New real-pricing rule is dead

To stop dealers from advertising fake price for cars on their web sites, as well as having mandatory fees such as $2,000 for paperwork, the Federal Trade Commission proposed requiring dealers to advertise actual selling prices (including all fees).

The rules would also ban add-ons that provide no benefit, require online lists of prices for optional finance and insurance products, stop dealers from misleading customers about lease rates by using false online claims, and stop including rebates which aren’t available to everyone in the listed prices. The exact rules can be seen in this PDF file (at ftc.gov)

This photo is only used for illustration.

Yesterday, the rules were dismissed by a fifth district Federal judge; the Federal Trade Commission is unlikely to appeal, as its new leader also opposes rules. The judge claimed there was not enough time gathering comments from dealers before the rules were proposed.

David Zatz

David Zatz started what was to become the world’s biggest Mopar site (Allpar) in 1994. After a chemo-induced 2007-2010 break, during which he wrote car books covering Vipers, minivans, and Jeeps, he returned with Patrick Rall to create StellPower.com for daily news, and to set up MoTales for mo’ tales (Chrysler history and “permanent” car and truck pages). He most recently wrote Century of Chrysler, a 100-year retrospective on the marque.