Home › How to file

How to file a complaint against an auto dealer / repair

Deceptive sale, hidden fees, lemon, bad financing, or a botched repair. Here is exactly which regulator has jurisdiction, where to file, and what to say.

The right regulator(s), in order

state

Your State Attorney General (consumer protection)

Your state AG consumer-protection division is the primary route for dealer fraud, hidden fees, and lemon-law issues. Many states also have a DMV dealer-licensing complaint process.
Open the complaint portal →
State/local office — opens the official directory; pick your state, then your office. (Verify the link is current.)
  • Your full name, address, phone and email
  • The exact legal name and address of the business/agency you are complaining about
  • Vehicle year/make/model and VIN
  • The purchase/repair contract and what was misrepresented
  • The dollar amount in dispute or the harm/loss
  • The dates of what happened (in order)
  • The specific outcome you are asking for
federal

FTC — ReportFraud

The FTC enforces auto-sale and financing rules and builds cases against dealers with a pattern of deception.
Open the complaint portal →
  • Your full name, address, phone and email
  • The exact legal name and address of the business/agency you are complaining about
  • What was deceptive
  • The dates of what happened (in order)
For a specific dollar loss on a car or repair, small-claims court is usually the fastest recovery. Open →

What to include in your complaint

Draft my complaint now →

FAQ

Does filing a complaint get me my money back?
A regulator complaint pressures the company to fix it and creates an enforcement record, but it does not award you damages. For a specific dollar amount, small-claims court is usually faster. For injury or large losses, talk to an attorney.
Will they know I complained?
Most consumer complaints are shared with the company so it can respond. Some (e.g., OSHA, wage) let you stay confidential — we note that on each agency.
How long does it take?
Many agencies require the company to respond within 15–60 days. Keep your case number and the dates.
Complaint-routing & drafting information — not legal advice or representation. This is a self-help tool that points you to the regulator with jurisdiction and drafts a complaint for you to review and file. It is not a law firm, and using it does not create an attorney–client relationship. Which agency applies can depend on facts we don't see (the company's charter, your state, the exact conduct). Government portal links — especially state-level ones — can change; we show the official directory as a fallback and the date each was checked (2026-06-25). Some situations are legal claims for money or injury, not regulator complaints — we flag those and you should consult a licensed attorney in your state.