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If you suspect a dealer wasn’t straight with you, the first step is figuring out what actually happened. Auto dealer fraud takes many forms, and the type matters because different patterns trigger different California laws and deadlines.
Advertising fraud happens before you ever sit down with a salesperson. The dealership pulls you in with misleading advertising, then changes the deal once you’re there.
A car is advertised at a price or with features that turn out to be “no longer available” once you arrive.
The contract price ends up higher than advertised, with charges added at signing.
Advertised equipment or features are missing or don’t work on delivery.
Capability claims (towing, fuel economy, safety) that don’t match reality.
Some of the most damaging fraud involves hiding the car’s history. California requires dealers to disclose specific facts about a vehicle’s past before sale, including:
This is the broadest category, and the one that comes up most often.
Rolled back or tampered mileage. A federal crime and separately actionable under California law.
Advertised as “Certified Pre-Owned” when it doesn’t meet the requirements.
The dealer knew about a serious problem and didn’t tell you.
Any false statement about the car you reasonably relied on when deciding to buy.
Days later, the dealer says financing “fell through” and demands new terms or the car back.
A third party signs the loan for a car someone else will actually own and use.
You sign documents with blank fields the dealer later fills in with different terms.
Branded titles scrubbed by retitling in a state with weaker disclosure laws.
Different fraud patterns trigger different statutes, and a single case may involve several at once.
Deceptive practices in consumer transactions. Allows damages, injunctive relief, and attorney fees.
Auto financing disclosures, contract requirements, and consumer protections.
Title branding, disclosure requirements, dealer licensing obligations.
Misleading advertising under the Business and Professions Code.
Intentional misrepresentation, concealment, or deceit.
The federal Odometer Act (triple damages) and Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
Focused exclusively on automotive law. Lemon law, dealer fraud, and automotive class actions are all we do. Our focus is evident in our results.
20 years against California dealers. Dealerships have strong legal teams, but we’ve been outmatching them for two decades, and they know it.
$400M+ recovered across 6,000+ cases. Dealers don’t write fair settlement checks without a fight, and we know how to make them.
In-house inspection capability. The Margarian Garage lets us physically inspect and document concealed damage, giving us evidence most firms simply don’t have.
You’ve already dealt with enough. If you think the dealer wasn’t straight with you, our attorneys are here to help. A free case review is easy, and it could change everything. Call (818) 553-1000.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is evaluated on its individual merits. Outcomes vary based on the dealer, the conduct involved, the documentation available, and the case posture. Attorney fee recovery in California consumer protection cases depends on the specific statute violated and the outcome of the case.
