On the Dash:
- Dealers should disclose all applicable fees on used vehicle listings before July 14 to avoid lower search visibility.
- CarGurus will soon calculate its IMV and Deal Ratings using the total advertised price, including disclosed fees.
- Marketplaces and regulators are placing greater emphasis on fee disclosure, making transparent pricing a competitive advantage.
Just a week after CBT News brought dealers, legal experts, policy advocates and lawmakers, including U.S. Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno, together for its Auto Leadership Summit, the conversation surrounding fair pricing policies has only intensified.
CarGurus has become the latest online automotive marketplace to require dealers to disclose applicable fees on used vehicle listings. Starting July 14, the company will require fee disclosure on all used inventory, expanding its all-in pricing initiative as fee transparency becomes an increasingly important industry standard.
Under the new policy, CarGurus will assign a “No Rating” designation to any used vehicle listing without disclosed fees and will rank those listings lower in search results. The company said the change will provide a more transparent shopping experience while creating a level playing field for dealers that advertise complete pricing.
CarGurus also plans to update how it calculates its Instant Market Value (IMV) and Deal Ratings. Shortly after July 14, the company will base both metrics on the all-in vehicle price, including all disclosed fees. The company said most dealers on its platform have already adopted all-in pricing for their used inventory using its fee disclosure tools.
To further highlight pricing transparency, CarGurus will introduce new consumer-facing features, including badges on search results and vehicle detail pages that identify transparent pricing. Shoppers will also be able to filter inventory based on transparent pricing, and CarGurus plans additional updates in the coming months.
Dealers continue to navigate heightened scrutiny over advertised vehicle pricing and mandatory fee disclosures. As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, online marketplaces are increasingly adopting policies that reward transparent pricing and improve visibility for compliant listings.
CarGurus said the changes reflect its ongoing commitment to building trust between dealers and consumers by making all-in pricing the foundation of the online car-shopping experience.
