Walk into a dealership and the car price you saw online suddenly grows legs. Extras appear on the contract that you never asked for, each wrapped in confident sales talk. Some add genuine value, but many quietly bloat the final bill without improving ownership. These eight common add ons are the ones most buyers can avoid, with the lone exception of a credible warranty if it truly suits your needs.
Paint Protection Packages
Dealers love selling paint sealants because the margins are enormous. The pitch sounds convincing, usually framed as long term protection against salt, sun and road grime. In reality most packages are little more than off the shelf wax applied quickly in the prep bay. You can do better work yourself or pay a professional detailer for far less. Unless you want a ceramic coating from a reputable shop you can skip this entirely.
Wheel and Tire Protection
Road hazard coverage often sounds reassuring but the fine print usually limits what is actually covered. Many policies exclude bent wheels, curb rash or cosmetic damage. Some cap reimbursement well below the cost of modern low profile tires. If you live in an area with good roads or drive carefully this add on becomes unnecessary. A decent roadside assistance plan already offers much of the real value.
Nitrogen Tire Fill
Nitrogen in tires became trendy years ago and dealers still push it. The claim is that nitrogen keeps pressures stable and reduces leakage. Regular air is already seventy eight percent nitrogen which means the benefits are tiny. Tire shops will top up your tires with normal air anyway which defeats the purpose. For most drivers this becomes a pointless line item that quietly bumps the bill.
VIN Etching
Etching your vehicle identification number onto the windows is a theft deterrent in theory, but the cost dealerships charge bears no relation to the actual value. You can buy a DIY kit for a fraction of the price or skip the idea entirely because modern anti theft systems offer far more protection. Dealers rely on the fear factor to sell this one, not its real world effectiveness.
Fabric and Upholstery Protection
Dealers apply a spray on fabric guard then charge a premium for it. These products rarely outperform the retail cleaners you can apply at home. Modern automotive fabrics already resist stains reasonably well. Paying hundreds of dollars for a brief spray treatment makes little sense. If upholstery protection is important, a detail shop will do a more thorough job for less money.
Wheel Locks
Wheel locks appear useful but many dealers include them automatically as an accessory fee. The truth is that thieves carry the same lock keys and removal tools as mechanics. The locks inconvenience the owner far more than a determined thief. Unless you own high value aftermarket wheels this is an easy add on to decline. It is more hassle than protection.
Market Adjustment Fees
Some dealers try to add a market adjustment charge, especially on popular models. This fee has no relation to parts, labour or actual costs. It is simply a markup disguised as an unavoidable expense. Walking away is often the best tactic because competition kills this nonsense quickly. No buyer should pay more just because a dealer prints a fancy label for additional profit.
Paintless Dent Plans
These prepaid dent repair policies promise to fix small dings but usually exclude everything from sharp creases to panel edges. Many owners never use them, and the coverage limits prevent repairs on the dents people actually want fixed. Paintless dent repair shops charge reasonable prices, so paying upfront for limited work rarely adds value. Unless you park in extremely tight, risky areas this one is easy to skip.
25 Facts About Car Loans That Most Drivers Don’t Realize
Car loans are one of the most common ways people fund car purchases. Like any other kind of loan, car loans can have certain features that can be regarded as an advantage or a disadvantage to the borrower. Understanding all essential facts about car loans and how they work to ensure that you get the best deal for your financial situation is essential. Here are 25 shocking facts about car loans that most drivers don’t realize:
25 Facts About Car Loans That Most Drivers Don’t Realize
