The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance and the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission are alerting auto buyers to the increased presence of illegal and unlawful advertisements being sent from licensed Tennessee motor vehicle dealerships.
During the past two years, a growing number of auto consumers have complained about misleading auto advertisements mailed to them that resemble scratch-off lottery tickets, images from the “Monopoly” board game, or pull-tab games. These mailers include codes or symbols that must match for a consumer to win a prize. TDCI says most of these promotions promise more than they deliver and have been found to violate the Commission’s advertising rules and the Consumer Protection Act.
Since October 2024, the Commission has assessed $35,000 in seven civil penalties, all related to these types of violations by dealers across Tennessee. Even if a Tennessee dealer uses an advertising agency to create ads in any medium, the Tennessee dealer remains responsible for ensuring each ad complies with the laws and rules governing advertising.
TDCI’s tips include: all advertising must follow state or federal laws; false, misleading, or deceptive advertising of motor vehicles or recreational vehicles is prohibited; and unsubstantiated selling claims—examples include “Write your own deal,” “Name your own price,” “We are number 1 in car sales,” “Lowest price in the south”—are strictly prohibited. Any dealership using salespeople must ensure each salesperson holds a valid Commission license; consumers can verify a salesperson at verify.tn.gov.
Consumers who believe they have been the victim of a false advertisement are urged to contact the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission at (615) 741-2711 or file a complaint online. Separately, when you buy a car, confirm the vehicle is listed correctly on your auto policy before you drive it home.
Seasons change. So should your coverage. For a free personal policy review, call 865-263-1400 or visit asigtn.com/get-a-quote/.
By All Seasons Insurance Group — informational only; no coverage or eligibility promise.
| Consumer tip from TDCI / MVC | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Lottery-style or Monopoly mailers | Often promise more than they deliver; may violate advertising rules |
| $35,000 in seven civil penalties since Oct. 2024 | Commission enforcement for these violation types |
| Verify salesperson license | Use verify.tn.gov before you buy |
| Complaint line | (615) 741-2711 or online complaint |
What is TDCI warning auto buyers about?
TDCI and the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission are alerting auto buyers to illegal and unlawful advertisements sent from licensed Tennessee motor vehicle dealerships.
What do the illegal mailers look like?
TDCI says consumers have complained about mailers that resemble scratch-off lottery tickets, Monopoly board-game images, or pull-tab games with codes or symbols that must match to win a prize.
How much has the Commission assessed for these violations since October 2024?
Since October 2024, the Commission has assessed $35,000 in seven civil penalties related to these types of violations by dealers across Tennessee.
Who is responsible if a dealer uses an advertising agency?
TDCI states that even if a Tennessee dealer uses an advertising agency, the dealer remains responsible for ensuring each ad complies with advertising laws and rules.
What selling claims are prohibited examples?
TDCI lists unsubstantiated or misleading examples such as “Write your own deal,” “Name your own price,” “We are number 1 in car sales,” and “Lowest price in the south.”
How can a consumer verify a salesperson’s license?
TDCI says to verify a motor vehicle salesperson license at verify.tn.gov and ensure each salesperson holds a valid Commission-issued license.
Where can consumers file a complaint?
Consumers who believe they were victims of a false advertisement are urged to contact the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission at (615) 741-2711 or file a complaint online.
How can All Seasons help after reading this?
Call 865-263-1400 or visit asigtn.com/get-a-quote/ for a free personal policy review. This article is informational only.
