If you feel that a car dealership has ripped you off, you can take action by negotiating with a manager, filing an official complaint with a government agency, or—if all else fails—hiring an attorney to get your money back.
So you just bought a new car—but something’s wrong. Underneath all that new-car smell, it doesn’t seem quite as new as you were told, or maybe the bill you paid seemed a lot heftier than what the sales rep first quoted you.
This can be an incredibly stressful and frustrating situation. That’s why Jerry
, the trusted broker app
for car insurance
, has created a guide on what to do if a car dealership rips you off. If you think your recent car purchase wasn’t totally aboveboard, follow these steps to get your money back. How to know if a dealer is ripping you off
The shady used car dealer is a familiar trope—but you never expect that you will actually meet one. It can be hard to recognize a rip-off when you’re the one getting cheated, especially if you’re new to the car-buying process
. In general, the biggest red flag is being charged a final price greater than the advertised price. With all the added fees, taxes, and other expenses that drive up the final amount, it can be easy to miss a fraudulent upcharge—and that’s what bad-faith dealers are counting on.
Keep careful track of exactly what you’re paying for so you don’t get overcharged, and look out for these other common rip-offs:
Dealer adds optional upgrades you didn’t approve
Mileage is different than what you agreed to
Car has undisclosed mechanical issues
Dealer pulls your credit without your permission
You never received essential paperwork associated with the sale, including the car’s title
The bottom line: be wary of anything a dealership does without your consent. Remember, it’s always easier to pull out of a deal early than to recover your money if you end up with a lemon
. Key Takeaway Dealers rip off customers by overcharging for cars, adding features without customer consent, and hiding a car’s mechanical issues.
Do some research
If you suspect you’ve been ripped off by your dealer, start by doing some research on your state’s laws and the manufacturer’s policies.
Check your state’s consumer protection laws to see what rights you have. You can find your state’s consumer protection offices online
, along with other resources that could help you deal with your situation. In particular, most states have lemon laws
that protect consumers from being overcharged for defective vehicles. If you were sold a car that had significant undisclosed problems, check your state’s lemon law to see what recourse you may have. Finally, check with the car’s manufacturer about their return policy. You may have the option to return the car through the manufacturer, thus avoiding having to deal directly with the dealership again.
Key Takeaway Call your local consumer protection office and explain that a car dealer overcharged you. They’ll help point you to resources to resolve the issue.
MORE: 7 things to look for when buying a used car
Talk to a manager to work out a new deal
Once you’ve armed yourself with an understanding of the law, you can call the dealership and ask to speak to a manager. In some cases, you may be able to work out a deal that allows you to return the car and get a refund.
Be specific about the issue you’ve discovered, and be prepared to do some negotiating. If you’ve done your research, the law is one bargaining tool you’ll have in your pocket. You can also:
Threaten to report the dealership to the Better Business Bureau
or the state Attorney General Tell the manager that you haven’t yet filled out the Customer Satisfaction Survey (CSS) and would give them a high score if they can resolve the issue
These agencies and surveys are powerful determinants of a dealership’s success. The CSS is a particularly useful negotiation tool as it helps manufacturers decide how many cars to provide to each dealership.
Key Takeaway Be firm and specific throughout the negotiation process, and you may find that the dealership is willing to work with you on a deal.
File an official complaint
If the manager won’t work with you, it’s time to head to an official agency to register a complaint. Depending on the nature of the issue, you have a number of different places to turn.
You should also check with your local DMV to see if they have an option to report a dealership. Whether or not you’re able to reach a resolution with help from one of the agencies listed above, reporting the dealership to the DMV can help protect other potential customers from similar scams.
Hire an attorney
If a dealership scammed you
out of a significant amount of money and you’re not able to reach a resolution using the approaches above, it may be worth hiring an attorney to help you recover your cash. Legal fees can be steep, but sometimes professional assistance is the only way to get justice after being ripped off by a shady dealer. What to do if you’re overpaying for car insurance
Luckily, being overcharged at a dealership is relatively rare. Overpaying for car insurance, on the other hand, is all too common—but you can avoid it by downloading the Jerry
app! How does Jerry work? It’s simple. Just enter your information, and Jerry checks quotes from 50+ top insurance providers to find you the lowest available rate on the insurance you need. If you find a lower quote in the app, Jerry’s expert team of insurance agents will handle the paperwork and even help you cancel your old policy so you can switch as soon as possible!
Jerry is the No. 1 rated car insurance app, and it’s not just for best-in-class customer service and convenience. On average, Jerry users save about $887 a year on car insurance. That’s close to a thousand dollars you could be overpaying right now!
“I felt like I was paying too much for my insurance policy, so I downloaded Jerry
. I literally only typed in 3 pieces of info and Jerry found my current insurance. In a few minutes, they pulled up 2 Progressive policies that showed $900 in savings over 6 months!” —Maeve J.
RECOMMENDEDThis app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
4.7
