On his podcast, Clark Howard answers real reader questions on money, credit, debt, retirement, travel, and more, along with co-host Christa DiBiase.

Clark's answer: You need to call the folks at the Costco Auto Program and let them know. Costco relies on their members to police these dealers, and a lot of times, hearing from members like you is how they catch violations. Advocating for themselves is just what Costco members do!

I would call and report this immediately, because if mandatory add-ons aren't a direct violation of their program rules, I would be absolutely stunned. A dealer is completely foolish to risk losing their placement with Costco. That member base is one of the most affluent in the country, and they are the exact consumers who are actively buying new vehicles right now. You simply do not want to alienate or lose access to those customers.