The Dutch competition authority has criticised the way car salesrooms add on extra fees for preparing new cars for the road and warned them to stop the practice.

The ACM says it should be clear to consumers how much they have to pay and that this should be clearly communicated in adverts. Some consumers are faced with extra bills of up to €1,500 on top of the cost of their car.

Dealers who don’t comply with the ACM’s directive from November will face a fine.

By law, the price of a car should include the number plate, the transport from the factory and final cleaning but many dealers add this on as extras after the sale.

‘You can compare it with buying a plane ticket without airport tax,’ said a spokesman. ‘That too is a thing of the past.’