Toyota Dealership Tried To Sneak $5,500 Of Fake Charges Into My 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Lease Buyout

"Many common shady dealership tactics are actually illegal. Know your rights before buying a car!" is a recent warning to all car shoppers when dealing with car dealerships posted on a Reddit r/carbuying forum post.

The OP's ire with her dealership is reminiscent of an earlier example we learned about where even savvy shoppers who do all the right things when it comes to buying a car at a dealership can slip up by not reading all of the fine print ―"I Bought a 2017 Toyota Prius with 69k Miles For $14,500, It Was an Exceptionally Good Bargain, But There Ended Up Being A Catch."

But what if there is more to it than just reading the fine print?

What if the car dealer misleads you during negotiations?

That is the crux of the OP's post warning as she tells her story and what she did afterward to get the sales contract cancelled.

What Happened to the OP at the Dealership

Here's a summary of what the OP said happened:

"I went in to buy out my 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid at the dealership that executed my lease and later discovered they had added $5,500+ in optional products I never knowingly agreed to."

According to the OP, the optional add-ons included:

1. A $1,750 maintenance plan.
2. $1,000 GAP insurance plan.
3. A $1,000 "surface protection" ―for "…a product that was never applied."
4. A $2,750 extended warranty―"…they lied to me and told me my car was no longer under warranty to scare me into buying coverage."

If you're looking to buy a new/used car, please learn from my mistakes!

What the OP Did Afterwards

"After doing a lot of research, I realized what they did was actually kindaaaa illegal. So I filed formal complaints with the DMV, FTC, and Bureau of Automotive Repair, and created a printable guide to help other buyers protect themselves. When I called the dealership to question the charges, they canceled the contract without explanation."

The OP admits that she does take some responsibility for what happened, but explains the car dealer used a combination of rushing her through the process, omitting important details, and lying.

I signed the contract. I take responsibility for not catching the fine print at the time. But the issue isn't about my lack of diligence; it's about being misled, rushed, and sold on lies. These charges weren't clearly explained, some weren't even mentioned, and I was told my warranty had expired when it hadn't.

As such, now that the ordeal is over―after contacting the right agencies for help―she created and posted a helpful "Car Buyer's Rights & Dealership Survival Guide" to assist others to know what to expect, what to do, and what to say "No" to when negotiating with a car dealer.

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Post Comments Share Their Views of What The OP Experienced

There was a smattering of "buyer beware" and "you have to read the fine print" advice that applies to the OP and anyone buying a car.

However, the OP's point is that the lack of―as Steven Colbert is fond of saying―" the truthiness" of what transpired during the sale, is the real problem that can happen to anyone.

Stephen Colbert, We Need You to Restore Truthiness!

 None of the products (i.e., add-ons) were "fake" in the sense that they didn't exist—but they were added without full disclosure or informed consent, and in some cases, based on false information. For example, I was told my factory warranty had expired (it hadn't), which was used to justify a $2,750 extended warranty I didn't need. I was also charged $1,000 for a "surface protection" product that was never offered, never applied, and never mentioned during my visit.

An interesting comment point about such "surface protection" add-ons was made by one post contributor that explains what the "surface protection" is, and how it is used by some car dealerships:

The OP clarifies further that her problem goes beyond "reading the fine print" to one where car shoppers need to know their rights and that there are recourses they can take; most important of all, to have a paper trail for the authorities to follow:

It was a situation where the dealership withheld key details, misrepresented facts, and slipped in optional add-ons without discussion. That's not just shady, it's a consumer protection issue that's been flagged by the FTC, the California DMV, and the Bureau of Automotive Repair, all of whom I've filed formal complaints with.

For the record, I've had legal counsel throughout this process. My aunt is an attorney and has reviewed all documentation. She confirmed that what the dealership did wasn't just unethical, it was illegal. And yes, I have a lot of my communications with them in writing.

Tell Us What You Think: Have you felt your car negotiations were less of a "reading the fine print" issue and more about trying to avoid some barely legal car dealership shenanigans?

If you have discovered that dealership add-ons you did not want or expect were included in your contract after the paperwork was signed, let us know in the comments section below what you experienced.

If You Are a Car Dealer, We Would Like to Hear Your Opinion: When car shoppers come back with an add-on complaint, what is your experience of why sometimes car shoppers feel they had been taken advantage of, but actually were not? Is "truthiness" a problem in the industry? Why are add-ons already on the vehicles on the lot, and how does this work?

For additional articles related to car dealership problems, here are two for your consideration:

• Car Dealer Scams Customer with a $120,000 KIA
• A Car Dealer Shuts Off Her Car While Driving, and DOGE Does Not Care

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and works on restoring older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog "Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair" for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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