A Florida Volkswagen dealership's humorous skit has gone viral by satirizing hard-selling tactics some car dealers use to pressure customers into buying. The 11-second TikTok from melbournevw (@melbournevw), which represents Prestige Volkswagen in Melbourne, Florida, acts out what happens when a customer returns from a test drive only to be told their trade-in has already been sold. The video, which has garnered over 129,000 views since being published on Oct. 21, depicts a scenario that would be every car buyer's nightmare. With the superimposed text "POV: Dealership sold your trade while on test drive," the skit shows the customer's perspective as they return from testing a vehicle. "How was the test drive?" the salesman asks cheerfully in the video. When the customer responds positively, saying, "Aw man, it was great," the salesman delivers the bombshell: "I have some great news for you. We just sold the trade." The customer's dismay is evident as they respond, "Wait, really? I didn't even know if I was going to buy today." That's when the salesman delivers the pressure tactic: "Looks like you have to now." The Reality Behind the Skit While the Volkswagen dealership created this as a humorous skit to highlight questionable dealership practices, the scenario touches on real concerns many car buyers face. The dealership clarified in response to comments that they "do not condone this type of activity" and are "hoping shedding some light using a skit will show people what to look out for." OWNERSHIP STORIES Viral stories from across the web Our team of experts tracks what owners are saying about car-shopping, repairs, the daily driving experience and more on social media. Legally speaking, a dealership cannot actually sell your trade-in vehicle without your explicit permission and signed paperwork. You still own your vehicle until the final title transfer is complete, and when you bring your car for a trade-in appraisal, you're not obligated to complete the transaction until you sign the final purchase agreement for both the new vehicle and the trade-in terms. Pressure tactics like the one depicted in the video rely on creating artificial urgency and making customers feel trapped into completing a purchase they weren't ready to make. In reality, if a dealership actually sold your trade-in without permission, they would be guilty of selling property they don't legally own and face serious legal consequences. Maryland, for example, specifically prohibits dealers from selling trade-in vehicles until the sale is final, ensuring buyers can get their trade-ins back if financing falls through. Gallery: 2026 Volkswagen Touareg Final Edition How Trade-Ins Actually Work The legitimate trade-in process involves several steps that protect both the dealer and customer. First, the dealer appraises your vehicle and provides an offer that's typically valid for seven days, though this timeframe can vary by dealership. This offer is usually contingent on completing the purchase of a new vehicle from their lot. Dealerships may ask to hold your keys during the appraisal and test drive process, but they cannot legally transfer ownership of your vehicle without proper title documentation. The trade-in value is applied as a credit toward your new car purchase only after you've signed all the necessary paperwork. Some dealers may use high-pressure tactics to push customers toward immediate decisions, but actually selling someone's trade-in without permission would constitute theft and fraud. The Federal Trade Commission receives more than 100,000 complaints about car dealers annually, many related to deceptive practices and pressure tactics during the sales process. Viewers Share Outrage and Personal Experiences The video struck a nerve with viewers, many of whom expressed outrage at the hypothetical scenario and shared their own dealership horror stories. The top comment, with over 1,900 likes, came from user ericouellette719: "I be like you just sold my car without my approval so I either get the money you got for my car or I call the cops and a lawyer." User Trldv echoed the sentiment with over 1,400 likes, writing, "If this somehow happens, I'm walking out with a free car or a lawsuit." Several commenters said they’d had similar experiences with dealership shenanigans. User Paul recounted, "I purchased a vehicle and the next day I went back to turn it back in as I didn't like it after all and they said they already shipped my trade off to auction. I said, ‘Well, better get it back; I'm within my 3 days period.’" Another user, Baylee Hicks, said she’d been on the opposite side of this experience. "My first car I bought I got called the next day saying I had to bring it back because the people who traded it in wanted it back,” Hicks wrote. When asked if the dealership compensated her, she replied, "Nope, ended up leaving without a car and had to start over." Protecting Yourself from Dealership Pressure Tactics Several commenters offered practical advice for avoiding similar situations. User TimNope suggested a "key for key" policy: "This is why I've told my sales guy 'key for key' if they keep my key(s) I keep theirs." Another user, WOLF on Discord, recommended, "That's the reason the 2nd key is with me at all times." The dealership account actually endorsed this advice, responding "Smart" with an approval emoji. Purported experts in the comments confirmed that such practices are illegal. User Shelly pointed out: "Then you call the police for selling stolen property they did not own and sue them for the cost of the new car." Red Flags to Watch For While the melbournevw skit exaggerates for comedic effect, it highlights legitimate red flags car buyers should watch for. Be wary of dealers who: Pressure you to make immediate decisions without time to consider, Refuse to return your keys or create artificial urgency around your trade-in, Change terms significantly from initial discussions, or Use high-pressure tactics that make you feel trapped. Remember that you're under no legal obligation to complete a purchase until you've signed final paperwork, regardless of any verbal agreements or appraisals. Some unscrupulous dealers engage in "yo-yo" sales tactics, calling customers back days later to renegotiate terms—though most states have consumer protections against such practices. Motor1 reached out to melbournevw via email. We'll be sure to update this if they respond. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team