Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 255B, § 9 (2026)

Contracts; form and contents

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 9. A retail instalment contract shall be in writing and shall be signed by both the buyer and the seller and shall be completed as to all essential provisions prior to the signing of the contract by the buyer. The printed portion of the contract shall be in at least eight point type. The contract shall contain, conspicuously printed or written: (1) a specific statement that liability insurance coverage for bodily injury and property damage caused to others is not included, if that is the case; and (2) the following notice: ''NOTICE TO THE BUYER: 1. Do not sign this contract if any of the spaces intended for the agreed terms to the extent of then available information are left blank. 2. You are entitled to an exact copy of the contract you signed. 3. Under the law, you have the following rights, among others:—(a) to pay off in advance the full amount due and to obtain a partial refund of the finance charge; (b) to redeem the property if repossessed for a default; (c) to require, under certain conditions, a resale of the property if repossessed''.

The contract shall contain the names of the seller and the buyer, the place of business of the seller, the residence or place of business of buyer as specified by the buyer, and a description of the motor vehicle, including its make, year model, model and identification numbers or marks.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 3 cases, 1964–1994 · leading case: Marine Midland Bank, NA v. Moran, 1994 Mass. App. Div. 167 (Mass. Dist. Ct., App. Div. 1994).

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Marine Midland Bank, NA v. Moran, 1994 Mass. App. Div. 167 (Mass. Dist. Ct., App. Div. 1994). “255B, §1; that the plaintiff had violated the notice, repossession and redemption requirements of G.L.c. 255B, §§9, 20A and 20B; and that the plaintiff was thus barred by G.”

Pioneer Credit Corp. v. Comm'r of Banks, 207 N.E.2d 51 (Mass. 1965). “Under G. L. c. 255B, § 9, the retail instalment contract must contain, inter alla, the following items: “(1) the cash sale price of the motor vehicle which is the subject matter of the retail instalment sale; (2) the amount of the buyer’s down payment, itemizing the amounts paid…”

Abbott Motors, Inc. v. Ralston, 28 Mass. App. Dec. 35 (Mass. Dist. Ct., App. Div. 1964). “The defendant’s main contention presented by his requests for rulings is that since the plaintiff failed to comply with G. L. c. 255B, §9 and §20A (Request 3a, 3b, 4 and 5) he is barred from recovery.”

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