The Auto Marketplace
Buying or leasing a car is the biggest financial transactions for many consumers aside from owning a home, and having access to a vehicle also is essential for many Americans to carry on their daily lives. The FTC plays several important roles in making sure consumers get a fair deal in the auto marketplace:
- The agency brings auto-related enforcement actions, including against companies falsely promising to reduce auto loan payments, car dealers and others making deceptive advertising claims, telemarketers pitching bogus auto “warranties” that are actually extended service contracts, and companies promoting illegal pyramid operations through lease offers.
- The agency also enforces the Used Car Rule, which requires the familiar windshield stickers that appear on used cars at dealers throughout the country and give consumers critical information about who will pay for repairs if something goes wrong with the car they buy.
- In addition, the Dodd - Frank Act passed by Congress in 2010 gives the FTC new and expanded authority regarding motor vehicle dealers. Since 2011, the FTC has been gathering information on possible consumer protection issues that may arise in the sale, financing or lease of motor vehicles through a series of roundtables and by seeking public comments.
- Leader Automotive Group, et al., FTC and State of Illinois v. ( )
- Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., et al., In the Matter of ( )
- Coulter Motor Company and Gregory DePaola, FTC and State of Arizona v. ( )
- Vroom, Inc. FTC v. ( )
- Chase Nissan/Manchester City Nissan ( )
- Rhinelander Auto ( )
- Cycra, Inc. ( )
- Passport Automotive Group, Inc., FTC v. ( )
- Napleton Auto ( )
- Tate’s Auto Center ( )
- Traffic Jam Events, LLC, In the Matter of ( )
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. ( )
- Traffic Jam Events, LLC ( )
- Bronx Honda ( )
- Federal-Mogul Motorparts LLC: In the Matter of ( )
- LightYear Dealer Technologies, LLC, In the Matter of ( )
- Universal City Nissan, Inc., et al. ( )
- Passport Imports, Inc. (Passport Toyota) ( )
- Uber Technologies Inc. ( )
- CDK Global and Auto/Mate, In the Matter of ( )
- FTC, Illinois Take Action Against Leader Automotive Group for Overcharging and Deceiving Consumers Through Add-Ons, Junk Fees, Bogus Reviews ( )
- FTC Sends More Than $1 Million to Consumers Harmed by Rhinelander Auto’s Unlawful Junk Fees and Discriminatory Financing ( )
- FTC Takes Action Against Auto Dealer Group Asbury Automotive for Discriminating Against Black and Latino Consumers and Charging for Unwanted Add-Ons ( )
- FTC, State of Arizona Take Action Against Coulter Motor Company for Deceptive Pricing and Discriminatory Practices ( )
- FTC Takes Action Against Online Used Car Dealer Vroom for Deceiving Customers, Failing to Deliver on Time and Provide Required Disclosures ( )
- FTC and DOJ File Comment with the U.S. Copyright Office Supporting Renewal and Expansion of Exemptions Facilitating Consumers’ and Businesses’ Right to Repair Their Own Products ( )
- FTC Pauses CARS Rule Effective Date ( )
- FTC Announces Tentative Agenda for January 18 Open Commission Meeting ( )
- FTC, Connecticut Take Action Against Manchester City Nissan for Deceiving Consumers, Forcing Junk Fees ( )
- FTC Announces CARS Rule to Fight Scams in Vehicle Shopping ( )
- FTC Returns Additional $857,000 To Consumers Harmed by Napleton Auto’s Junk Fees and Discriminatory Practices ( )
- FTC and Wisconsin Take Action Against Rhinelander Auto Center for Illegally Discriminating Against American Indian Customers and Charging Unlawful Junk Fees ( )
- FTC Action Leads to Industry Bans for Operators of ‘Extended Vehicle Warranty’ Scam ( )
- FTC Finalizes Order Against Motocross and ATV Parts Maker Cycra for False Made in USA Claims ( )
- FTC Sends More than $3.3 Million to Consumers Harmed by Passport Auto’s Illegal Junk Fees and Discriminatory Practices ( )
- FTC Order Requires Motocross and ATV Parts Maker Cycra to Pay for Falsely Claiming Its Products Were Made in USA ( )
