How to File a Consumer Complaint About a Car Dealer

Where to file a complaint about a car dealer

You have three main places to file a complaint: the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state attorney general's office. The Department of Consumer Affairs handles complaints about car dealers specifically and can investigate whether the dealer broke state law. The FTC takes complaints about deceptive or unfair practices and shares the information with law enforcement. Your attorney general's office handles broader consumer fraud cases.

Start with the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs if the problem involves a dealer's sales practices, warranty claims, or misrepresentation. They have the power to fine dealers, revoke licenses, and order refunds. If you are unsure which agency to contact, filing with the Department of Consumer Affairs first is usually the fastest route because they know South Carolina car dealer law specifically.

You can file with more than one agency if you want. Filing with the FTC does not prevent you from also filing with the state, and doing both creates a fuller record of the problem.

Key Takeaways

• The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs investigates complaints about car dealers and can order refunds or license suspension if the dealer broke the law.
• You will need the dealer's name and location, the vehicle identification number (VIN), the date of purchase, and a description of what went wrong.
• The Department of Consumer Affairs accepts complaints by mail, phone, or online through their website.
• An investigation typically takes several weeks to months, and you should keep copies of all documents related to the sale and any repair attempts.
• If the dealer is part of a franchise, you can also contact the manufacturer's customer service department, which sometimes handles complaints separately from the dealer.

What information you need to gather before filing

Collect every document from the purchase and any communication with the dealer afterward. This includes the bill of sale, the signed contract, the warranty paperwork, any written promises the salesperson made, text messages or emails about the problem, and receipts for any repairs you paid for out of pocket. If the dealer promised something verbally, write down the date, time, and the name of the person who made the promise.

Write a clear timeline of what happened: when you bought the car, when the problem first appeared, what you told the dealer, and what they did or did not do to fix it. Include the vehicle identification number (VIN), which appears on your title and registration. Take photos of any defects, especially if they are visible problems like rust, dents, or broken parts.

If you have repair estimates from other shops showing what the fix would cost, include those too. The Department of Consumer Affairs uses this information to understand the financial impact of the problem.

How to file with the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs

You can file online through the Department of Consumer Affairs website, by phone at 803-734-4200, or by mail to the Department of Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 5757, Columbia, SC 29250. The online form asks for your name and contact information, the dealer's name and address, the VIN, the date of purchase, and a description of the problem. Be specific: instead of "the car breaks down," write "the transmission failed at 45,000 miles, the dealer refused to repair it under warranty, and a second shop estimated the repair at $3,200."

You do not need a lawyer to file. The form is straightforward and takes about 15 minutes to complete. After you submit, the Department will send you a confirmation number. Keep this number and use it if you need to follow up on your complaint.

The Department will contact the dealer and ask them to respond to your complaint. This usually happens within two weeks. The dealer may offer to fix the problem or may dispute your account. The Department then investigates, which can take several weeks to several months depending on how complex the case is and how busy they are.

Filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission

The FTC accepts complaints at reportfraud.ftc.gov. You can report the dealer's name, location, and what happened. The FTC does not investigate individual complaints the way the state does, but they track patterns. If many people complain about the same dealer, the FTC may open a formal investigation or refer the case to law enforcement.

Filing with the FTC is useful if the dealer engaged in deceptive advertising, misrepresented the vehicle's condition, or used high-pressure sales tactics. The FTC is also the right place if the dealer is part of a larger company and you want the complaint on record at the federal level.

What happens after you file

The Department of Consumer Affairs will investigate your complaint. They may ask you for additional documents or clarification. Respond promptly if they contact you. The dealer will also be asked to respond, and you may receive a copy of their response.

If the investigation finds that the dealer violated South Carolina law, the Department can order the dealer to refund your money, repair the vehicle at no cost, or take other corrective action. If the dealer refuses to comply, the Department can pursue enforcement action, including fines or license suspension. However, the Department cannot force a dealer to comply with an order—if they refuse, you may need to pursue a civil lawsuit to enforce it.

If the investigation finds no violation, the Department will close the complaint. You can still pursue other options, such as small claims court or a civil lawsuit, but the Department's investigation is complete.

Small claims court as an alternative

If you want faster resolution or the Department's investigation is taking too long, you can file in small claims court. South Carolina small claims court handles cases up to $7,500. You do not need a lawyer, and the filing fee is usually under $200. You will need to prove that the dealer made a promise they did not keep or sold you a vehicle with a defect they knew about or should have known about.

Small claims cases typically move faster than Department of Consumer Affairs investigations—usually resolved within two to four months. However, you have to present your own case, and if you lose, you cannot appeal to a higher court. Small claims is a good option if the amount in dispute is under $7,500 and you have clear documentation of what the dealer promised and what actually happened.

You can file in small claims court in the county where the dealer is located or where you live. Contact your local magistrate's office for the exact filing process and fees in your county.

Complaints about financing and loan terms

If the problem is with the loan itself—the dealer misrepresented the interest rate, added charges you did not agree to, or used predatory lending practices—you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov. The CFPB handles complaints about financing, and they investigate lenders and dealers who engage in unfair or deceptive lending practices.

You can also file with your state attorney general's office, which handles consumer fraud cases involving financing. If the dealer is part of a franchise, the manufacturer's finance company may have a separate complaint process as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for the Department of Consumer Affairs to investigate?

Most investigations take two to four months, but complex cases can take longer. The Department will send you updates if you request them. You can call 803-734-4200 to check on the status of your complaint using your confirmation number.

Do I need a lawyer to file a complaint?

No. The complaint forms are designed for consumers to fill out without legal help. If you want a lawyer's advice before filing, you can contact the South Carolina Bar Association's lawyer referral service, but it is not required to file a complaint.

What if the dealer goes out of business after I file?

The Department can still investigate and find a violation on record, but they cannot order a business that no longer exists to pay you. You would need to pursue a civil lawsuit against the owner personally or attempt to collect through small claims court if the owner is still reachable.

Can I file a complaint if I bought the car more than a year ago?

Yes, but the older the purchase, the harder it may be to prove the dealer knew about the problem at the time of sale. The Department will still investigate, but cases involving older vehicles are more difficult to win. If the vehicle is still under manufacturer's warranty, contact the manufacturer first—they may cover repairs even if the dealer will not.

What if the dealer offers to fix the problem after I file?

You can accept the repair and ask the Department to close your complaint, or you can continue with the investigation if you do not trust the dealer to do the work properly. If you accept a repair, get it in writing and keep all documentation of the work done.