When buying a car, some dealerships try to force unwanted add-ons, and convince you to fork up the cash for things you don’t want. The salesperson may tell you ‘it’s already on the car’, or that ‘we add them to every car’, but that’s far from the truth. This is how you can push back against forced dealer add-ons, and take control of your car buying experience. 

What Are Dealer Add-Ons?

Say you’ve found the perfect car or truck, and it’s listed ‘at MSRP’, or maybe even a bit less. You think you’re in for a good deal, and you’re aware that it can be hard to come by in 2023. The salesperson is talking it up, and it’s working. 

As you start to talk numbers at the sales desk, they slyly mention the paint protection, theft protection, etching, door guards and nitrogen-inflated tires. Maybe even some pinstripes. These ‘forced’ front-end dealer add-ons are going to cost you $2,000, but he says not to worry, every car at the dealership has these ‘products’ added. Supposedly, they can’t be removed, and refusal to pay for them could be a deal-breaker.

What do you do next? These are the steps to take when confronted with front-end dealer add-ons. 

Ask to See the Product’s Contract

When buying a car, the contract should work in your favor. Every dealer add-on does come with a contract. However, the dealership may ‘assume’ that you’re not interested in reading it. 

When presented with the product contract, you have three surprisingly simple options:

• Accept it
• Reject it
• Or amend it

Push Back

The add-on product’s contract will say in bold that it is VOLUNTARY and NOT NECESSARY to obtain financing. Point that out, and be clear and direct. This is not the time to beat around the bush. It might even have a declination box where you can sign that you reject the product offered.

Be Ready to Walk Away 

The salesperson or sales manager may refuse to budge at this point. Well, they’re not forcing you to sign the contract, so don’t! Tell them you’re prepared to walk away and take your business elsewhere if these add-ons aren’t removed from the purchase order. 

Get a Copy Of the Product Contract, No Matter What

Make sure you receive a copy of the product contract whether you buy it or decline it. It’s part of dealership compliance, so they can’t say no. And voila! You’ve done your documentation due diligence.

You’re in Control!

Understandably, it’s a hassle to leave a deal so late in the game and start over again elsewhere. But is avoiding the hassle really worth the markup the dealer is demanding, often over $3,000, maybe even $5,000? It’s your financial decision, and you’re in control. It’s time to empower your buying experience by demanding transparency from the dealer. 

Remember the most direct path to transparency when confronted with forced dealer add-ons is to demand to see the contract for each add-on. The same is true when canceling or rejecting an extended warranty at the dealership. 

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