Deal Guard - What’s the Truth About Dealer Add-Ons and How Can You Avoid Them?

What’s the Truth About Dealer Add-Ons and How Can You Avoid Them?

How to negotiate the best car deal!
July 17, 2025•4 min read

🚗 What’s the Truth About Dealer Add-Ons and How Can You Avoid Them?

“Dealer add-ons are like hotel mini bars — overpriced, unnecessary, and mysteriously already on the bill. 🍫💸” - Chase Jordan

When you're buying a car, the price you negotiate might not be the price you end up paying.

Why?

One word: add-ons.

These are the sneaky extras dealerships tack onto your final paperwork — and they’re often loaded with wild markups and little-to-no actual value. As your trusted car buying concierge service, Deal Guard is here to help you spot, understand, and skip the nonsense before it costs you.

Let’s pull back the curtain. 🎭

🧾 What Are Dealer Add-Ons?

Dealer add-ons are aftermarket products or services added by the dealership — either before you see the car or during the finance process. they are no manufacture installed options. That's the BIG difference aside from them being just about useless.

Common ones include:

  • Window tint

  • Nitrogen tire fill

  • VIN etching

  • Wheel locks

  • Paint and fabric protection

  • Key replacement coverage

  • Theft recovery systems

  • Extended warranties

  • Invisible bra

  • Lojack - Insurance companies give you zero discount for Lojack - it's a gps tracker on your car.

These can show up with names like “Environmental Package,” “Protection Plus,” or other vague branding.

💸 The Problem? Most Add-Ons Are Marked Up 300–1000%

  • That $699 "Nitrogen Tire Fill"? It costs them under $10.

  • VIN etching? Often free through your insurer.

  • Paint protection? It’s a glorified wax job.

  • Key protection? Sounds great until you realize your car already came with 2 keys and the coverage is loaded with fine print.

Dealers love add-ons because they’re high-margin. Y

You’re often paying $1,500–$5,000 for stuff you didn’t ask for — and might not even want - need.

🚨 Can They Force You to Buy Add-Ons?

No — it’s illegal in many states to require add-ons as a condition of sale.

Yet some dealers still play this game.

They’ll say:

  • “It’s already installed, sorry.”

  • “It’s part of our dealer policy.”

  • “We can’t remove it — every car comes this way.”

Wrong.

If it’s not part of the manufacturer’s MSRP or required for safety/emissions, it’s negotiable.

⚡ How to Spot Add-Ons Before It’s Too Late

  1. Ask for the itemized buyer’s order before signing anything.

  2. Look for vague or unfamiliar line items. Ask to clarify line by line.

  3. Ask if each item is mandatory. (Spoiler: It’s not.)

  4. Cross-check the MSRP sticker with the dealer’s offer — and ask what’s dealer-installed vs. factory.

  5. Don’t be afraid to walk away - you may have to and should.

This is where a car buying consultant like Deal Guard becomes your best defense.

We comb through every line and reject the junk before it lands in your total.

💪 What You Should Refuse (Almost Always)

Here’s what we advise you say "no thanks" to, unless it’s priced fairly and you actually want it:

  • Nitrogen in tires

  • Fabric protection

  • Paint sealants

  • VIN etching

  • Theft trackers

  • Window tint (unless it's dealer-installed at factory or priced fairly)

If the item is already installed, demand a discount or ask for it to be removed from the contract.

🧾 Are Any Add-Ons Actually Worth It?

Sometimes. Here are a few worth considering:

  • Factory-backed extended warranties (especially for long-term owners)

  • Gap insurance if you’re financing with a low down payment

  • Tire & wheel coverage for drivers in pothole-heavy regions - 1 tire pop could cost you over $400 so this can be good

But remember: even these can be overpriced when bought at the dealership.

Compare with third-party options first. Tire and wheel can be purchased for less or you can negotiate at the dealership or let us do it for you.

🛡️ How Deal Guard Stops Add-On Abuse

When you work with Deal Guard, your car buying advocate:

  • Reviews the full contract before you sign

  • Flags all unnecessary add-ons

  • Negotiates them out or demands discounts

  • Makes sure you only pay for what you actually want

We know the tricks. We know the pricing. We know how to say, “Nope, take that off.”

😎 Final Word from Chase

Don’t let add-ons derail your deal. These extras might look small on paper, but they can add thousands to your loan or lease.

At GetDealGuard.com, our car buying concierge service protects your wallet from the junk and games you don’t see coming.

🎯 Ready to say no to overpriced fluff?
Let Deal Guard help you get the car — not the clutter.

Back to Blog