Guide
Out-the-door price: what it is and how to ask
The out-the-door price is the total you'll actually pay. It's the only fair way to compare two cars. Here's what's in it and the exact words to ask for it.
Updated November 1, 2026
$8,510 lessA car listed at $24,000 can cost $27,500 by the time you drive away. The out-the-door price (OTD) is that final number: the car plus every tax and fee. It's the only number worth comparing.
What's in the out-the-door price
- The car's price
- Sales tax (set by your state and county)
- Title and registration (set by your state)
- Dealer documentation fee ("doc fee"): varies a lot by state and dealer
- Any dealer add-ons: paint protection, window etching, nitrogen tires, "reconditioning," and so on
The first three are fixed. The last two are where dealers differ, and where you can push back.
How to ask for it
Before you visit, email or text the dealer:
A dealer that won't give you an itemized number in writing is telling you something.
How to compare two cars
- Get the out-the-door price for both.
- Subtract tax, title and registration (they'll be about the same).
- Compare what's left. That's the real difference in price.
A car that's $800 cheaper on the sticker but has $1,500 more in dealer fees isn't the deal.
Paste the listing. We'll look for the same car nearby for at least $1,000 less, after shipping.
Questions
Is the out-the-door price negotiable?
The car's price and dealer add-ons usually are. Taxes and government fees aren't. Doc fees are capped in some states.
What's a normal doc fee?
It ranges from under $100 to over $1,000 depending on the state. Compare dealers in your area.
Do online sellers have out-the-door prices?
Carvana and CarMax show fees at checkout. Compare their total with a local dealer's out-the-door price.
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