Dealer Advertising Scams to Watch Out For

These ads usually include small print that nobody reads, with statements such as "all units subject to prior sale", "prices starting at...", or "for qualified buyers only".

It's best to simply ignore all dealership advertising and just use our car negotiation method, but for kicks, here are some common ads you may see:

Huge Discounts ($5,000 and Over)
These ads are usually found on vehicles that aren't selling well and come with large manufacturer rebates. You can get this type of discount at any dealership selling these vehicles. A more sinister version of this advertising scam is when a dealer adds bogus fees on top of the MSRP, then makes it seem like they're offering a huge discount.

We'll Pay You Money If You Can Beat our Deals
An ad like this seems enticing, until you read the fine print. To get paid, you would have to find an EXACT vehicle match at a competing dealer. The likelihood of finding an exact match is small, but that's not all. You would also need to have a completed purchase order from that dealership showing the negotiated price. Dealers know most consumers aren't going to go through all this hassle to get the money.

Brand New Car for $99 per Month
Again, you need to read the fine print on deals like this. There is usually a huge down payment required, or a balloon payment at the end. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

Bad Credit, No Problem
Dealers that advertise this kind of stuff are dealers you want to stay far away from. They prey on individuals with poor credit and make more profit than you can imagine.