Buying a new car is very exciting, but walking into a car dealership can be overwhelming, especially if you have zero experience with car salespeople. Once you’ve negotiated a great price, the finance office might try to upsell specific add-ons, which can add up to a significant extra expense—some may be useful, but here we look at the 18 extras you definitely don’t need!
Fabric Protection
This is a spray-on treatment that acts like a Scotchguard for your upholstery, supposedly protecting the soft interior parts from stains and making cleaning easier. Modern car fabrics are often stain-resistant, and many spills can be cleaned with a good upholstery cleaner. Alternatively, you can purchase your own fabric protector for a fraction of the price.
Paint Protection
This package typically includes a special sealant and a coat of wax, which are often bundled together with fabric protection. The dealership will claim it helps prevent scratches, fading, and environmental damage, but Bankrate warns against it, writing, “Most automotive paints today are durable finishes that benefit much more from regular washing and waxing.”
Extended Warranty
As you might have guessed, this ‘extra’ extends the manufacturer’s warranty on your car, potentially covering repairs for several years after the original warranty expires. However, new cars typically come with a comprehensive warranty that lasts for three to seven years and a certain number of miles, typically from 36,000 miles to unlimited. This is ordinarily sufficient coverage.
VIN Etching
This involves etching a unique identification number (the vehicle’s VIN) onto its windows and other parts in a clear, permanent way. Although this can be effective in dissuading thieves, most cars are stolen in low-light conditions, normally as a result of opportunity or poor security. Plus, it doesn’t actually make your car more challenging to steal, only easier to recover.
Credit Life/Disability Insurance
You may be offered this type of insurance if you will be purchasing the car on credit and have several years of repayment ahead. Basically, you and your family are covered should you become disabled, unable to work, or die unexpectedly—the insurance will pay the remaining payments. However, this is usually covered by your existing life or disability insurance.
Prepaid Maintenance
This sounds convenient and offers peace of mind, but you’ll likely end up paying more for services your car may not even need. For example, the service intervals may be longer if you eventually do far fewer miles than initially expected. Plus, you can find these services locally at a much lower cost. Instead, research the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule and simply stick to it.
Rustproofing
The APA doesn’t recommend purchasing rustproofing from a dealership or at all if you live in a dry, low-salt environment. If you live in a very wet or coastal region or a harsh winter climate that regularly salts roadways, consider an independent rust treatment from a supplier that specializes in protecting your car from corrosion. They will offer the highest quality and value.
Nitrogen-Filled Tires
Nitrogen inflation is pitched as a superior alternative to filling your tires with regular air. The theory is that nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen molecules, meaning they permeate through the tire walls at a slower rate, thus maintaining tire pressure for longer. Air is actually perfectly adequate—quality tires with sufficient tread and regular air monitoring are far more beneficial.
Wheel Locks
These specially fitted wheel locks are designed to deter the theft of alloys and tires by replacing one or more lug nuts with a nut that requires a specific key to remove. Most modern cars come with them, and aftermarket versions can be a nuisance if you lose the key and get a flat. New keys can be expensive and time-consuming to order, and not all breakdown trucks will carry the one you need.
Tire Road Hazard Warranty
This warranty can be offered separately or bundled with expensive prepaid maintenance plans and is designed to cover repairs or replacements for tires damaged by things like potholes or debris, referred to as ‘road hazards.’ Although it sounds good at first glance, such warranties are rarely beneficial, and the cost of potential repairs will probably be less than the outlay.
Gap Insurance
Gap insurance bridges the financial gap between the actual cash value of your car (what the insurance company will pay out in the event of a total loss) and the amount you still owe on your loan. This is only useful if you predict that your new car will depreciate quickly or if your loan amount is higher than the car’s current value. In which case, why are you paying so much for it?
Key Replacement
Dealerships might pitch key replacement as necessary, especially if your car only comes with one key fob. If this is the case, question why and always demand two keys for a new vehicle. Edmunds does warn that key replacement is expensive, but there are several ways to ensure you always have one or both keys, like electronic tagging or firmly attaching one to your bag.
Interior Detailing
If your car is second-hand, you may be offered an interior detailing package to make your car’s cabin look cleaner and newer. Although professional detailing is nice, dealership cars should already be clean and tidy inside. You can also achieve a similar level of cleanliness and a fresh car smell with a few basic cleaning products, like fabric and window cleaners.
Anti-Theft Window Tint
This type of window tint appears dark from the outside but allows you to see out and is often marketed in higher-crime areas or for car buyers who park their vehicles on the street. It’s supposed to deter thieves from opportunistic ‘smash and grab’ robberies, but it’s far cheaper and safer to keep your valuables with you. Plus, the dark tint can make driving at night unsafe or even illegal in some states.
Dent Repair
When buying a used vehicle, dealerships might offer to repair minor dents or scratches on your new car before finalizing the sale. This can be incredibly tempting because most customers want a flawless vehicle they can appreciate from every angle but consider cheaper alternatives. Your local body shop can probably do a quality repair for half the cost or even less.
Undercoating
This is a specific type of rust protection that is completely unnecessary for the majority of new cars. Manufacturers undercoat the paintwork as standard, significantly improving rust resistance for at least 10 years. Consumer Reports asserts that undercoating is a lucrative add-on for the dealership that has no real advantage and can be expensive (around $800).
Excess Wear and Tear Coverage
Like road hazard insurance, this product is often bundled with prepaid maintenance plans. It promises to protect you from excess wear and tear charges at the end of your lease, but most sensible car drivers won’t be treating their cars poorly or driving recklessly. Instead, simply drive attentively, maintain the vehicle, and avoid soiling the seats with food, paint, or other stains.
Alignment Checks
Yes, regular wheel alignments are crucial for maintaining optimal tire wear and performance, but most reputable dealers will check second-hand cars before putting them up for sale. You may end up paying for unnecessary checks. Instead, check the manufacturer’s guidelines for wheel alignment intervals and compare them to your new car’s history of maintenance.
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