FTC announces CARS rule to help deter dealer scams when vehicle shopping

[bbhaag]

The CARS Rule will take effect on July 30, 2024 and is expected to save consumers nationwide more than $3.4 billion and an estimated 72 million hours each year when shopping for vehicles. We will see if this helps or if dealers just find alternative methods for their deceptive practices. Either way it's a start.

FTC Announces CARS Rule to Fight Scams in Vehicle Shopping

The Federal Trade Commission has finalized a new rule to fight two common types of illegal tactics consumers face when buying a car: ba

www.ftc.gov

 

[Zorba]

Hopefully they put Nitrogen filled tires on the list of things dealers charge for that provide no benefit. The bait and switch one is probably the one that will impact the most people. I can't believe the number of dealers that have cars on their websites that were already sold or have an advertised price far below what they will actually sell it for.

Here is the actual bait and switch part of the law:

 

[NutBucket]

I believe some/most of the websites are basically templates so incoming cars are automatically added even if they are sold. I know that was the case even a decade ago with a GMC I ordered/reserved.

 

[spdfreak]

Honda recently advertised a 329.00/mo lease deal on Ridgelines. The dealers I called basically laughed at me when I asked about it. The real payment was closer to 500 after they added in all the junk fees and taxes. The whole auto industry basically operates on a level of deception if not outright lies.

 

[bbhaag]

Honda recently advertised a 329.00/mo lease deal on Ridgelines. The dealers I called basically laughed at me when I asked about it. The real payment was closer to 500 after they added in all the junk fees and taxes. The whole auto industry basically operates on a level of deception if not outright lies.

Yeah I've heard of a lot of dealers doing this type of thing. Advertising says one thing then when you get there the vehicle in question is magically not available and then they try to hard up sell you into a different vehicle or the same vehicle but at a much higher price.

IDK if this CARS rule will help but it's a start. Only time will tell if dealers will abide by the new rules or just shrug them off and continue to do business as usual. I suppose that will all depend on whether or not the FTC actually starts fining offending dealers.