• Always read the fine print before buying a new or used car.Luxury Car sportscar from my luxury car series image by alma_sacra from Fotolia.com
  
  Car advertisements are designed to inform consumers of the quality, price, and reliability of the vehicle for sale, however these advertisements are not always honest and true. Luckily, car advertisement laws are in place to protect consumers after they purchase a vehicle and discover it was falsely advertised. These laws apply to both new and used vehicles. If you feel as if a car advertisement has misled you, always look into your legal options and, if necessary, contact a lawyer to help settle your case.
  
  

Truth In Advertising

• Car advertisements cannot be misleading or false.Headlight on new car image by steven Husk from Fotolia.com
  
  When a consumer sets out to buy a new or used vehicle from a dealership, they can only assume that the vehicle is being advertised honestly. However, this is not always the case and, because of that, laws have been implemented to protect the consumer against misleading car advertisements. In Wisconsin, for example, car dealers and companies are required by law to represent honestly every car they advertise for sale. Any resident of Wisconsin who feels as if a car dealer has falsely advertised a vehicle for sale may file a complaint with the Dealer and Agent Section of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). The DOT may force the dealer to alter any misleading advertisements and may be able to give the consumer what was originally promised.
  
  

Full Disclosure

• Car dealers must inform consumers of prior accidents.Crash on the street. German auto model 2007. image by Dariusz Kopestynski from Fotolia.com
  
  Consumers have the right to full disclosure when dealing with a car dealership, and the car dealer may not falsely advertise or leave out crucial information about the car. For example, if the vehicle for sale is a used car, the dealer may not advertise it as a new car. If the vehicle in question was one time used as a rental car, the car dealer must make this known. If the vehicle was involved in an auto accident that resulted in substantial damage to the vehicle, this information must be disclosed to the consumer, regardless if all the damages were repaired. Lastly, the car dealer is prohibited from rolling back the odometer of used vehicles. All odometers must show the exact amount of miles on the vehicle for sale.
  
  

Buyer's Guide Sticker

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that all dealers who sell used cars post a Buyer's Guide sticker in the window in order to protect the consumer against any possible false advertising. The Buyer's Guide Sticker must include facts, such as whether the vehicle comes with a warranty and, if so, the amount of damages covered under that warranty. The Buyer's Guide sticker must also inform the consumer of any existing mechanical or electrical problems the vehicle might have and whether or not the car is being sold "as is." Anyone who purchases a vehicle "as is" cannot hold the dealer liable for repairs needed once it is driven off the lot.