DEALERSHIP DOCUMENTARY FEES

  AKA  “DOC FEE”

A DEALERSHIP DOCUMENTARY FEE
IS PURE PROFIT FOR THE DEALERSHIP

IT IS LISTED AS AN OPTIONAL CHARGE
PRE-PRINTED ON THE DEALERSHIP
SALES AGREEMENT

IT IS USUALLY BROKEN DOWN
INTO A COUPLE OF CHARGES:

• CLERICAL WORK
• COMPUTER TIME
• COURIER SERVICE

DOC FEES CAN VARY WIDELY
FROM DEALER TO DEALER
ANYWHERE FROM $70 TO $599
MOST DEALERS ARE USUALLY
 $125 TO $199

EVEN THOUGH IT SAYS “OPTIONAL”
 MANY DEALERS WILL INSIST ON
COLLECTING THE FEE.

THE LAW STATES THAT A DEALERSHIP
 CAN NOT ARBITRARILY CHARGE ONE
CUSTOMER A DOC FEE AND NOT
ANOTHER CUSTOMER. THE
DEALERSHIP MUST HAVE A UNIFORM
POLICY FOR ALL CUSTOMERS. THIS
IS ONE REASON DEALERS OFTEN
INSIST ON COLLECTING THE FEE.

DO YOU HAVE TO PAY A DOC FEE
THAT IS LISTED AS OPTIONAL?
THE ANSWER IS NO!

YOU MUST BE STUBBORN TO THE
POINT THAT YOU WILL NOT BUY
THE VEHICLE UNLESS THEY
WAIVE THE DOC FEE.

THE SALES MANAGER WILL
DEDUCT THE AMOUNT OF THE
DOC FEE FROM THE SELLING PRICE
OF THE VEHICLE AND THEN ADD
IN THE PRE-PRINTED DOC FEE
 WHEN TOTALLING UP THE NUMBERS.
THIS ENSURES COMPLIANCE WITH
THE LAW AND YOU DID NOT PAY
THE DOC FEE.

IN AUTOMOBILE ADVERTISING ALL
DEALERSHIPS HAVE A DISCLAIMER
THAT READS:

ALL PRICES AND PAYMENTS
INCLUDE ALL COSTS TO BE PAID
BY A CONSUMER EXCEPT FOR
TAX, MV AND DOC FEES.