Press Release: 6/16/2026

AG Campbell Issues Advisory To Motor Vehicle Dealerships On Advertising And Pricing Requirements

BOSTON — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today issued an advisoryalerting motor vehicle dealerships of their legal obligations to ensure the advertised price of motor vehicles reflects the full cost, including all non-optional fees such as document preparation fees (“doc fees”).  

The advisory follows a series of consumer complaints alleging that some dealerships across Massachusetts routinely failed to include mandatory doc fees in advertised prices. Instead, those fees were disclosed separately or added at the end of the transaction, resulting in higher-than-expected final costs for consumers. 

“Massachusetts law requires accurate and transparent pricing in advertising. A vehicle is one of the most significant purchases many residents will ever make, and they deserve clear, upfront pricing, not hidden fees that are only added at the end of a transaction,” said AG Campbell. “This advisory will help dealerships comply with our laws so that consumers can make informed decisions about where to spend their money.”   

State law requires that all mandatory fees, excluding taxes, be included in the advertised price of a vehicle so consumers can accurately compare costs and make informed purchasing decisions. It is not enough for a dealership to separately list the existence or amount of a doc fee elsewhere in an advertisement, even if it is prominently disclosed. Doc fees can vary widely between dealerships and often add several hundreds of dollars to the final purchase price. 

The advisory notifies dealerships that these practices must cease immediately and that violations may result in enforcement action under the AGO’s motor vehicle regulations and/or regulations on unfair and deceptive fees. The AGO encourages consumers who believe a dealership has violated the law to file a consumer complaint online or by calling the Consumer Protection Hotline at (617) 727-8400. 

For more information on your rights when buying a vehicle, visit the AG’s website. 

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