FTC Greenway Settlement: What Texas Car Buyers Should Check

The short answer

On October 8, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission announced a proposed settlement with Greenway Auto Group, a dealership group sued in federal court in Florida, over claims that it advertised car prices thousands of dollars below what it actually charged and mailed fake "you've won cash" prize notices. Under the proposed order, Greenway's price ads would have to prominently show the actual price a customer must pay, excluding only charges the government requires, and it couldn't misrepresent whether fees or financing are optional or required. The case is in Florida, and Greenway neither admits nor denies the allegations, so it isn't a ruling about Texas dealers. But it's a clear reminder of what to check before you drive to any lot: what price is on the ad, what's added to it, and whether the "prize" is real.

This post is based on the FTC's October 8 press release and the proposed stipulated order, both of which I read for this article.

What the FTC alleges

According to the FTC's announcement, the complaint alleges that Greenway:

• Advertised prices thousands below its real prices. The FTC says Greenway charged consumers more than $3,350 on average over the advertised price in over 92% of transactions.
• Added fees on top of the advertised price. The FTC lists "administrative fees, dealer fees, delivery fees and processing fees," plus mandatory packages and penalties.
• Advertised discounts not everyone could get. The FTC says the prices at times reflected conditional rebates and discounts available only to a subset of consumers.
• Sent prize mailers that weren't real. The FTC says mailers told recipients they'd won thousands of dollars in cash prizes collectable at a Greenway dealership, but the prizes were not real.
• Kept advertising this way after a warning. The FTC says it sent a March 2026 letter advising Greenway that the "price consumers see in advertising is the actual price they will pay," and that Greenway instead added false assurances of price transparency to its websites while continuing to advertise prices thousands below the actual ones.

These are allegations. The order says Greenway neither admits nor denies them.

What the proposed order would require

From the stipulated order:

• Total Price must be the most prominent number. If an ad states any amount a consumer may pay to buy, finance, or lease a vehicle, it must disclose the "Total Price" clearly and conspicuously as the most prominently displayed item in any visual disclosure.
• "Total Price" has a definition. It's the maximum total price including all mandatory fees or charges a consumer must pay, with the exception that charges a federal, state, or local government requires the consumer to pay may be left out.
• No misrepresenting what's optional. The order bars misrepresenting whether charges, fees, taxes, products, or services are optional or required, and whether any type or source of financing is required to buy the car or get a given price.
• Prize claims must be truthful. It bars misrepresenting the material terms of any prize, sweepstakes, or giveaway, including whether a consumer has won one.
• Disclosures must be easy to notice. The order defines "clear and conspicuous" to include size, contrast, location, and how long a visual disclosure appears, and says it can't be contradicted by something else in the ad.

The press release says stipulated orders have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court judge. The copy of the order we read was filed October 8 and is not yet signed by a judge, so the final terms aren't official until then.

What this means if you're shopping in Texas

The case doesn't change Texas law, and it isn't aimed at any Texas dealer. But the issues it raises are things any buyer can check. This is consistent with the FTC's September FAQ guidance, which I covered in FTC all-in advertised prices.

1. Screenshot the ad. Save the price, the date, and the listing before you go.

2. Ask what's added. Ask for the full out-the-door price in writing, and ask which fees are required and which are optional. Our post on the five numbers to check before signing covers the loan side.

3. Check who qualifies for a discount. If a price depends on a rebate, a trade-in, or financing with a particular lender, ask whether you'd actually get it before you drive over.

4. Treat a "you've won" mailer with caution. The FTC's press release says the FTC will never promise you a prize. Don't pay anything to claim a prize. If a mailer looks fake, ReportFraud.ftc.gov is where the FTC asks people to report it.

5. Keep financing separate. Whether financing is required to get a price is something to ask directly. Compare your own options, as in what you can negotiate on a Texas car loan.

6. Slow down. A price that's unclear in the ad rarely gets clearer in the finance office.

What this post is not saying

• It isn't saying any particular Texas dealer does any of these things.
• It isn't legal advice, and the allegations against Greenway haven't been proven in court.
• The proposed order applies to the defendants named in it. The FTC's wider guidance is separate.

Bottom line

The FTC's message in the Greenway case is simple: the price you see should be the price you pay, apart from government charges, and a prize should be real. Before you visit any dealership, get the total in writing and ask what's optional.

Want a clearer picture of financing before you shop? Start your pre-approval at Steven Sells Cars. It takes about 20 seconds to start, and there's no credit check at that step. Same-day answers are typical, not guaranteed.