Beware of "Dealer Stickers"

MSRP stands for "Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price" and it includes information about the vehicle including standard equipment, factory installed options, and the suggested retail price including destination charge. It also displays the vehicle's fuel economy ratings.

Only suckers pay MSRP, but that doesn't stop some dealers from trying to charge even MORE than MSRP.

They do this by displaying a "dealer sticker" next to the official MSRP sticker. The dealer sticker will look official, but its only purpose is to fool buyers into paying more for the vehicle.

The dealer sticker will include options that were installed AFTER the car arrived from the manufacturer. They're usually worthless and some aren't even options at all, but simply made-up charges.

For example, you might see things like "Special Value Package" which includes fabric protection, or charges labeled ADP or ADM. Those stand for "Additional Dealer Profit" and "Additional Dealer Markup". They are completely worthless!

But a lot of consumers don't realize the dealer is trying to pull a fast one on them. They think these additional markups and options are just part of the vehicle.

If you notice one of these dealer stickers on a new car, your best bet is to avoid doing business with that dealer. They are likely to be high-pressure dealerships and not even worth negotiating with, especially in this day and age when most dealers have stopped trying to use this scam.