[From NADA] The House Appropriations Committee passed the FY25 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill, which included an NADA-backed provision (Sec. 530) that would stop the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from implementing or enforcing the Vehicle Shopping Rule (or “CARS” Rule) until Sept. 30, 2025. 

NADA also successfully advocated against a last-minute poison pill amendment offered by Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Penn.). Under this amendment, the FTC chair could waive cutting off funding for FTC policy riders by merely providing a justification to the Appropriations Committee. While the sponsor insisted the amendment was not intended to impact the Vehicle Shopping Rule, given the FTC’s lack of reasoned rulemaking and track record of evading requirements, NADA strongly opposed the amendment since it would effectively allow the FTC Chair to use nearly any pretext to render Sec. 530 meaningless. This amendment failed by a vote of 24-33.

The Vehicle Shopping Rule is simply terrible for consumers. It will add massive amounts of time, complexity, paperwork and cost to car buying and shopping for tens of millions of Americans every year.

A recently updated Center for Automotive Research (CAR) study, based on the final rule, found that the Vehicle Shopping Rule will increase costs by $24.1 billion over 10 years, which consumers and small business dealers will have to absorb. Overall, the mandates of the rule would add 60-80 minutes to the car buying process and cost consumers $1.3 billion per year in lost time.

The FY25 House FSGG bill is expected to be considered on the House floor late next month.