Compare your buyer's order with your final retail installment contract line by line — any fee or product you didn't agree to can be disputed. Ask the dealer in writing to remove and refund it, and if they refuse, file complaints with your state attorney general and the Federal Trade Commission.
Step 1: Document everything
- Buyer's order or deal worksheet — the price breakdown you agreed to.
- Retail installment contract — look at the “Itemization of Amount Financed.” Every dollar you're borrowing is listed there.
- The ad or quote — screenshots of the advertised price, texts, and emails.
- A short written timeline — who said what, and when.
Step 2: Sort the charges
Government charges — sales tax, title, registration — go to the state. Dealer charges — doc fees, “dealer prep,” “market adjustment,” and add-on products — go to the dealer. Doc fees are capped in some states and not others.
Common add-ons that show up without a clear yes: window number etching, paint and fabric protection, nitrogen-filled tires, theft-deterrent packages, service contracts, and gap coverage (the coverage that pays the difference between what you owe on your loan and what your car is worth if it is totaled or stolen).
Paint protection, window number etching, and other add-ons
If the add-on is a contract — a paint or appearance protection plan, for example — it usually has its own cancellation section, like a warranty. Send a written cancellation request to the administrator named on it; refund windows and rules vary by contract and state.
If it's a product already applied (etching on the windows, a coating) and you never agreed to it, dispute the charge with the dealer using the letter below. If you did agree and sign for it, what you can recover depends on the paperwork — check for cancellation terms.
For warranty, gap coverage, and tire & wheel contracts, use the step-by-step guides: warranty, gap coverage, tire & wheel.
Step 3: Demand removal in writing
Send the letter to the dealership's general manager and copy your lender. Attach your buyer's order and contract.
[Date] To: [Dealership name] — General Manager [Dealership address or email] Copy to: [Lender name], account [number] Re: Unauthorized charges on my purchase of [year, make, model], vehicle identification number [17 characters] Purchase date: [date] I am writing about charges on my retail installment contract that I did not agree to. My buyer's order dated [date] does not include them, and I did not consent to them: - [Item / fee name]: $[amount] - [Item / fee name]: $[amount] Please remove these charges and refund them by [reducing the amount financed / issuing a refund to my lender to be applied to my balance], and send me a corrected contract or written confirmation within 10 business days. Copies of my buyer's order and contract are attached. If this is not resolved, I will file complaints with the [State] Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission. Sincerely, [Your name] [Mailing address] · [Phone] · [Email]
If the dealer won't fix it
- Your lender — tell them the amount financed includes charges you didn't authorize.
- Your state attorney general — consumer protection division complaint.
- Federal regulators — the Federal Trade Commission takes reports through its online fraud report, and has acted against dealer groups over hidden fees and unwanted add-ons — see the cases.
- Your state's dealer licensing agency — often part of the state motor vehicle department.
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — for problems with the financing itself.
- Small claims court or a consumer protection attorney — for amounts the dealer won't return.
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Common questions
Can a dealer add fees after I sign?
A dealer shouldn't charge you for items you didn't agree to. If the final contract includes charges that weren't on the buyer's order and you didn't consent, dispute them in writing and keep copies.
Is the doc fee negotiable or refundable?
It depends on your state — some cap doc fees, others don't. A doc fee that was disclosed and agreed to is usually hard to recover; one added without disclosure can be disputed.
Who do I complain to?
Start with the dealer's general manager in writing. If that fails: your state attorney general, federal regulators through the Federal Trade Commission's online fraud report, your state's dealer licensing agency, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for financing issues.