Quick Facts About Dealer Accessories
- Factory-installed options are added during assembly and are covered by warranty.
- Port-installed options are installed before the vehicle arrives at the dealership and may or may not be covered.
- The manufacturer’s warranty does not always cover dealer-installed accessories.
- During negotiations, request the removal of certain features to lower the final price.
When purchasing a new car that strains their budget, buyers naturally wonder whether the dealer can remove specific add-ons to lower the price. Removing add-ons is possible, but only under particular circumstances.
If you’ve already started the negotiation process and the vehicle still seems too expensive, you can often remove dealer-installed or port-installed accessories. Factory-installed items are usually not physically removable. Understanding the difference can help find savings without changing the vehicle of interest.
Factory-Installed Options vs. Dealer-Installed Options
Understanding the difference between factory-installed and dealer-installed add-ons and features is key to knowing what can actually be adjusted in your deal.
Factory vs. Dealer Installed: Spot the Difference
Factory-installed options
-
Window-sticker equipment Typically listed on the Monroney (window) label.
-
Core build choices Engine options, hybrid system, AWD/4WD.
-
Factory tech and safety packages Adaptive cruise, driver assists, integrated infotainment.
Dealer-installed options
-
Accessories and add-ons Mats, cargo trays, wheel locks, roof racks.
-
Appearance upgrades Window tint, pinstripes, door edge guards.
-
Dealer packages “Protection packages,” coatings, etchings, nitrogen in tires, etc.
Quick test: Ask “Is it on the window sticker?” If yes, it’s usually factory-installed. If it shows up on a separate dealer addendum/buyer’s order, it’s typically dealer-installed.
You Ought To Know: Important Facts To Remember
Factory options are built into the vehicle and can’t be changed. Dealer-installed accessories are often handled and treated differently during the purchase process.
Here are a few essential facts shoppers should keep in mind before asking to remove or adjust any add-ons.
Removing Accessories: What Shoppers Should Know
These are the key facts behind what can actually be removed from a deal — and what can’t.
Quick takeaway: Ask to see what’s on the window sticker versus what was added later. That tells you what’s tied to the car vs what’s tied to the deal.
At the end of the day, every vehicle and dealership operates slightly differently, and this is why it’s essential to understand what you’re looking for before starting the conversation.
Clarity helps you move through the process confidently and with fewer surprises.
Editor’s Note: We have updated this article since its initial publication.
CLEAR SHIELD: HONDA DEALER DEMANDS THAT CLEAR SHIELD BE PAID BY ME ON USED CAR!
We were on a Honda lot today and were very surprised to find “dealer add-ons” as a separate sticker on each vehicle jacking the original cost of the vehicle up as much as $5,000! all with options that should be up to the buyer as to whether they want them or not! Not forced to pay all that extra for stuff they do to the cars as soon as they come onto their lot and then force buyers to over pay for these things, like floor mats, wheel locks, extra coatings, cargo liners, pin stripes, etc. ridiculous! We walked off the lot and will continue to shop around and only buy from a dealer we find that does not do this! OR we will simply buy a used car!
The cost of repairs that the used car will definitely need doesn’t make sense to walk too far from the dealer.
Lol, @Andy what are you are dealer himself? A good used car can be a wise purchase, you just need to check it out and as long as it is decent it definitely won’t need 5K worth of repairs. It will only need basic maintenance, which a new car needs just as well.
The dealer is insisting we buy the Lo Jack accessory that they installed. Is this legal and how can we get them to remove this unwanted $700 item?
Pay the labor ($200?) to remove it.
Lojack doesnt cost 200 to remove. its two wires and a few screws.
Get real @Andy, if they forced it on a customer then the customer should not pay to have it removed. Imagine a Mechanic adding extras to your oil change by also changing the struts, shocks and brakes, and then billing you for it when you did not ask for it and it was NOT required.