If your dealership is adding a surcharge to credit card transactions, you’re not alone. With rising processing fees, surcharging has become an increasingly popular way for businesses to offset costs. But here’s the catch: if your surcharging setup isn’t compliant, it could cost your dealership far more than you’re saving.
Get your free surcharging compliance review.
The Risks of Getting It Wrong
Many dealerships don’t realize how strict the credit card industry is when it comes to surcharging. Whether you’re selling cars, RVs, motorcycles, boats, or equipment—if you’re adding a fee to credit card transactions without following the rules to the letter, you could face:
- Hefty fines from card brands like Visa and Mastercard
- Increased chargebacks due to incorrect signage or improper fee disclosures
- The potential loss of your ability to accept credit cards altogether
That’s a serious risk for any dealership that depends on high-ticket sales and the convenience of card payments.
What Compliance Really Means
To stay compliant, dealerships must meet very specific requirements, including:
- Registering with the credit card brands before implementing surcharging
- Displaying clear signage at the point of sale
- Ensuring the surcharge is not applied to debit or prepaid card transactions
- Keeping surcharge rates within the allowed percentage limits
- Using technology that supports compliant surcharging rules
Even well-meaning businesses can fall out of compliance without realizing it—especially if they’re relying on outdated software or third-party processors that don’t prioritize regulatory updates.
How Gravity Payments Helps
At Gravity Payments, we specialize in helping dealerships of all types implement surcharging the right way. From day one, we take care of:
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Proper registration with credit card brands
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Ensuring your terminal or point-of-sale system supports compliant surcharging
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Training for your team
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Ongoing compliance support as rules and requirements evolve
We even offer a free review of your current surcharging setup to make sure you’re protected from potential risks.
Gravity Payments: Your Partner in Surcharging
At Gravity Payments, we help dealerships implement surcharging correctly and compliantly. Our team ensures that your business meets all regulatory requirements while handling the registration process with credit card brands. With our solutions, dealerships can reduce costs, maintain compliance, and keep operations running smoothly.
Ready for a Compliance Check?
If you’re already surcharging or considering it, let’s make sure your dealership is fully protected. One quick review could save you thousands in fines or disputes.
Contact us today!
