Buying a car is already a big spend. The problem is that the real upsell often starts after you have mentally committed to the vehicle, when you’re tired, hungry, and just want the keys. That is exactly when add ons and “protection packages” show up, usually framed as smart, responsible, or required.
Most of these extras are optional, high margin, and priced far above what the same outcome costs elsewhere. The goal of this guide is simple: help you separate what’s genuinely worth considering from what’s usually a money leak.
The rule that makes this easy
If an add on is (1) not required by law, (2) not required by your lender, and (3) not already included in the manufacturer’s warranty, you can treat it like a shopping decision, not a must have.
The FTC has explicitly warned that dealers often sell optional add ons, including service contracts and special paint coatings, and you should scrutinize your contract and remove anything you did not agree to.
Now let’s talk about the biggest ones to skip.
Skip the extended warranty (in most cases) and never buy it on pressure
Dealers often call them “extended warranties,” but the FTC’s consumer guidance is clear: these are optional auto service contracts sold separately, and pricing and coverage vary widely.
Why they’re usually a bad buy at signing is timing and psychology. You’re purchasing extra coverage while the factory warranty is still doing most of the heavy lifting. If you want coverage later, you can often shop it when the factory warranty is closer to ending, compare providers, and buy with a clear head.
When it can make sense is if you are buying a used vehicle with expensive components, you plan to keep it long term, and you have verified that the contract covers the specific high cost failures you’re worried about. Even then, treat it like insurance: read exclusions, deductible, claim process, and who approves repairs. The FTC notes that many service contracts are administered by third parties, and you want to know who is responsible for paying claims.
Also, you generally cannot be required to buy an extended warranty or GAP insurance to get an auto loan. If you are being pressured, that is a signal to slow down, not speed up.
Skip dealership ceramic coating and PPF, then work with a strong local specialist instead
Dealership ceramic coating and PPF are two of the most profitable add ons because they are high ticket and hard for the average buyer to judge at delivery. The issue is not that protection is bad. The issue is execution, process, and incentives.
Many dealerships either assign this work to employees whose job is speed and volume, or they outsource to a third party on a volume agreement where throughput matters more than perfection. That business model often clashes with what coating and PPF actually require: careful prep, controlled conditions, and quality control.
A specialist shop will usually win on all three because that is the core business, not a side hustle attached to finance paperwork.
Here is what a real ceramic coating installation looks like when it is treated like a craft, not a checkbox. Vice Detailing & Ceramic Coating describes a process that includes decontamination, paint correction, panel prep, applying the coating in a controlled environment, inspecting coverage under lighting, and allowing cure time in a climate controlled facility before final quality control.
Skip prepaid maintenance plans unless the math is obvious
Prepaid maintenance is often sold like a discount bundle, but it can quietly include services you would not actually do at that schedule, exclude the services you care about, or require you to return to that dealer.
If you want to evaluate it properly, compare the plan price to the exact maintenance items you will realistically do during the term, at independent shop pricing. If the plan is not clearly cheaper, skip it and keep flexibility.
Skip the “interior protection package” and fabric protector add ons
This one is a classic because it sounds practical and it’s cheap enough to feel harmless, but the markup is usually wild.
Edmunds described an interior protection package as a chemical sprayed on upholstery for stain resistance, and noted a common reality: a low cost consumer product can do a similar job for a fraction of the price.
If you have kids, pets, or you live in your car, you can absolutely protect the interior. Just do it intentionally: buy a quality protectant, add rubber mats, and clean spills quickly. You will get most of the benefit without paying dealer margins.
Skip VIN etching and “theft protection” markups you didn’t ask for
VIN etching and similar “security” packages can be priced like a serious anti theft solution. In reality, they are often a label, a marking, or a basic registration product bundled into financing.
If you want theft deterrence, focus on what actually moves the needle: good insurance, parking strategy, and if it’s a high theft model in your area, consider modern trackers or immobilizer solutions that have a real track record.
Skip nitrogen filled tires
If you see green valve caps and a line item for nitrogen, you are looking at an upsell that rarely pays back.
Edmunds put it bluntly: nitrogen has few benefits and much higher costs, and their short version was to save your money and stick with air.
Skip dealer “paint protection” packages that are basically wax
A lot of dealer paint protection is not ceramic coating, not PPF, and not long term protection. It’s often a sealant or wax dressed up with big claims and a big price.
Edmunds gave a real world example where a dealership sold a paint protection package, and after contacting the shop that performed it, they learned it was basically a wax job.
Skip dealer installed accessories unless the price is competitive
Dealers often add accessories on a supplemental sticker: floor mats, wheel locks, tint, protection packages, and more. Edmunds notes these add ons are often overpriced, and even gives examples where a dealer tint price was far higher than what you could buy in a specialty shop.
Accessories are not inherently bad. The issue is buying them at the most expensive place, at the worst moment, with no comparison shopping.
If you want mats, cargo liners, roof racks, winter tires, or tint, price them out locally and online first. Then decide.
Skip “mandatory” add ons you did not agree to, and audit the contract line by line
Some dealers try to present add ons as required, or sneak them into the paperwork. The FTC has warned about situations where buyers were charged for add ons they declined, and emphasizes reading the sales contract carefully and removing add ons you don’t want.
A clean way to handle this in the finance office is to say: you want the out the door price with only taxes, government fees, and the items you explicitly requested. Then stay quiet and let them print it.
What you should consider, but only after thinking, not reacting
Not everything in the finance office is automatically a scam. Some items can make sense depending on your situation.
GAP insurance can be valuable if you put little down, finance long, or the car depreciates quickly, but you should still compare pricing because it’s often available elsewhere. The CFPB notes GAP and extended warranties are generally optional, not required.
Wheel and tire coverage can be reasonable if you drive in areas with rough roads and low profile tires, but you want to understand exactly what counts as a covered claim and whether there’s a per claim limit.
The key is this: decide in advance what risks you want to insure, and what risks you are happy to self fund. If you wait until the pitch, you will overbuy.
The simplest way to save money without feeling like you’re “fighting” the dealership
Go in with two decisions already made.
First, you are buying the car, not the store. You can service it anywhere. The FTC notes you don’t have to use the dealer for routine repairs or maintenance to keep warranty coverage in effect.
Second, you will not buy optional add ons the same day you buy the vehicle. If something is truly valuable, it will still be valuable tomorrow, and you can shop it with zero pressure.
That single boundary removes the emotional leverage and keeps your purchase focused on the only number that matters: the out the door price of the car you came for.
