W.Va. Dealer to Pay $80,000 Penalty to FTC
WASHINGTON, D.C. — West Virginia-based Ramey Motors Inc. has agreed to pay an $80,000 civil penalty to settle a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit filed last year. The FTC charged the dealership with violating the terms of a 2012 consent order that barred it from deceptively advertising the cost of buying or leasing cars.
The civil penalty settlement resolves charges that Ramey Motors’ ads violated the consent order by concealing important terms of sale and lease offers, such as a required down payment, and failing to make credit disclosures clearly and conspicuously, as required by federal law.
In 2012, Ramey Motors was among five dealerships required to stop running ads that promised to pay off a consumer trade-in no matter what the customer owed on the vehicle. Two years later, the FTC found that Ramey Motors and three of its affiliated dealerships located in Virginia and West Virginia were charged with failing to make credit disclosures clearly and conspicuously, among other violations.
The FTC determined at the time that Ramey Motors was subject to $16,000 in civil penalties for each alleged violation of the FTC administrative order.
More Industry

Ownership Priorities are Shifting
A new survey shows that in the U.S. vehicle quality for generation Z is largely defined by advanced safety features, intuitive technology and premium sound systems.
Read More →
Pump Price Jump Calculated
ISeeCars.com examined fuel costs for different power trains, finding which ones have experienced the biggest hits since the war in Iran commenced.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Wholesale values fell last week despite the spring season still being in the traditional full-gear mode, analysts said.
Read More →
Arkansas Auto Group Acquires First Indiana Rooftop
Performance Brokerage Services represented both the buyer and seller in the sale of Carver Toyota of Columbus by Carlock Automotive Group.
Read More →
Stellantis to Dive Into U.S. Lending
The multinational maker of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and multiple other brands received conditional approvals for a Utah-based industrial bank.
Read More →
New-Vehicle Prices Rise
With April sales down, higher prices on in-demand large vehicles helped inflate the overall ATP, though increases were under long-term averages, Cox Automotive reported.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Last week in the wholesale automotive market proved to be a mixed bag, analysts reported.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Conversion rates were flat last week at 63%, Black Book analysts calculated, as low-mileage and almost-near units outpaced the overall market.
Read More →
EU Auto Association Urges Action
Trade relations between the European Union and the U.S. are at risk, causing the European Automobile Manufacturers Association to push lawmakers to make a decision.
Read More →
Driving into the Super CFC Era
Understanding the risks and benefits of retail accounting and Super CFCs can help you better present options to your dealer partners.
Read More →