- FTC Action Leads to Lifetime Industry Ban for Operators of ‘Extended Vehicle Warranty’ Scam ( )
- FTC Returns More Than $9.8 Million To Consumers Harmed by Napleton Auto’s Junk Fees and Discriminatory Practices ( )
- FTC Approves Final Orders in Right-to-Repair Cases Against Harley-Davidson, MWE Investments, and Weber ( )
- Federal Trade Commission Takes Action Against Passport Automotive Group for Illegally Charging Junk Fees and Discriminating Against Black and Latino Customers ( )
- Car dealers included add-ons without consumers’ consent and discriminated against Black and Latino buyers, alleges FTC( )
- Bait, switch, hitch, and which? FTC and Arizona AG challenge car dealers’ alleged deceptive and discriminatory practices( )
- FTC says CarShield shielded consumers from the truth about limitations of its vehicle service contracts( )
- Little used coupe: $1 million FTC settlement with online auto dealer Vroom sends key compliance messages to industry( )
- Car dealer tacked on junk fees and bogus add-ons, FTC and Connecticut allege ( )
- Read these 2023 FTC best sellers to be a better seller in 2024( )
- FTC’s CARS Rule: Why a new rule to combat auto retail scams is great news for consumers and honest dealers( )
- FTC-Wisconsin settlement challenges car dealers’ sales practices, including alleged discrimination against American Indian consumers( )
- Money Matters offers the latest on spotting and reporting scams ( )
- $3.3 million FTC settlement with Passport drives home importance of fair lending( )
- FTC announces three right-to-repair cases: Do your warranties comply with the law? ( )
- Proposed FTC rule looks under the hood at the car buying process( )
- Record-setting $10 million FTC-Illinois settlement takes on car dealers’ unauthorized add-ons and discriminatory lending practices( )
- Buckle up for a two-lane look at car buying( )
- Looking at the VW case in the rearview mirror( )
- They use a COVID-19 pitch to sell WHAT?!( )
- FTC says Bronx Honda discriminated against African-American and Hispanic consumers( )
- Putting the brakes on unproven superiority claims( )
- Who’s in the mix at Nixing the Fix?( )
- Data security settlement with service provider includes updated order provisions( )
- Open Commission Meeting -January 18, 2024January 18, 2024
- Open Commission Meeting - October 20, 2022October 20, 2022
- Connected Cars: Privacy, Security Issues Related to Connected, Automated VehiclesJune 28, 2017
- Auto Distribution: Current Issues & Future TrendsJanuary 19, 2016
- Sharing a Common Ground: A Common Ground Conference in St. LouisMay 1, 2014
- Consumer Protection in Immigrant Communities March 20, 2014
- Northwest Region Common Ground Meeting October 24, 2012
- Western Region Common Ground ConferenceSeptember 19, 2012
- Midwest Region 2012 Common Ground Conference June 11, 2012
- The Road Ahead: Selling, Financing & Leasing Motor VehiclesNovember 17, 2011
- The Road Ahead: Selling, Financing & Leasing Motor VehiclesAugust 2, 2011
- The Road Ahead: Selling, Financing & Leasing Motor VehiclesApril 12, 2011
- The Rebate DebateApril 27, 2007
- Public Forum on Vehicle Buyback DisclosuresOctober 3, 1996
- Remarks of Samuel Levine at the National Advertising Division Annual Conference 2024 ( )
- Statement of Commissioner Melissa Holyoak In the Matter of Asbury Automotive Group ( )
- Concurring Statement of Commissioner Andrew N. Ferguson in the Matter of Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. ( )
- Concurring and Dissenting Statement of Commissioner Andrew N. Ferguson in the Matter of Coulter Motor Company, LLC ( )
- Joint Statement of Chair Lina M. Khan, Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, and Commissioner Alvaro M. Bedoya In the Matter of Coulter Motor Company, LLC ( )
- Dissenting and Concurring Statement of Commissioner Melissa Holyoak In the Matter of Coulter Motor Company, LLC ( )
- Protecting Military Servicemembers and Veterans from Financial Scams and Fraud: Prepared Statement of the Federal Trade Commission Before the House Subcommittee on National Security ( )
