Congress forces automakers to stop hiding safety feature costs
H.R. 7372 — Safety is Not For Sale Act · Filed by Frank Pallone (D-NJ) · Introduced Feb 4, 2026 · Markup held
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What it does
This bill prohibits automakers from bundling optional safety features (like collision-avoidance systems, lane-keeping alerts, or crash detection) with non-safety features or hiding their cost. Manufacturers must offer safety features separately, clearly disclose their price, and can only bundle them as standard equipment on a trim level. The FTC enforces it as consumer fraud, and states can sue on behalf of residents.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is to mandate transparent pricing and unbundling of automotive safety features. It is a consumer-protection measure that increases disclosure and choice, not a subsidy, deregulation, or commemorative act.
What the text implies
- Automakers may respond by raising base prices on safety features or making them standard on higher trims only, potentially shifting costs to lower-income buyers who cannot afford premium trims.
- The definition of 'optional safety feature' is broad and delegated to the FTC and NHTSA, creating regulatory uncertainty about which features qualify and may trigger future litigation.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
Consumer advocacy groups; State attorneys general (enforcement authority and fee recovery); Legal services / plaintiff bar (FTC and state enforcement actions)