on behalf of another person. This could be a representative at a car dealership assisting a Costco member with the program.
- CAP Services: These are the actual services and benefits offered by the Costco Auto Program. This can include getting connected with a participating dealership, receiving coupons for parts and service at dealerships, or getting authorization for OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) promotions.
- Data: This refers to all the information collected by CAP related to your use of their services. This includes non-personal information about vehicle purchases (like make, model, year, purchase date, and price) and Personal Information related to Guests.
- Personal Information: This is any information that can identify you as an individual. Examples include your name, email, phone number, address, location data, demographics (like zip code, gender, age), contact details, your Costco membership number, and certain vehicle purchase information.
Navigating the Website and Agreeing to the Terms
Using the Costco Auto Program website, even for a quick browse, means you’re agreeing to their Agreement. For certain sections or services, you might be asked to explicitly click “Accept” to confirm you’ve read and agreed to the terms. If you don’t agree with these terms, you shouldn’t use the website or provide them with any personal information.
It’s important to note upfront that this agreement includes clauses that limit the liability of the Costco Auto Program, disclaim certain warranties, and give them control over the information you provide. Your personal information is also subject to their Privacy Policy, which you should review carefully.
If you need help using the website or have feedback, you can contact them at 1-877-500-1470.
Staying Updated on Program Changes
The terms and conditions of the Costco Auto Program are not static. They can change over time, and the program can modify the agreement without directly notifying you. Therefore, it’s a good practice to revisit the website periodically and review the latest version of the terms and conditions to stay informed of any updates. Changes become effective as soon as they are posted on the website.
Your Access and How the Program Uses Your Information
When you access the Costco Auto Program website, it’s primarily for obtaining information and potentially participating in their services. This might involve providing data to request services for yourself or someone you’re authorized to represent.
The data collected becomes part of a database owned by CAP. Any Personal Information within this data is handled according to their Privacy Policy. By using the website, you consent to the collection, use, and sharing of your personal information as outlined in their Privacy Policy.
Your Responsibilities and Promises to the Costco Auto Program
When you use the Costco Auto Program, you make certain warranties and representations to CAP. These include:
- If you’re acting on behalf of an organization (like a dealership), you confirm that the organization has a legally compliant privacy policy and responsible individuals managing personal information.
- By using the website and interacting with data, you’re not violating any contracts, laws, or infringing on anyone’s rights.
- If you’re an Agent, your access is solely for carrying out your agent duties, and any other use is prohibited. Your access is limited to what’s necessary to assist individuals using CAP Services.
- You are aware of the terms and conditions and agree to follow them.
You also agree to comply with all rules and regulations set by CAP, including those outlined in the Agreement. These rules apply to everyone – Guests, Visitors, and Agents.
Furthermore, you confirm that:
- You are at least 18 years old.
- You have the legal authority to enter into this agreement and use the website according to the terms and conditions.
Privacy Matters: How Your Data is Handled
The Costco Auto Program states they respect your privacy. They collect, use, and disclose personal information according to their Privacy Policy, available on their website. By using the website, you consent to these data practices. It’s essential to read their Privacy Policy to fully understand how your information is handled.
What You Agree to When Using the Website
By using the Costco Auto Program website, you agree to several key points:
- Your access is solely for the purposes stated in the Agreement. You won’t share access with unauthorized individuals or anyone under 18 unless they are supervised by you.
- You are using the website to decide if you want to use CAP Services.
- If you are an Agent, your access is limited to your agent role.
- If you are a Visitor or Guest, you can download content for personal, non-commercial use only.
- Whenever you use the website, you will comply with:
- All applicable laws, including privacy laws.
- Acceptable-use policies and other policies posted on the website.
- Other rules and procedures communicated to you.
Activities That Are Strictly Prohibited
There are specific activities that are prohibited when using the Costco Auto Program website. You cannot use the website for any unlawful purpose or anything prohibited by the Agreement. Examples of prohibited activities include:
- Using the website in a way that could damage, disable, or impair it.
- Harassment of any kind, including offensive language.
- Impersonating others.
- Uploading or distributing defamatory, obscene, illegal, or objectionable content.
- Uploading commercial content or soliciting others to join other online services.
- Circumventing security measures.
- Using the website for cryptocurrency mining.
- Collecting content or information from CAP or other users using automated means (like bots or scrapers) without permission.
Understanding Your Relationship with the Costco Auto Program
Using the website or submitting personal information doesn’t create certain types of relationships between you and CAP. Specifically, it does not establish:
- An employment relationship.
- A business partnership or joint venture.
- A consulting relationship.
- A legal agency relationship where you and CAP act as each other’s legal agents.
Access Rights: Privilege, Not a Right
The Agreement emphasizes that your access to the website is a privilege, not a right. CAP has the sole discretion to decide if you’ve breached any part of the Agreement. They can revoke, suspend, or terminate your access at any time, without notice.
Website Usage at Your Own Risk
Using the internet and websites involves inherent risks, including system failures and malicious activity. While CAP takes reasonable steps to maintain website security and protect your data, you use the website entirely at your own risk. CAP is not liable for any losses or damages, except as expressly stated in the Agreement, even if caused by their negligence.
Disclaimers: What the Costco Auto Program Does NOT Guarantee
The Costco Auto Program makes several important disclaimers:
- They do not guarantee that the website will be error-free or free from viruses or harmful content.
- The website, its content, data access, and materials are provided “as is,” “where is,” and “as and when available” without any warranties.
- To the fullest extent allowed by law, they disclaim all conditions and warranties, whether express or implied, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
- They make no warranty of non-infringement.
