5 car dealership upsells that you should avoid, according to Consumer Reports

Car dealerships have a well-earned reputation for being pushy. Once you agree on the price, the upsells aren’t over. While you discuss payment terms with the dealership's finance and insurance (F&I) office, the salespeople might try to offer a bevy of services that you simply don’t need and could add thousands to your all-in price, according to Consumer Reports.

The publication's experts outlined five upsells they might offer you and explained why you should probably avoid them. Here they are.

Barrett-Jackson / Contributor / Getty Images

A vehicle identification number, or VIN, will help you recover your car if it’s stolen. Dealerships will often offer to etch it onto your window, sometimes for the price of $200 or more, saying it will help in the event of theft. But CR says you don’t need it. “All new cars have VINs stamped in multiple places, including under the hood and inside the doorjambs,” it explained. “It’s unnecessary.”

Witthaya Prasongsin / Getty Images

Rustproofing and protective coating services — which are meant to help ensure your car’s paint stays in good condition — might seem like a smart upfront investment, but Consumer Reports says it’s yet again another needless expense. Paint protection might cost $600 and rustproofing another $800. Yet “the frame, exterior paint, and interior fabrics in today’s new cars are designed to last a decade or longer,” CR said. All you have to do is go to the car wash when your car needs it.

SimpleImages / Getty Images

Extended warranty coverage is meant to protect your car after the factory warranty expires. It can run at least $2,000, and if you add it onto a loan, it will cost you even more in the long run. But CR said factory warranties are usually enough for new cars, and the price for extended coverage often isn’t worth it.

Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images

Unless you’re buying a sports car, you won’t need a wheel and tire warranty, CR said. “Most cars don’t have the expensive, low-profile tires that are more damage-prone,” it explained. It’s not worth the extra hundreds of dollars.

Stefania Pelfini la Waziya / Getty Images

Nitrogen-filled tires sound cool, especially when people say they’re less prone to changing pressure, but air is more than 75% nitrogen already. You don’t need to spend $400 getting tires filled with exclusively nitrogen.