Consumers
Access information and resources designed to assist consumers with vehicle purchases, dealer interactions, complaint procedures, and understanding your rights under regulations administered by the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board.
01
Consumer Complaints
If you are a consumer and have a complaint concerning a Virginia Motor Vehicle Dealer, we may be able to help you resolve the issue.
- Learn what types of complaints we can help with… Read More…
- How to File a Complaint against a Virginia Motor Vehicle Dealer
- File online with our Consumer Assistance Form
- Contact Us by Phone: 804-367-1100 Option #2
- Contact Us by Email: dboardcomplaints@mvdb.virginia.gov
Does your vehicle have an Open Recall?
Did you know that there are over 57 million vehicles on the road have open recalls on them? You read that right: millions, with an M. Click below for a resource to find out if your vehicle has an open recall. Its free to search and free to repair.
02
What is the Motor Vehicle Transaction Recovery Fund?
The Motor Vehicle Dealer Board is responsible for administering the Motor Vehicle Transaction Recovery Fund (MVTRF). The MVTRF reimburses individuals who have suffered loss or damage in connection with the purchase or lease of a motor vehicle due to illegal actions of licensed or registered motor vehicle dealers or salespersons.
If you would like to find out more about Transaction Recovery and who is eligible to file a claim, visit our Transaction Recovery Page.
What are Processing Fees?
03
A processing fee is a lawful elective charge by the dealership to compensate for unreimbursed dealership costs and various additional consumer services.
** Virginia law currently has no restrictions on the amount a dealership can legally charge for a processing fee. **
Charged by the dealer to process the transaction, to include obtaining title and license plates for the purchase, but does not include any “purchaser’s” online systems filing fees.
04
Detecting Vehicle Water Damage
While there is no sure method to test for vehicle flood damage, experts offer several inspection tips that may help detect significant water damage.
To find out more on these tips and what to do if you suspect the vehicle you purchased has suffered from water damage, check out our “Detecting Vehicle Water Damage” section.
05
Detecting Collision Repair
It used to be fairly easy to spot the signs of a collision repair: over spray, bad color matching, and misaligned body panels. Now, with computers assisting with everything from frame straightening to color matching, it’s a lot harder to tell if a vehicle has been in a collision, especially if the repair was done well.
Read online or download the “Used Car Field Guide for Detecting Collision Repair“
06
FTC Consumer Alerts
Auto Warranties, Routine Maintenance, and Repairs: Is Using the Dealer a Must?
Check out this article from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)