FTC Keeps Car-Dispute Paperwork Rules Alive Another Term
Published Date: 7/13/2026
Notice
Summary
The Federal Trade Commission wants to keep its Informal Dispute Settlement Rules going for three more years and is asking the public to share their thoughts by August 12, 2026. This affects car makers and others who use these dispute rules, with an estimated yearly cost of about $340,000 and nearly 12,000 hours spent on paperwork. No big changes, just a smooth extension to keep things running.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Three‑Year Extension Keeps Compliance Costs
If you run or operate an informal dispute settlement mechanism or are a warrantor (including automobile manufacturers) that uses an IDSM, the FTC proposes to extend the information‑collection clearance for three more years. The FTC estimates annual burden of 11,738 hours, annual labor costs of $339,836, and annual capital or other non‑labor costs of $425,987; the current clearance expires July 31, 2026 and comments are due by August 12, 2026.
Minimum Standards for Warranty IDSMs
The Rule requires any informal dispute settlement mechanism (IDSM) that is incorporated into a written consumer product warranty with a prior‑resort requirement to meet minimum standards for structure (funding, staffing, neutrality), staff or decision‑maker qualifications, procedures for resolving disputes (notification, investigation, time limits for decisions, follow‑up), recordkeeping, and annual audits. IDSMs must establish written operating procedures and provide copies of those procedures upon request.
Rule Applies Only If Warranty Requires IDSM
The Dispute Settlement Rule applies only to firms that choose to require consumers to use an IDSM as a prior condition before pursuing court remedies; a warrantor may avoid the Rule's obligations by not including a prior‑resort requirement in its warranty. The FTC reiterates that neither the Rule nor the Magnuson‑Moss Warranty Act requires warrantors to set up an IDSM.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-17428, Telemarketing Sales Rule Fees
The Federal Trade Commission ("Commission") is amending its Telemarketing Sales Rule ("TSR") by updating the fees charged to entities accessing the National Do Not Call Registry ("Registry") as required by the Do-Not-Call Registry Fee Extension Act of 2007.
2026-17331, Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) is seeking public comment on its proposal to extend for an additional three years the information collection requirements contained in the agency's rule governing Standards for Safeguarding Customer Information (the Safeguards Rule). The current clearance expires on December 31, 2026.
2026-16827, Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension
The Federal Trade Commission wants to keep its Franchise Rule paperwork rules for three more years, helping people get clear info before buying a franchise. This affects franchisors who must keep detailed records and share important facts with potential buyers. Comments on this plan are open until September 17, 2026, with no new costs expected.
2026-16617, Regulatory Agenda
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) is publishing its regulatory agenda in accordance with section 22(d)(1) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. 57b-3(d)(1) and the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 to 612, as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. The Commission's agenda follows guidelines and procedures issued September 15, 2025, by the Office of Management and Budget in accordance with the provisions of Executive Order 12866, "Regulatory Planning and Review," 58 FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993) and Executive Order 14192, "Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation," 90 FR 9065 (Feb. 6, 2025). The Government-wide Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions includes a list of all regulatory actions under development or review and is scheduled for publication in its entirety on www.reginfo.gov and www.regulations.gov in a format that offers users a greatly enhanced ability to obtain information from the agenda database. The RFA requires publication in the Federal Register of agenda entries for rules that are likely to have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities (5 U.S.C. 602) and any such rules that the agency has identified for periodic review under section 610 of the RFA. For the 2026 agenda, the Commission has no rule that meets the RFA's publication requirements. The Commission has identified rulemakings that are likely to have some impact on small entities, but do not meet the RFA's publication requirements. The current rulemakings that are likely to have some impact on small entities are: (1) the Energy Labeling Rule, 16 CFR 305; (2) the Alternative Fuel Rule, 16 CFR 309; (3) the removal of the vacated 2024 amendments to the Negative Option Rule, 16 CFR 425; (4) the Cooling-Off Rule, 16 CFR 429; (5) the Amplifier Rule, 16 CFR 432; (6) the Business Opportunity Rule, 16 CFR 437; (7) the Impersonation Rule, 16 CFR 461; (8) the withdrawal of the final rule for the vacated Combating Auto Retail Scams Rule (16 CFR 463); (9) the proposed Earnings Claims Trade Regulation Rule, to be codified at 16 CFR 462; (10) Unfair or Deceptive Fees Trade Regulation Rule, 16 CFR 464; and (11) the removal of the vacated Non-Compete Clause Rule from 16 CFR 910. The Commission's rulemaking review process carefully considers regulatory burdens and streamlines rules when feasible and appropriate. The majority of the rulemakings listed in the agenda are being conducted as part of the Commission's systematic review of all of its regulations and guides on a rotating basis. Under the Commission's program, rules are reviewed on a 10-year schedule. In each rule review, the Commission requests public comments on, among other things, the economic impact and benefits of the rule; possible conflict between the rule and state, local, or other federal laws or regulations; and the effect on the rule of any technological, economic, or other industry changes. These reviews incorporate and expand upon the review required by the RFA and regulatory reform initiatives directing agencies to conduct a review of all regulations and eliminate or revise those that are outdated or otherwise in need of reform. Except for notice of completed actions, the information in this agenda represents the judgment of Commission staff, based upon information now available. Each projected date of action reflects FTC staff's assessment that the specified event will occur this year. No final determination by the staff or the Commission respecting the need for or the substance of a rule should be inferred from the notation of projected events in this agenda. In most instances, the dates of future events are listed by month, not by a specific day. The information in this agenda may change as new information, changes of circumstances, or changes in the law occur.
2026-15955, Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
The FTC proposes to modify its Privacy Act system of records notices (SORNs) by adding a routine use to four specific SORNs to comply with Executive Order 14249, Protecting America's Bank Account Against Fraud, Waste, and Abuse, and OMB Memorandum M-25-32, Preventing Improper Payments and Protecting Privacy Through Do Not Pay. The FTC is also separately making technical changes to three of these SORNs.
2026-15913, Caremark and Zinc Health Services; Analysis of Proposed Agreement Containing Consent Order To Aid Public Comment
The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of Federal law prohibiting unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis of Proposed Agreement Containing Consent Orders to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the complaint and the terms of the consent order--embodied in the consent agreement-- that would settle these allegations.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-14037, Questions and Answers Regarding the Affordable Housing Program and Questions and Answers Regarding the Affordable Housing Program-Part 2
Starting July 13, 2026, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is officially retiring its old Q&A guides from 1997 and 1999 about the Affordable Housing Program. This change affects banks and housing groups that use the program to help people get affordable homes. It signals a fresh start with updated guidance, aiming to keep things clear and current for everyone involved.
Next: 2026-14039, Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension
The Federal Trade Commission wants to keep its rules about how lenders must tell you if your credit terms are less favorable because of your credit report. This extension keeps the current paperwork rules in place for three more years, affecting businesses that lend money. If you have thoughts, you’ve got until August 12, 2026, to share them—no extra costs or big changes, just a smooth continuation!