The Federal Trade Commission, along with the Maryland Attorney General's office, reached a settlement with Lindsay Automotive Group requiring the dealership chain to refund more than $75 million to consumers. The case covers conduct from 2020 through 2025 — five years of systematic deception that affected thousands of car buyers across the mid-Atlantic region.
This is one of the largest auto dealer enforcement actions in FTC history. The details of what Lindsay was doing are worth understanding, because none of it was subtle.
What Lindsay Was Actually Doing
The core complaint was straightforward: Lindsay advertised prices for vehicles, then charged buyers significantly more — not because the car cost more, but because they added fees and products the buyer never asked for and, in many cases, was never clearly told about.
Financing as a condition of the advertised price. According to the FTC, Lindsay required buyers to finance through the dealership in order to receive the advertised vehicle price. Cash buyers and buyers who arranged their own financing were steered toward different, higher prices. This is a well-known industry tactic — dealers earn backend profit through financing arrangements, and the advertised price is bait to get you into their financing funnel.
Unwanted add-ons added without consent. Service contracts, tire protection plans, GAP insurance, paint protection packages — Lindsay allegedly added these products to purchase agreements without the buyer's knowledge or meaningful consent, then buried them in the paperwork. By the time a buyer noticed, they'd already signed.
Pressure and confusion as tools. The finance office is where most dealer fraud happens. It's a small room, a high-pressure environment, and the paperwork is deliberately complex. Buyers are often handed documents rapidly, told "this is just standard" about items that are not standard, and made to feel that questioning anything will delay or derail the purchase.
What the Settlement Means
The $75 million in refunds will go back to affected consumers. The FTC and Maryland AG are handling the distribution process — if you purchased a vehicle from a Lindsay dealership between 2020 and 2025, watch for communications from the settlement administrator.
Beyond the money, the settlement includes conduct requirements that prohibit Lindsay from continuing these practices and require transparent, itemized disclosures going forward.
Why This Matters Beyond One Dealer Group
Lindsay isn't unique. The FTC has made clear through multiple enforcement actions — including cases against Leader Automotive and others — that the junk fee model is endemic to the auto dealer industry. Dealers add items to purchase agreements that buyers didn't request, rely on buyer confusion to prevent pushback, and profit from the gap between what was advertised and what was charged.
The FTC has now put 97 dealer groups on formal notice (more on that in a separate post) that these practices violate federal law. The Lindsay settlement gives those notices teeth.
What You Should Do Before Signing at Any Dealership
Demand to see the complete out-the-door price in writing before you sit down in the finance office. Every line item. If anything appears that wasn't in the original quote, ask what it is. If you didn't agree to it, say clearly that you want it removed. In writing.
You have the right to walk out. You have the right to review the contract on your own time before signing. You have the right to say no to every add-on offered in the finance office, regardless of how they're framed.
For a full breakdown of dealer add-on tactics and your rights, visit /avoiding-scams/.