How To File A Complaint Against Auto Repair Ny

car dealer complaint

You may want to file a complaint against a dealer for things like:

Dealer did not provide me with the title to my vehicle
Dealer did not provide me with other paperwork needed to register my vehicle
Dealer did not pay off lienholders
Dealer is selling faulty vehicles
Dealer went out of business before providing me with paperwork/other

If any of these things happened to you, you have the right to file a complaint against the dealer. It does not cost anything to file a complaint and most states allow you to file a complaint online.

Best Way To File a Complaint Against a Car Dealer

The best way to file a complaint and get a complaint resolved is to work directly with the dealership. In some cases, this might not be possible or you have tried, and it didn't work.

If you tried complaining directly to the dealership, did you complain the right way? Yes, there is a right way.

What To Do If You Can't Get The Issue Resolved

If you've exhausted your options with the dealership directly, your next options are:

File a complaint with your DMV Business Regulation Section or Licensing Board
File a claim against the dealership's surety bond – learn how to do this

Filing a Complaint with the DMV or Licensing Board

Filing a complaint with your DMV Business Regulation Section is arguably the best way, for your DMV Business Regulation Section will know about previous complaints against the dealership. The only problem is that not all states will have a department like this.

States that have a DMV Business Regulation Section/similar:

California
Colorado
Iowa
New York
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Texas
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Filing a Claim Against the Dealership's Surety Bond

Every dealership should have a surety bond. A surety bond is a form of protection for you, the consumer.

If a dealership has not fulfilled their end of the bargain, you are free to file a claim against their bond.

Bond claims are harmful to dealerships, so filing one will generally get their attention fast.

Learn how to file a surety bond claim and what to expect.

Where to File a Complaint

If none of the above options are available to you, yourState Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau are also great places to file complaints.

More recently, the Consume Financial Protection Bureau is also branching out. You canfile a complaint with them here.

Where to file a consumer complaint in each state:

Alabama –file a complaint with the State of Alabama
Alaska – file a complaint with the Attorney General
Arizona – file a complaint with the Attorney General
Arkansas – file a complaint with the Motor Vehicle Commission
California –file a complaint with the DMV
Colorado – file a complaint with the Department of Revenue
Connecticut –file a complaint with the DMV
Delaware –file a complaint with the Secretary of State
Florida –file a complaint with the Florida Dept. of Highway and Safety
Georgia –file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Unit
Hawaii –file a complaint with RICO
Idaho –file a complaint with the Attorney General
Illinois –file a complaint with the Attorney General
Indiana –file a complaint with the Attorney General or Secretary of State
Iowa –file a complaint with the Dept. of Transportation
Kansas –file a complaint with the Attorney General
Kentucky –file a complaint with the Motor Vehicle Commission
Louisiana –file a complaint with the Motor Vehicle Commission
Maine –file a complaint with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Investigations
Maryland –file a complaint with the Motor Vehicle Administration
Massachusetts –file a complaint with the many departments
Michigan –file a complaint with the Secretary of State
Minnesota –file a complaint with the Secretary of State
Mississippi –file a complaint with the Secretary of State
Missouri –file a complaint with the Dept. of Revenue
Montana –file a complaint with the Dept. of Justice
Nebraska –file a complaint with the Motor Vehicle Licensing Board
Nevada –file a complaint with the Dept. of Motor Vehicles
New Hampshire –file a complaint with the Dept. of Justice
New Jersey –file a complaint with the Division of Consumer Affairs
New Mexico –file a complaint with the Attorney General
New York –file a complaint with the DMV Regulated Auto Business
North Carolina –file a complaint with the License & Theft Bureau
North Dakota –file a complaint with the Attorney General
Ohio –file a complaint with the Attorney General
Oklahoma –file a complaint with the Motor Vehicle Commission
Oregon –file a complaint with the DMV Business Regulation Section
Pennsylvania –file a complaint with the State Board of Vehicle Dealers
Rhode Island –file a complaint with the Attorney General
South Carolina –file a complaint with the Attorney General
South Dakota –file a complaint with the Motor Vehicles Division
Tennessee –file a complaint with the Dept. of Commerce & Insurance
Texas –file a complaint with the DMV
Utah –file a complaint with the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division
Vermont –file a complaint with the Secretary of State
Virginia –file a complaint with the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board
Washington –file a complaint with the Attorney General
West Virginia –file a complaint with the Dept. of Transportation
Wisconsin –file a complaint with the Dept. of Transportation
Wyoming –file a complaint with the Department of Transportation

It's important to note that filing a claim does not necessarily mean it will be investigated. While all claims should be investigated, it should not be an end-all to getting your issue resolved.

If the issue escalades and your complaint does not get addressed, your final option would be to sue the dealer in small claims court.