How to File a Complaint with Your State Attorney General

If you've tried to resolve a dispute with a car dealer but have gotten nowhere, filing a complaint with your state's Attorney General (AG) office can be an effective next step.

What Does the Attorney General Do?

Each state has an Attorney General who serves as the chief legal officer for that state. Among their many responsibilities, AGs enforce consumer protection laws and investigate businesses that engage in deceptive or unfair practices.

When it comes to car dealers, the AG's office can investigate complaints about fraud, misleading advertising, undisclosed fees, failure to honor warranties, and other deceptive practices.

When Should You Contact Your AG?

Before filing a complaint, you should first try to resolve the issue directly with the dealership. Contact the general manager or owner if the sales manager isn't helpful. In many cases, simply mentioning that you're considering filing a complaint with the Attorney General's office will motivate them to resolve the issue.

If that doesn't work, the AG's office is the right place to go when you've experienced:

• Bait-and-switch advertising
• Undisclosed fees or charges added to your contract
• Misrepresentation of the vehicle's condition or history
• Failure to honor written warranties
• Title or registration fraud
• Yo-yo financing (dealer calls you back to sign a new contract with worse terms)
• Odometer tampering

How to Find Your State Attorney General

Attorney Generals change frequently due to elections and appointments, so the best approach is to look up your current AG using one of these official resources:

National Association of Attorneys General:
https://www.naag.org/find-my-ag/

USA.gov State Attorney General Directory:
https://www.usa.gov/state-attorney-general

Both of these resources are kept up-to-date and will provide you with contact information, including phone numbers and links to file complaints online.

How to File an Effective Complaint

When filing your complaint, include:

• Your contact information - Name, address, phone, and email
• Dealer information - Name, address, and any salesperson names involved
• Timeline of events - Dates of purchase, conversations, and issues
• Documentation - Copies of contracts, advertisements, emails, texts, and any other relevant paperwork
• What you're seeking - Be specific about how you want the issue resolved

The more documentation you can provide, the stronger your case will be. Keep copies of everything and send the AG's office copies, not originals.

What to Expect

After filing, the AG's office will typically send a copy of your complaint to the dealership and request a response. Many dealers will work to resolve complaints quickly once the AG is involved, simply to avoid further investigation.

Keep in mind that the AG's office receives many complaints and may not be able to take action on every case. However, even if they can't resolve your individual situation, your complaint becomes part of a record that could lead to action against dealers with multiple complaints.

Other Options

In addition to the Attorney General, you may also consider filing complaints with:

• Your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
• The Better Business Bureau (BBB)
• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for federal law violations
• Your state's consumer protection office

For serious financial harm, consulting with a consumer protection attorney may also be worthwhile, especially if you believe you're entitled to damages beyond what the AG can help recover.