It’s complicated being a consumer these days. There’s so much information, but most of it is to get you to buy stuff rather than make financial choices that are good for you.
In recognition of National Consumer Protection Week 2026, March 1-7, the U.S. PIRG Education Fund is showcasing resources to help Americans address a wide range of common issues. U.S. PIRG is a public interest research group.
“Taking care of all of your personal business can seem like a part-time job sometimes,” Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog director for U.S. PIRG Education Fund, said in a statement. “We aim to help consumers help themselves with easy-to-understand guides focused on some of the problems that plague us most.”
Buying cars
Shopping for a car is one of the most dreaded consumer transactions. About 75 percent of consumers don’t trust dealerships to be honest about pricing, according to a KPA Dealership Trust Survey conducted by The Harris Poll. In addition, in past car purchases, about one-third thought they were being pressured with add-on services or products, or found unexpected fees added to a contract.
“We always say that information is power,” Murray said. “In few areas is that more true than with buying a car.”
Getting the guides
The U.S. PIRG Education Fund’s new car-buying guide focuses on three issues:
- Your need to realize that buying a car, trading in a car, and financing a car are three separate transactions.
- The fees that some dealerships try to add to a vehicle purchase.
- The do’s and don’ts and the things to look for on a finance agreement, if you’re getting a loan.
The guide points you to what you should do in the months before shopping for a car, as well as the questions you should ask at a dealership and the things you should look for on any contracts or loan agreements. Get the guide at “Buying a Car: The Financing, Fees, and Flubs to Avoid.”
Other helpful guides include “Guide for Buying a Used Electric Vehicle” and “How to Register Your VIN to Get Notified of Any Recall.”
The next article, which also celebrates National Consumer Protection Week, will be “Tips for How to Avoid Problems With Buy Now Pay Later Purchases.”
