New Yorkers who were quietly hit with extra charges when buying out their Nissan leases are now in line for refunds, Attorney General Letitia James announced Wednesday. Under a new agreement with Nissan Motor Acceptance Company (NMAC), the carmaker’s finance arm must pay back customers across the state and overhaul how it does business. Consumers will not need to file claims to get their money back, according to the state.
In a press release from the Office of the New York State Attorney General, officials said NMAC will issue refunds to anyone overcharged at 45 New York Nissan dealerships that were not covered by earlier settlements. The investigation found that 15 of those dealerships tacked on junk fees or inflated buyout prices, leading to $1 million in penalties and more than $4.5 million in refunds to over 3,100 consumers. “New Yorkers should not have to worry about dealers using illegal junk fees to drive up the price,” Attorney General James said.
How refunds will be delivered
Drivers who were overcharged do not have to jump through hoops to get paid. The state says NMAC will send checks by mail on a rolling basis throughout 2026, as it audits Nissan dealerships across New York. The settlement also forces NMAC to return any extra interest it collected from customers who financed those inflated buyout prices through NMAC loans. As reported by the Brooklyn Eagle, the mailings will go out as each audit is completed.
What to do if you think you were overcharged
If you are convinced your lease buyout cost more than the written price on your contract and you do not see a check, the Attorney General wants to hear from you. The office is asking affected consumers to file a complaint with its consumer bureau so staff can investigate individual cases. The AG’s announcement directs New Yorkers to submit complaints through the office’s online portal and notes that, under the deal, NMAC must revise its lease terms and internal business processes to prevent similar overcharges in the future. More details and the complaint link are available from the Office of the New York State Attorney General.
Why this matters
This latest settlement is part of a broader crackdown by the Attorney General’s office on so called junk fees at auto dealerships. In 2024, the office recovered about $1.9 million from five Nissan dealers, and additional actions in 2025 brought in more than $3.2 million in settlements, according to Long Island Business News.
For anyone who bought out a Nissan lease in recent years, it may be worth dusting off old paperwork and bank statements to see if any surprise charges slipped through. NMAC and the Attorney General’s office say refunds will arrive as audits wrap up, so keep an eye on your mail and contact the Attorney General’s consumer bureau if you suspect you were overcharged.
