Independent Dealer Solutions

05/25/2026

04/22/2026

NIADA & FTC Warning Letter Q&A

04/22/2026

In a recent meeting we were in with the FTC Director of Bureau of Consumer Protection, Chris Mufarrige, he noted that all required fees should be included in the advertised price of the vehicle. This INCLUDES Dealer Doc Fees. Only mandated items to not include are Government Mandated Fees, i.e. taxes, title & registration. Comment here and we will send you our overview document of all the changes.

04/06/2026

In March 2026, the FTC issued warning letters to dozens of dealerships nationwide reinforcing a clear standard: advertised vehicle pricing must include all mandatory fees, with only government-imposed charges (such as taxes, title, and registration) permitted to be excluded.

Immediate Action Steps for Dealers
To ensure compliance and reduce risk, IDS strongly recommends that all dealers immediately:
1. Review all advertising (website, third-party listings, social media, print, and radio) for pricing accuracy
2. Ensure all mandatory dealer fees are included in advertised prices including dealer doc fees.
3. Clearly disclose any conditions tied to pricing (financing, trade-in, rebates)
4. Eliminate pre-selected or bundled add-ons that are not optional
5. Train sales and F&I staff on consent requirements for all products
6. Audit inventory listings to confirm advertised vehicles are available
7. Work with legal counsel or compliance providers to review advertising practices

Watch for additional information coming via email.

04/03/2026

The FTC recently fined a dealer millions of dollars due to misrepresentation in advertising. We are meeting with local government agencies and associations to discuss advertising for dealers in Utah. What would you like to see changed?

The Federal Trade Commission and Maryland Attorney General today announced Lindsay Automotive Group and its executives will return money to resolve allegations that they deceived consumers for year

12/28/2025

Federal Trade Commission staff sent letters to 10 companies, warning them of potential violations of the agency’s Consumer Review Rule, which prohibits businesses from conditioning compensation or other incentives on reviewers expressing a particular sentiment, either positive or negative, or from failing to disclose when reviews are written by company insiders or their immediate relatives.

Federal Trade Commission staff sent letters to 10 companies, warning them of potential violations of the agency’s

11/12/2025

The decision, disclosed in a court filing, puts the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on track to shut down in ‘early 2026’ when its remaining cash runs out.

The decision, disclosed in a court filing, puts the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on track to shut down in ‘early 2026’ when its remaining cash runs out.

10/28/2025

Be on the look out for recent fraudulent e-mails claiming to be from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

The emails claim that the CFPB is conducting a furnisher compliance audit to assess adherence to reporting standards, data accuracy, and information security practices. It claims businesses have three days to comply with the request. It includes a clickable link.

This phishing attempt follows a common practice with scammers relying on urgency and timing to pressure recipients into clicking quickly. These e-mails are not legitimate and may be designed to steal sensitive information or install malware.

Do not click on links or attachments in suspicious emails and do not reply, forward, or share personal information. Always verify addresses directly through official .gov websites or contact numbers.

A reminder that the CFPB will never ask for personal or account information by e-mail.

08/20/2025

Please be advised that the Utah Motor Vehicle Division is implementing a mandatory policy change regarding the titling of vehicles, effective immediately.

New Requirement: Owner Names Must Match Government-Issued Identification

Moving forward, the name on a vehicle title application must now match the owner's name as it appears on their government-issued identification, such as a driver's license or state ID card.

The only exceptions are for vehicles titled in a business or trust name. When submitting
applications for vehicle titling, please ensure that the name provided corresponds with the
official government-issued ID. Any discrepancies may result in rejection of the application.

We understand that policy changes can sometimes require adjustments, and we appreciate your cooperation in adhering to this new standard.

Our goal is to streamline the titling and registration process for dealers.

04/26/2025

We're Hiring. We are looking for an experienced Title Clerk to work in a fun environment with great people. Reach out if interested.