How should dealers advertise conditional offers? Feature them as separate, smaller disclosures outside the primary price stack, clearly outlining the specific eligibility requirements. 3. ADVERTISED PRICES MUST ACCOUNT FOR MANDATORY ADD-ONS If an accessory, protection package, or dealer-installed item is mandatory or already on the vehicle, its cost must be baked into the advertised price. This has always been Georgia’s standard. State policy specifically dictates: “Dealer-installed options or accessories that are required or are routinely installed, or options that are already installed on the advertised vehicle at the time the advertisement is published, must be included in the advertised price. Only those options installed at the request of the consumer following contact/negotiation with the dealership may be omitted from the advertisement.” 4. DEALERS CANNOT ADVERTISE UNAVAILABLE VEHICLES The FTC is actively cracking down on advertising “phantom inventory” to drive foot traffic. As such, dealers should not list specific vehicles at specific prices if those vehicles are not physically in stock. What about “in-transit” inventory? While formal federal guidance on in-transit units is still evolving, the safest approach is to clearly disclose that the vehicle is “in transit” and provide an accurate, verifiable estimated date of delivery. THE GOOD NEWS Compliance doesn’t have to mean manual headaches. GADA’s endorsed partner, ComplyAuto, offers an AI-powered tool called ComplyAuto Guardian designed specifically to scan your VDPs and digital advertising for federal and state compliance issues. As an exclusive benefit of membership, GADA members receive two free VDP audits per year, equipping your dealership with a powerful tool to streamline compliance. Scan the QR code to schedule your first complimentary VDP scan. https://sales.complyauto.com/ gada-vdp-scan Your Magazine. On the Go. Stay informed wherever you are. Read online. Anytime. Anywhere. 19 THE GENERATOR
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