- Joint Statement of Chair Lina M. Khan and Commissioners Noah Joshua Phillips, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, and Alvaro M. Bedoya Regarding the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on a Motor Vehicle Dealers Trade Regulation Rule ( )
- Dissenting Statement of Commissioner Christine S. Wilson Regarding the Motor Vehicle Dealers Trade Regulation Rule ( )
- Statement of Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter in the Matter of Liberty Chevrolet, Inc. d/b/a Bronx Honda ( )
- Statement of Commissioner Rohit Chopra In the Matter of Liberty Chevrolet, Inc. d/b/a Bronx Honda ( )
- Statement of Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter In the Matter of Uber Technologies, Inc. ( )
- Statement of Commissioner Rohit Chopra In the Matter of Uber Technologies, Inc. ( )
- Remarks of Thomas Pahl at the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA) National Policy Conference ( )
- Remarks from the FTC Connected Cars Workshop ( )
- Road Cleared for VW to Compensate Consumers ( )
- Remarks of FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez at Volkswagen Press Conference ( )
- Keynote Remarks at Connected Cars USA 2016 Conference ( )
- Opening Remarks of FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez ( )
- Blog Post: Hackers Make Cars Safer. Don’t Ban Them From Tinkering ( )
- The Auto Buyer Study: Lessons from In-Depth Consumer Interviews and Related Research ( )
- Buckle Up: Navigating Auto Sales and Financing ( )
- Economics at the FTC: Non-Price Merger Effects and Deceptive Automobile Ads ( )
- A Closer Look At the Military Consumer Financial Workshop: The Federal Trade Commission Staff Perspective ( )
- The Connected Cars Workshop: The Federal Trade Commission Staff Perspective ( )
- Report on Motor Vehicle Industry ( )
- 2017 Audit of the National Center for Dispute Settlement (Automobile Warranty Arbitration Program)
- 2016 Audit of the National Center for Dispute Settlement (Automobile Warranty Arbitration Program)
- 2016 Audit of Better Business Bureau Auto Line Including the State of Florida and the State of Ohio
- 2018 Audit of the National Center for Dispute Settlement (Automobile Warranty Arbitration Program)
- 2018 Audit of Better Business Bureau Auto Line Including the State of Florida and the State of Ohio
- 2017 Audit of Better Business Bureau Auto Line Including the State of Florida and the State of Ohio
- FTC Staff Comment Supporting Michigan Senate Bill 268, And Recommending That the Michigan Legislature Consider Expanding the Bill To Permit Automobile Manufacturers To Sell New Motor Vehicles Directly To Consumers ( )
- FTC Staff Comment Before the New Jersey General Assembly Regarding Assembly Bills 2986, 3096, 3041, and 3216, Which Would Create Limited Exceptions to New Jersey’s Prohibition on Direct-to-Consumer Sales by Manufacturers of Automobiles ( )
- FTC Staff Comment Before the Missouri House of Representatives Regarding House Bill 1124, Which Would Expand the Current Prohibition on Direct-to-Consumer Sales by Manufacturers of Automobiles ( )
- FTC CARS Rule: Combating Auto Retail Scams – A Dealers Guide ( )
- Start with Security: A Guide for Business ( )
- Answering Dealers’ Questions about the Revised Used Car Rule ( )
- Small Business Computer Security Basics ( )
- Conceptos básicos sobre seguridad informática para pequeños negocios ( )
- Guía del Comprador (Versión para llenar) ( )
- Buyers Guide (Fillable form) ( )
- Buyers Guide ( )
- Buyers Guide (Format Notes) ( )
- Guía del Comprador ( )
- Dealer's Guide to the Used Car Rule ( )
- Guía del Comprador (Con notas sobre el formato) ( )
- Complying with the FTC Fuel Rating Rule ( )
- Comience con seguridad: una guía para negocios ( )
- Advertising Consumer Leases ( )
- .com Disclosures: How to Make Effective Disclosures in Digital Advertising ( )
- Businessperson's Guide to Federal Warranty Law ( )
- Complying with the Credit Practices Rule ( )
- FTC's Privacy Rule and Auto Dealers: FAQs ( )
- Advertising FAQ's: A Guide for Small Business ( )
