17 Jun 2026 04:00
The FTC Is Finally Cracking Down on Dealer Pricing Bullshittery
Think hidden fees, fake discounts, rebate games, mandatory add-ons, and vehicles advertised at prices you can't actually get are just part of buying a car?
The FTC doesn't think so.
In this episode, The Car Chick® breaks down the six dealership advertising and pricing practices the FTC says may violate federal consumer protection laws. But before we get into the legal stuff, I share a real-life dealership fiasco that happened while shopping for a military family's Ford Transit van — a deal that took three days to put together before it completely blew up over a discount that apparently didn't apply.
We'll cover:
- The six pricing and advertising practices the FTC is targeting
- Hidden fees, fake discounts, rebate stacking, and financing games
- Why dealer add-on packages may be the next battleground
- What the FTC Act actually says
- Why the CARS Rule was overturned
- Why the FTC isn't handing out $53,088 fines left and right
- How dealership pricing transparency is improving — and where the bullshittery has migrated
- What consumers should look for before signing on the dotted line
5 Things to Watch for When Car Shopping Right Now
- Get an out-the-door quote in writing.
- Do your homework on rebates, financing requirements, and add-ons.
- Verify the vehicle is actually available.
- Don't assume "transparent pricing" means "best price."
- If a deal looks dramatically better than every other similar vehicle, get suspicious before you get excited.
Resources
FTC Consumer Complaint Center:https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
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