Test Drive Laws by State

Every US dealership operates under three overlapping compliance regimes: federal rules (FTC Red Flags, FTC CARS Rule, TCPA, Safeguards), state dealer-licensing law (administered by your state DMV or motor vehicles equivalent), and state attorney general advertising guidance. A test drive — and the documentation around it — sits at the intersection of all three. Below is a state-by-state index of how each state layers on top of the federal floor.

Each state page covers the same questions: which federal pillars apply, what the state dealer-licensing context adds, what dealers most commonly miss, and what a defensible deal jacket looks like in that jurisdiction. Use the federal pillar links at the bottom for the underlying rules that apply nationwide.

Federal pillars (apply to every state)

Before diving into your state-specific page, every dealership in every state has to meet these federal-level requirements. State rules layer on top — they do not replace these.

• FTC Red Flags Rule → — Identity Theft Prevention Program, red-flag detection, periodic updates.
• FTC CARS Rule status → — Offering price, express consent, add-on prohibitions (vacated 2025 — what still applies).
• Doc Fee Disclosure → — Express, informed consent playbook for documentation fees.
• Junk Fees Class Action Defense → — 2026 plaintiffs' playbook + a defense framework.
• Doc Fees By State (2026) → — Full 50-state cap table.