Buying a car should be simple. But if you’ve ever set foot in a dealership, you know it’s anything but. Dealerships use tactics that would never fly in other businesses. Some of these practices are so common that people accept them. But if you saw a grocery store or a tech shop doing the same thing, you’d probably call the police. This matters because these dealership practices can cost you money, waste your time, and leave you feeling frustrated. Knowing what’s normal—and what’s not—can help you protect yourself the next time you shop for a car.
Here are six dealership practices that would be illegal in other industries, yet still occur when you buy a car.
