California Car Buyers Could Pay Nearly 5 Times More Because of New Senate Bill – San Bernardino Sun
California Car Dealers Get Green Light for Higher Fees The recent approval of Senate Bill 791 in California has stirred a significant debate around auto purchases. With strong bipartisan backing, this legislation allows car dealers to charge buyers up to an additional $500 on every car sold. This move has attracted criticism for straying from earlier promises by lawmakers to make life more affordable for Californians. What the Bill Entails Under this new law, car dealers can raise the fees they charge to process paperwork from $85 to a maximum of $500, reflecting a steep hike. Specifically, dealers can now charge up to 1% of the vehicle’s purchase price, which, based on recent data, averages around $48,656 for new vehicles in the U.S., meaning customers could face substantial additional costs. Critics argue this increases the burden on consumers rather than alleviating it. Rosemary Shahan from Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety voiced strong objections, emphasizing that ...