'I Think We May Be Out a Couple Dollars:' Mercedes Salesman Sells $120,000 Car at Dealership. Then He Forgets to Add Taxes
"I wish the dealer who sold me my car was this bad at his job."
A Mercedes salesman went viral after admitting he made a major mistake before handing over the keys to a six-figure car.
Charlie Isard (@charlie.sells.carz), a 20-year-old salesman who calls himself a maker of “comedy car content,” said he recently sold someone a $112,000 Mercedes. There was just one problem: He forgot to include taxes in the deal.
“They are now gone in the car and not answering [their phone],” Isard wrote in the on-screen caption.
It’s not clear whether this really happened or if this was one of the prank-style videos Isard is known for, but that didn’t stop viewers from weighing in.
“I think we may be out a couple dollars now,” Isard joked in the caption, adding a laughing emoji. As of this writing, the clip has racked up 1.9 million views.
Could This Really Happen—and Who Is at Fault?
If a dealership forgets to add taxes when you buy a car, that’s on them—and it’s not as rare as you might think. But even so, you’re still responsible for paying the sales tax. How it plays out depends on what your signed contract says and the rules in your state.
Start by looking over your paperwork. If the contract shows the total price including tax, you still owe that amount, even if the dealership messed up on their end. If tax isn’t listed or the contract shows a lower number, things get a little more complicated. You can try asking the dealer to honor the price you agreed to, but don’t count on them covering the tax for you.
It never hurts to reach out to the finance manager. Some dealerships will work with you to fix the mistake or even cover part of it to keep a customer happy. Back in 2014, someone bought a car from Marietta Luxury Motors and said the dealership forgot to include the vehicle motor tax—$1,700 on top of the $4,000 they had already paid. ABC News reported that the dealership offered to handle the taxes and even promised not to report the customer to any taxing authority.
That said, it’s not always that simple. According to the Sales Tax Institute, if you buy a taxable item and the seller doesn’t charge sales tax, you’re still on the hook for use tax to the state. Usually, the easiest way to handle it is when you register the car at the DMV. The state won’t issue your title or registration until the tax is paid, so even if the dealership messed up, it’s ultimately your responsibility to make sure the car is legal to drive.
This kind of mix-up happens more often than you’d think. A quick review of your contract and a calm conversation with the dealer can save a lot of stress and ensure you know exactly what you owe.
Viewers Think Dealership Should Shoulder Blame
Commenters who watched Isard’s video agreed the sales tax would eventually have to be paid, but many argued the cost should fall on the dealership if it was the party that messed up the paperwork.
“I had a dealer mess up like this,” one man shared. “They forgot to add some cost, it was like $750. Wanted me to come back in and sign a new contract/pay more. I told them to kick rocks.”
“Oof, once had a salesman try and collect another $3,500 from me due to his math error lolol sir, no,” another wrote.
“Those are your taxes now,” added a third.
Some commenters said if the dealership won’t fix the mistake, a tax authority will step in—and the customer will end up footing the bill.
“Sounds like the IRS will take it from here,” one person commented.
“[The DMV] will collect the sales tax when they attempt to register the vehicle,” another added.
Others joked they wished they had a car salesman like Isard—someone willing to make a multi-thousand-dollar mistake on a brand new car. Several said they wouldn’t have paid a cent back and would’ve let the dealer deal with their state’s tax agency.
“I’ll buy from you anytime!!!!” one person wrote.
“I wish the dealer who sold me my car were this bad at his job,” another quipped.
“There goes your commission,” a third person added.
Motor1 has reached out to Isard via a TikTok direct message.
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