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As part of the Federal Trade Commission’s ongoing project to gather information on consumers’ experiences in the sale, financing and leasing of motor vehicles at dealerships, the agency will continue to seek public comments until April 1, 2012. Interested parties can submit comments online by following the instructions on the web-based form.

The FTC held three roundtables around the country in 2011 exploring consumer protection issues related to the sale, financing, and leasing of the vehicles consumers most often use – cars, SUVs, and light trucks. Buying or leasing a car is among the most expensive transactions that many consumers make. Financing obtained at a dealership may provide benefits for many consumers, such as convenience, special manufacturer-sponsored programs, access to a variety of banks and financial entities, or access to credit otherwise unavailable to a buyer. Dealer-arranged financing, however, can be a complicated, opaque process and could potentially involve unfair or deceptive practices.

Although the public comment period will close on April 1, this will not affect the opportunity for public comments on any future motor vehicle initiatives the FTC undertakes. More information on this topic will be posted as it becomes available.

Comments in paper form should be mailed or delivered to: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H-113 (Annex V), 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. The FTC requests that any comment filed in paper form near the end of the public comment period be sent by courier or overnight service, if possible, because U.S. mail in the Washington area and at the Commission is subject to delay due to heightened security precautions.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call
1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. Like the FTC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

(Motor Vehicle Comments)