Dealer Documentary Fee & Compliance Fees - Should I have to pay these?

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DietDrThunder

Platinum Member
Apr 6, 2001
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------ Dealership Disclaimer --------------------------
Sales Tax, Title, License Fee, Registration Fee, Dealer Documentary Fee, Finance Charges, Emission Testing Fees and Compliance Fees are additional to the advertised price.
-----------------------------------------------------------

I completely agree that I should have to pay the Sales Tax, Title, and License Fees.

What I don't agree with paying for are the Dealer Documentary Fee, Compliance Fees (which the dealership couldn't give me a good explanation of what this was), and an Advertising Fee (which is reimbursing the dealership their advertising costs). These added around $200 to the price of the vehicle I was negotiating on. I explained that I had already negotiated on a price, and if they were going to add these "Hidden" costs, they should have provided these up front. Needless to say, I got angry and walked away from the deal.

Know I want to know, am I'm in the wrong and should I have to pay these additional fees?
 
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twinrider1

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2003
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They have many kinds of overhead. Some just roll it into their price, some break them out separately. Doesn't really matter. Now you know to ask about those charges when making a deal. But yea, it is a tactic that I wouldn't want to reward with a sale.
 

Jimzz

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2012
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I negotiated based on the final out the door price. I told them I don't care how they play the numbers out before but the final price I was willing to pay was X.

So if those fees go above X tell them to massage the numbers till they come out at or below X.

My CTS was 19k out the door. If you read the paperwork it was $500 for dealer fees, but final number was 19k and that's all that mattered.
 

unokitty

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2012
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- Needless to say, I got angry and walked away from the deal.

Know I want to know, am I'm in the wrong and should I have to pay these additional fees?


Everything is negotiable. You didn't like the way they handled the deal.

You walked away.

Good for you! There are lots of car dealers. No reason to deal with one that doesn't treat you the way that you want.

Best of luck,
Uno
 

boomhower

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2007
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When we went shopping most of them were want $400 for a dealer fee. We did the same as above and negotiated out the door pricing.
 

Tweak155

Lifer
Sep 23, 2003
11,448
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Doc fees are pretty standard around here. I just negotiate knowing they are coming or negotiate OTD.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,544
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Everything is negotiable. You didn't like the way they handled the deal.

You walked away.

Good for you! There are lots of car dealers. No reason to deal with one that doesn't treat you the way that you want.

Best of luck,
Uno

:thumbsup:
 

KeithP

Diamond Member
Jun 15, 2000
5,664
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This is a common tactic. Dealers add extra fees on top of the negotiated price and try to convince the customer that the fees are somehow mandatory and non negotiable. It is a load BS.

When you go to a restaurant and get the bill do you see advertising fees? FDA compliance fees? Vegetable washing fees?

When purchasing a car you should always negotiate the out the door price. Or, before the negotiations start, ask them to document all fees and how those fees are calculated. You did the right thing in walking away. It is a shady and all too common practice that should be punished (lost of sale) and not rewarded.

-KeithP
 

Meghan54

Lifer
Oct 18, 2009
11,684
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The only fee the OP listed I have problems with is the doc fee. Have seen it hit $500. And this is just a fee for some secretary sitting behind a desk to organize the paperwork and file it with the DMV to obtain your tag/registration.....and filing the paperwork for financing if you go that route.

But as others said, negotiate a final price you'll pay and let them juggle the way it's allocated.
 

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
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I negotiated based on the final out the door price. I told them I don't care how they play the numbers out before but the final price I was willing to pay was X.

So if those fees go above X tell them to massage the numbers till they come out at or below X.

My CTS was 19k out the door. If you read the paperwork it was $500 for dealer fees, but final number was 19k and that's all that mattered.

Same here, this proved to be much easier since taxes esp on expensive cars can give sticker shock.
 
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