5 Biggest Car Dealer Rip-Offs

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Before shopping for that new 2024 model, be sure to prepare yourself by identifying these common car dealer rip-offs that can inflate your final cost by thousands of dollars.

Car Shopping Anxiety

Nothing evokes the foreboding and anxiety many people face than the 6-hour marathon of shopping for a new car at a dealership. And for good reason. I believe that it is rare for any new car shopper to drive away from a dealership in a new car without that tiny nagging feeling in his or her gut whether they actually got a good deal and fair price for their car.

I’m talking about that kernel of doubt like a seed just starting to swell growing inside of you that begins to force itself against your Id telling you that you should have held off just a little bit longer and counter argued for a better deal as you drive away from the lot.

Which is why I suspect I have never experienced a car shopping ordeal that was 4 hours or less. Time is on the side of the sales associate, and they know it.

Car Dealer Deals That Are Not Good Deals for You

There are other advantages car salesmen possess, but only if you allow them to use it against you. That was the message in a recent Car Help Corner YouTube channel episode where the host alerts car buying viewers to the “5 Biggest Car Dealer Rip Offs That Cost You Thousands” if you fail to heed his advice and know what to watch out for while negotiating a new car deal.

In short: Tried and true tricks of the trade that are traps for a bad deal for you.

Rip-Offs to Avoid

Follow along with the host in this short video as he warns of these common rip-offs you need to be aware and how to deflect them from the car negotiations that include:

  1. Tied-On Selling: Unnecessary add-ons and fees.
  2. Forced Financing: Preventing the buyer from paying in cash.
  3. Bait and Switch: Dealer ads that promise a good deal but sell you something else.
  4. Hiding Incentives from Buyers: Rebates and discounts dealers withhold for which you are eligible.
  5. Lowballing Your Trade-In: Inaccurate estimates or claims of your used car’s street value.

5 Biggest Car Dealer Rip Offs That Cost You Thousands || Watch Out!

For Consumer Reports car reviews to help you find the model you need, here are three useful ones with car shopping advice for consumers:

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on  “Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair” website, the Zen Mechanic blog and on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites  and Facebook for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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