If you've ever felt like a car dealership was adding fees you didn't agree to, Manchester City Nissan in Connecticut wasn't just doing that — they were doing it on a documented, institutional scale. The Federal Trade Commission and the Connecticut Attorney General's office filed suit against the dealership for a pattern of junk fees and outright deception that targeted their own customers.
The $5,295 Inspection Fee
Here's the one that makes people do a double-take: Manchester City Nissan charged customers a $5,295 "dealer inspection fee" — on vehicles that sometimes cost $15,700. That's not a typo. One-third of the purchase price of a used car, charged as a mandatory fee for an inspection that should be standard practice in any used car sale.
The FTC alleged this fee was not adequately disclosed and that customers were not given a real opportunity to decline it. It was buried, presented as non-negotiable, or simply added to paperwork without clear explanation.
Thousands in Unauthorized Add-Ons
On top of the inspection fee, customers were hit with over $7,000 in add-on products and services they either didn't ask for or were misled about. Extended warranties, paint protection packages, and other aftermarket products were rolled into deals without clear consent.
This is one of the most common dealership fraud patterns: add-ons get buried in the finance paperwork, customers sign a stack of documents they don't fully read, and the extras don't surface until they're reviewing the loan months later — or trying to cancel something they didn't know they had.
Falsified State Fees
The complaint also alleged that Manchester City Nissan overstated government fees. The actual Connecticut state fee for title and registration was $208. The dealership charged customers $345. That $137 difference, multiplied across hundreds of transactions, becomes a significant line item — and it was being passed off as a government charge customers had no choice but to pay.
"When a dealership inflates a government fee, they're not just overcharging you — they're using the state as cover for their own markup."
What to Watch For in Any Deal
The Manchester City Nissan case is not unique. The specific fees and numbers vary, but the structure — undisclosed add-ons, inflated government charges, mandatory junk fees — appears at dealerships across the country. Before you sign:
- Request an itemized breakdown of every charge
- Ask specifically which fees are required by law versus charged by the dealer
- Verify state DMV fees independently (most states publish them online)
- Read the finance office documents — not just the sales contract
EthicalMechanic.org is built on the principle that car ownership shouldn't require a law degree to avoid getting cheated. Cases like this one are why we track what regulators are doing — and why it matters.
The FTC's action against Manchester City Nissan is a reminder that these practices are not just annoying. They're illegal. And regulators are paying attention.