- They make no warranties about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the data on the website.
While CAP aims for accuracy and current information, they don’t guarantee the accuracy of information on their website, including the availability of CAP Services in your area.
Limitation of Liability: Damages You Cannot Claim
The Costco Auto Program significantly limits its liability for damages you might experience. In no event will CAP be liable for:
- Indirect, general, special, economic, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages resulting from website use or CAP Services (or inability to use them).
- This includes damages from tort (negligence), contract, or any other cause of action.
- Specific examples include issues with CAP Service availability, data loss, damage to computers or networks, breaches of privacy, infringement of intellectual property, defamation, libel, or slander.
- This limitation applies even if CAP was aware of the possibility of such damages.
Exceptions to Liability Limits
There are limited exceptions to these disclaimers and liability limitations. The Agreement does not exclude or limit CAP’s liability for:
- Death or personal injury caused by CAP’s negligence.
- Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation by CAP.
- Any matter for which it would be illegal for CAP to exclude or limit their liability.
Note that some jurisdictions may not allow limitations on implied warranties or certain types of damages, so some of these limitations might not apply to you depending on your location.
Further Disclaimers Regarding Data Access
While CAP makes reasonable efforts to provide access to review your data, they are not obligated to do so on a pre-agreed basis or at all. They can interrupt or terminate data access at any time without notice or liability. Data access is considered a privilege, not a right.
CAP is free to modify, change, delete, or share data with Costco Wholesale, Participating Dealers, and OEMs as they see fit, subject to their privacy policies and applicable law. Other parties may also access and modify the data. CAP has no control over these third parties and is not liable for your reliance on the data.
Events Beyond Their Control
The Costco Auto Program is not liable for failures or delays in their obligations under the Agreement if caused by events outside their reasonable control. In such cases, their performance is suspended for the duration of the event, and they get an extension of time to perform their obligations. They will make reasonable efforts to resolve these events or find solutions to perform their obligations despite the event.
Legal Compliance and Enforcement
CAP’s obligations are subject to all applicable laws and regulations. Nothing in the Agreement overrides their duty to comply with law enforcement requests related to your website use or information provided to or gathered by CAP.
Evidence and Record Keeping
Computer records maintained by CAP regarding data, the website, and your access are considered conclusive evidence of your interactions. These records are deemed securely stored if systematically recorded on durable, unalterable media or, if alterable, with reasonable proof of no alterations.
Injunctive Relief for Breaches
You agree that if you breach the Agreement, monetary damages alone might not be sufficient compensation for CAP. Therefore, CAP is entitled to immediate equitable, injunctive, and similar relief against you without needing to prove damages or the likelihood of damages.
Indemnification: Protecting the Costco Auto Program
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless CAP for any damages they incur if you breach your warranties, representations, or any term of the Agreement. This means you are responsible for covering their losses if your actions violate the agreement.
Ownership and Limited License to Use Website Content
The website, its design, software, and all content (information, images, text, videos, etc.) are owned or legally used by CAP and are protected by copyright and other proprietary rights.
CAP grants you a limited, non-exclusive, and revocable license to download and view website content on your computer. This license is strictly for the purposes stated in the Agreement and no other purposes.
Feedback and Suggestions Become Their Property
If you provide any feedback or suggestions to the Costco Auto Program about the website or their services, you agree that:
- Your feedback is not confidential or proprietary.
- CAP is free to use your feedback without any obligation to you, including any ideas or techniques in your feedback.
- You acknowledge that CAP might independently develop similar updates or improvements.
- CAP is not obligated to use your feedback.
Assignment and Transfer of the Agreement
The Costco Auto Program can transfer or assign this Agreement to any affiliate or third party at any time. However, you cannot assign this Agreement or any rights or benefits you receive from CAP. The Agreement remains personal between you and CAP.
Termination of the Agreement
CAP, at its sole discretion, can terminate this Agreement at any time, with or without notice to you. You cannot terminate this Agreement. The Agreement remains in effect until terminated by CAP, and CAP can enforce all provisions against you and, if applicable, your employer or organization you represent.
Entire Agreement: No Prior Agreements Apply
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and CAP. It supersedes any previous terms, conditions, agreements, or understandings between you and CAP.
Links to Other Websites
The Costco Auto Program is not responsible for the content or performance of any websites linked to or from their website. They provide links for your convenience only, and it’s not an endorsement. You access and use linked sites at your own risk, and those sites may have different terms of use and privacy policies that apply to you.
If you want to link to the Costco Auto Program website, you can only link to their homepage and cannot use their logos without written permission. You also cannot imply any endorsement or affiliation.
Website Modifications and Updates
The Costco Auto Program can add or remove features, modify the website, CAP Services, and any content or services available through the website without notice or liability to you.
Governing Law and Legal Jurisdiction
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. You agree that any disputes will be resolved in Delaware courts and you submit to their jurisdiction. Using the website in any jurisdiction that doesn’t recognize all provisions of these terms is unauthorized.
Severability Clause
If any part of this Agreement is deemed unenforceable by a court, that part will be removed from the Agreement. However, the remaining parts of the Agreement will still be valid and enforced.
Copyright and Trademark Notices
All website content is copyrighted by Affinity Auto Programs, Inc. Trademarks of third parties are used with permission. All rights are expressly reserved.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is based on the provided Terms and Conditions document as of February 2019. It is not legal advice. Always refer to the official Costco Auto Program website and consult with legal counsel if you have specific legal questions. Terms and conditions are subject to change, so always review the latest version on their website.
