![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 37 Claiming Shotgun For Car Rides 2](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Claiming-Shotgun-For-Car-Rides-2.jpg)
Purchasing a car can be an expensive, stressful experience. In fact, buying a car is one of the most expensive purchases you’ll make, outside of buying a home.
Many dealerships try to add to that expense with things you really don’t need, just so they can make more money. Here are 11 things to avoid buying at car dealerships.
Extended Warranties
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 38 4 1](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2040/07/4-1.jpg)
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 39 4 1](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2040/07/4-1.jpg)
Extended warranties do serve a purpose. However, you’re often better served by putting that extra money in a savings account instead to care for repairs.
Most of the cost of these warranties goes to the salesperson as a commission. Worse yet, most repairs are less than the cost of the warranty.
Fabric Protection
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 40 Heated Car Seats](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Heated-Car-Seats.jpg)
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 41 Heated Car Seats](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Heated-Car-Seats.jpg)
Dealers love to charge you $200+ for fabric protection. However, most dealers only apply Scotchgard.
You can do the same for much less.
Key Protection
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 42 1 6](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2050/08/1-6.jpg)
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 43 1 6](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2050/08/1-6.jpg)
Losing a key is a hassle. So, dealers like to sell you coverage to protect you in the event you lose your keys.
This is another useless money-maker for the dealer. Save your money instead and cover the expense personally, if it ever occurs.
Roof Rack Accessories
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 44 Roof Rack Accessories](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Roof-Rack-Accessories.jpg)
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 45 Roof Rack Accessories](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Roof-Rack-Accessories.jpg)
Do you surf or kayak? You likely need a roof rack. Dealers love to sell these with a handsome markup.
Instead, purchase one yourself and save the cash.
Windshield Protection
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 46 Windshield Protection](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Windshield-Protection.jpg)
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 47 Windshield Protection](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Windshield-Protection.jpg)
Your dealer may want you to believe that you’re at risk of needing to replace the entire windshield at some point in the life of your car. Modern technology makes that not so in most cases.
Instead of opting for needless coverage, save for repairs so that you will be covered.
Dent Protection
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 48 Dent Protection](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Dent-Protection.jpg)
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 49 Dent Protection](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Dent-Protection.jpg)
Who wants a dent in their new car? No one does, so dealers love to charge you four figures for dent protection. It’s not worth the cost.
They don’t help you process claims, and it’s all outsourced.
Credit Insurance
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 50 Car salesman](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Untitled-design-19-1.jpg)
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 51 Car salesman](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Untitled-design-19-1.jpg)
Car dealers love to sell the fear of what happens if you lose your job or are disabled. What happens to your payments?
Credit insurance helps you make those payments. Fortunately, if you need coverage, you can get it for cheaper through your own provider.
Gap Coverage
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 52 Pay Your Car Loan Off Early](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Pay-Your-Car-Loan-Off-Early.jpg)
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 53 Pay Your Car Loan Off Early](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Pay-Your-Car-Loan-Off-Early.jpg)
Gap coverage is helpful. If you get in an accident and the car is totaled, it makes you whole.
Dealers love to overcharge for this coverage, so don’t give in to the fear. If you truly want it, you can typically get it for cheaper through your insurer.
Security Systems or Car Trackers
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 54 Man driving car](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Man-driving-car.jpg)
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 55 Man driving car](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Man-driving-car.jpg)
You may not realize it, but many vehicles come with security systems or car alarms built into them. That’s often because car dealerships want them installed to protect them while they are on the lot before someone buys them.
If the car you want to buy has one in it, the dealer may try to sell it to you as an upsale. Don’t accept this. Insist that you don’t want it and let them decide if they want to uninstall it before you drive it off the lot.
Paint Sealants
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 56 Paint Sealants](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Paint-Sealants.jpg)
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 57 Paint Sealants](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Paint-Sealants.jpg)
Cars today are made to withstand what they will encounter in the environment. Paying hundreds of dollars for sealant is often a waste of money.
Regularly wash your car, and the paint job should last the life of the car.
Nitrogen-Filled Tires
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 58 5 1](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/5-1.jpg)
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 59 5 1](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/5-1.jpg)
Dealers love to sell you on the idea that nitrogen-filled tires provide safety. Reports indicate that’s simply not the case, and any difference between nitrogen and standard air is minimal at best.
Save your money and use the air at the local gas station.
Get Cash Back On Your Gas Purchases
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 60 Cash Back on Your Gas Purchases](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Cash-Back-on-Your-Gas-Purchases.jpg)
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 61 Cash Back on Your Gas Purchases](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Cash-Back-on-Your-Gas-Purchases.jpg)
It’s painful to fill up at the pump. Thankfully, there’s an app for that! With Upside you can get rebates on your gas purchases that you can redeem for cash.
Upside App Review: Is the Gas App Worth it?
How to Get Free Gas At the Pump
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 62 Gas at the Pump](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2030/07/Gas-at-the-Pump.jpg)
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 63 Gas at the Pump](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2030/07/Gas-at-the-Pump.jpg)
Yes, it is possible to get free fuel at the pump. Here are nine legit ways to get free gas, or greatly reduce your overall cost.
9 Best Ways to Get Free Gas
How to Save Money on a Tight Budget
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 64 Save Money on a Tight Budget](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2050/08/Save-Money-on-a-Tight-Budget.jpg)
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 65 Save Money on a Tight Budget](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2050/08/Save-Money-on-a-Tight-Budget.jpg)
Saving money feels impossible when you’re struggling to make ends meet, but you can do it. Use these tips to save money each month, even on a tight budget.
How to Save Money on a Tight Budget
Best Prepaid Phone Plans
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 66 Best Prepaid Phone Plans](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2040/07/Best-Prepaid-Phone-Plans.jpg)
![Steer Clear of Scams: 11 Useless Car Dealership Add-Ons to Avoid 67 Best Prepaid Phone Plans](https://www.frugalrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2040/07/Best-Prepaid-Phone-Plans.jpg)
Legacy carriers trick us into thinking we need a contract to get what we need. That’s a lie. A prepaid phone plan can give you the data you want for significantly less.
7 Best Prepaid Phone Plans
Frugal Rules. (2023-12-16 08:00:34). www.frugalrules.com