As record-high prices push many middle-class shoppers out of the new-car market, some dealerships are turning to a sneaky tactic to close sales on used vehicles: bait-and-switch pricing. New data from car-shopping app CoPilot found that 71% of used-car buyers encounter these tactics — and the extra charges average $640 per purchase. Dealers lead with an attractive listing price, then reveal surprise fees late in the process.
“The real trap doesn’t spring until you’ve already spent hours at the dealership — test-driving, negotiating and getting excited about the idea of buying the car,” said Michaela Baker, co-founder of CoPilot. “Only then do the hidden fees surface, adding hundreds or even thousands to the final price.”
