Car Buying Guide: Get the Out-the-Door Price and Skip the Add-Ons

The price is only part of what a car costs. The FTC suggests budgeting for registration, insurance, gas and maintenance too, and researching models, repair records, safety tests and mileage before you shop.

A used car usually costs less up front, but it may need more repairs. A new car comes with a manufacturer's warranty but costs more. Our car insurance and total cost of ownership guide walks through the numbers to compare.

The FTC suggests getting pre-approved for a loan before you sit down with the dealer's finance office. Banks, credit unions and other lenders can pre-approve you, even if you don't have an account or aren't a member yet.

A pre-approval gives you a rate to beat. Compare offers by the APR and the total you'll pay, not just the monthly payment. The FTC warns that low monthly payments often mean longer loans that cost much more overall.

• What's the exact price of the car?
• What's the APR, and what's the finance charge in dollars?
• How many payments, and how much is each one?
• What's the total of all payments plus the down payment?

Before you go, ask the dealer to confirm the car is actually on the lot and to send the out-the-door price in writing. The FTC says it should include all charges and fees.

Having it in writing helps you compare dealers on the same basis, spot add-ons or charges slipped in at the last minute, and negotiate. If you have a trade-in, get the out-the-door price for the new car first, then talk about the trade-in separately.

If the dealer won't honor the price it sent you, or doesn't have the car, the FTC says to walk away and report the dealer at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (opens in a new tab).

Add-ons are optional products like gap insurance, VIN etching, rustproofing and service contracts. The FTC says they can cost thousands of dollars, often come up at the end of a long day, and are sometimes added without being discussed.

The FTC says you can usually buy the car without any add-ons, and you can buy most add-ons elsewhere. If you want one, ask the price of each and get it in writing. When the contract comes, check that the price and terms match what the dealer sent you before you sign.

You may have read about the FTC's "CARS Rule" (Combating Auto Retail Scams), which would have required clearer pricing and banned some add-on practices. It never took effect. A federal appeals court (the Fifth Circuit) vacated it on January 27, 2025, and the FTC formally withdrew it in the Federal Register on February 12, 2026.

That doesn't make deception legal. The FTC still says dishonest ads and bait-and-switch tactics can be reported, and your state attorney general enforces state consumer laws. The practical protection is the same: get every price in writing and read before you sign.

Before you buy, enter the car's 17-character VIN in NHTSA's free recall lookup. It shows unrepaired safety recalls. Recall repairs are done free at a dealer for that brand.