Some dealers reportedly have taken in their advertising to displaying a copy of a used vehicle’s original Monroney label as a way to identify the vehicle’s available equipment. But that practice is drawing the attention of the Better Business Bureau and the Illinois attorney general’s office.

 

According to Section 475.360 of the state’s motor vehicle advertising regulations, which addresses the disclosure of basis for price comparison, "Under no circumstances may the Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) be used as a basis for price comparisons for used vehicles."

 

The Monroney sticker is a label required in the United States to be displayed in all new automobiles and includes the listing of certain official information about the car. 

 

"We recommend that dealers delete the MSRP if they post the Monroney sticker," said Patricia Kelly, senior counsel of the BBB of Chicago and northern Illinois.

 

She said her office has not cited any new-car dealers on this issue "because we have not been aware that it is a problem."

 

The BBB notifies dealerships about infractions to the advertising regulations that they see. If ads are not corrected, the matters are forwarded to the attorney general’s office  for pursual.