Guides / Buying smart
Negotiate the out-the-door price
Taxes, title, registration, dealer fees and add-ons, all in one number.
Negotiating the monthly payment is how buyers end up paying more. Ask for one number in writing: the out-the-door price, including everything.
What's in it
- Vehicle price
- Sales tax
- Title and registration fees
- Dealer documentation ("doc") fee; some states cap it, many don't
- Any add-ons: extended warranties, paint protection, etching, nitrogen tires
How to negotiate
- Get written out-the-door quotes from more than one dealer.
- Treat price, trade-in and financing as separate deals.
- Decline add-ons you didn't ask for; you can buy many later or not at all.
- Read the buyer's order line by line before signing.
General information for car buyers, not financial advice. Costs vary by location, driving and market. Easy Auto Compare isn't a dealer, lender or insurer and takes no referral fees.