Car buying in California to see major changes in 2026 | California Politics 360
New protections for car buyers. The changes taking effect in late 2026 to make the process of buying *** car more transparent. California is adding new protections for car buyers. Starting October 1st, people can return *** used car for *** refund within 3 days of buying it. The new law also improves transparency on pricing. I spoke with Brian Moss, the president and CEO of the California New Car Dealers Association. Here’s our conversation. Brian, thank you so much for being with us. Thanks for having me here. So let’s start with the first in the nation law that will allow buyers to essentially return *** used car within 3 days of purchase. How are car dealers preparing for that? For about 20 years now, car dealers have offered *** 2 day option that consumers could purchase to return *** car, so this is *** modification of that. Instead, *** consumer gets 3 days to return *** vehicle so long as they don’t drive too many miles and they can return *** used car within that. 3 day period they may have to pay *** restocking fee, but it’s *** first in the nation right. No other state offers this. Will that one extra day really make *** lot of difference in your eyes? No, probably not, but people are used to *** 3 day return right for products sold in the home, so I think there was some symmetry to that. And when we negotiated with The legislature felt that that was an appropriate amount of time. Sure, car buyers, when they’re purchasing *** car, whether that’s new or used, sometimes they don’t know the price of the vehicle until they really start negotiating at the dealership. Some of the laws that are set to take effect in 2026 would require more transparency when it comes to that pricing. I mean, do car dealers, do you all have any stance or response to that now that that could be in effect? Yes, we helped negotiate the language in the bill and wanted to make it clear that when *** dealer advertises *** vehicle, they’re advertising the total price as defined in the law. There’s not going to be any gimmicks. People will know that the advertised price is the price they’re going to pay for the vehicle when they come on the lot, and that was important. It’s good to have consistency amongst all dealers, new car dealers that we represent, and used car dealers, so customers have an understanding if they see an ad. And *** price is advertised, that’s what they’re going to pay. The bill offer and lawmakers who supported these measures that will take effect, they wanted to essentially improve the experience at dealerships across the state, noting some of the challenges that buyers can face when they’re trying to purchase *** vehicle. Is that, do you agree with that? Did that experience need to improve here in California, even though we do have *** lot of buyers’ protections already in place? We’re always interested in working with the legislature to make the car buying process more transparent, and we were willing to roll up our sleeves and negotiate the language in this bill. To be honest, our new car dealer members do *** pretty good job of being transparent about pricing and what have you. This affects all dealers from new car dealers to used car dealers, so we felt an obligation to try and get this thing right. And make sure it’s something our dealers could comply with and the consumers would benefit from. All right, Ryan Moss, we really appreciate your time. Thank you. Thanks for having me.
Car buying in California to see major changes in 2026 | California Politics 360
Updated: 8:27 AM PST Dec 28, 2025
The new year will bring major changes to car buying in California.Among the changes is a first in the nation rule that will allow used car buyers to return the vehicle for a refund if the vehicle costs no more than $50,000 and the return happens within three days. “They may have to pay a restocking fee, it’s a first in the nation right” said Brian Maas, the president of the New Car Dealers Association, in an interview on California Politics 360.Another change will require car dealers to tell potential buyers the price of the vehicle up front, instead of waiting until negotiations to do so. The changes will take effect in October. “It’s good to have consistency,” Maas said. State lawmakers who wrote and voted for the new laws said they wanted to improve the car buying experience in the state and bolster consumer protections in what can sometimes be an opaque process. “We’re always interested in working with the legislature to make the car buying process more transparent,” Maas said. “We were willing to roll up our sleeves and negotiate the language in this bill. To be honest, our new car dealers do a pretty good job of being transparent about pricing.” Watch the full interview with Brian Maas in the video player above. This story was produced for California Politics 360, which reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
The new year will bring major changes to car buying in California.
Among the changes is a first in the nation rule that will allow used car buyers to return the vehicle for a refund if the vehicle costs no more than $50,000 and the return happens within three days.
“They may have to pay a restocking fee, it’s a first in the nation right” said Brian Maas, the president of the New Car Dealers Association, in an interview on California Politics 360.
Another change will require car dealers to tell potential buyers the price of the vehicle up front, instead of waiting until negotiations to do so.
The changes will take effect in October.
“It’s good to have consistency,” Maas said.
State lawmakers who wrote and voted for the new laws said they wanted to improve the car buying experience in the state and bolster consumer protections in what can sometimes be an opaque process.
“We’re always interested in working with the legislature to make the car buying process more transparent,” Maas said. “We were willing to roll up our sleeves and negotiate the language in this bill. To be honest, our new car dealers do a pretty good job of being transparent about pricing.”
Watch the full interview with Brian Maas in the video player above.
This story was produced for California Politics 360, which reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel