The U.S. Federal Trade Commission Is Targeting Dealerships for Advertising Unavailable Cars
By Jack Fitzgerald
Published on March 27, 2026.
The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is cracking down on car dealerships for advertising unavailable vehicles. According to Automotive News, dealerships risk fines of up to $50,000 for advertising vehicles that have already been sold. The focus began in mid-March when the director of the agency's Bureau of Consumer Protection sent letters to 97 dealership groups alleging they may have violated one of six illegal advertising practices. The FTC declined to specify how quickly dealerships should remove an ad after a sale, citing a desire not to give legal advice.
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