Dealer Fees in California

Real fee data from 174 verified buyer deals across 106 dealerships

$199

Avg Doc Fee

$85

State Cap

$85 – $5,360

Range Seen

California caps doc fees at $85

By state law, California dealerships cannot charge more than $85 for documentation. Many dealers charge less. The data below shows what dealers actually charge.

Strict $85 cap - one of the lowest in the country

California Dealers by Doc Fee (Lowest First)

DealerCityDoc FeeDeals
Volkswagenpasadena.edealerhub.comPasadena$851
BMW of Humboldt BayMcKinleyville$851
Valley KIAFontana$851
Irvine BMWIrvine$856
Walter's Mercedes-Benz of RiversideRiverside$851
Laguna NiguelLaguna Niguel$852
Thorsonmotorcenter.comPasadena$851
Drivethorson.comPasadena$852
Wheeler Auto CenterYuba City$851
Tuttle Click Mazda IrvineIrvine$851
Penske Cadillac Buick GMCTorrance$856
Ed Dena's Auto CenterDinuba$851
Niello VolkswagenSacramento$851
Future Auto Center of ConcordConcord$851
Long Beach BMWSignal Hill$852
Folsom ChevroletFolsom$853
Marin HondaSan Rafael$852
Concord ChevroletConcord$853
Volkswagen PasadenaPasadena$851
Autonation Toyota CerritosCerritos$851
Mercedes-Benz of Los AngelesLos Angeles$851
Toyota SunnyvaleSunnyvale$852
Stevens Creek BMWSanta Clara$851
Penske ToyotaDowney$851
BMW of Sherman OaksSherman Oaks$852
Beverly Hills BMWBeverly Hills$851
BMW of Mountain ViewMountain View$851
Lehmer's Concord GMCConcord$851
South Bay LexusTorrance$851
Chavez Buick GMCIndio$851
Newport LexusNewport Beach$851
Valley BMWModesto$851
BMW of VisaliaVisalia$852
Courtesy Automotive CenterChico$852
Cumming ChevroletNational City$851
Autonation Toyota HaywardHayward$851
BMW of San DiegoSan Diego$853
AutonationCarlsbad$851
Beach Cities ToyotaWestminster$853
Dch Toyota of TorranceTorrance$851
Merged ToyotaMerced$851
Ammaar's Toyota VacavilleVacaville$851
Toyota CarlsbadCarlsbad$852
Toyota PlaceGarden Grove$851
Keyes ToyotaVan Nuys$852
Toyota PasadenaPasadena$851
Capitol VolkswagenSan Jose$852
Audi North OcPlacentia$851
Mercedes-Benz of Long BeachLong Beach$851
Audi South CoastSanta Ana$851
Audi West CovinaWest Covina$852
Rusnak BMWThousand Oaks$853
Mercedes-Benz of Palm SpringsPalm Springs$854
Mercedes-Benz of PleasantonPleasanton$852
Audi PacificTorrance$851
Rusnak Audi PasadenaPasadena$851
BMW of BakersfieldBakersfield$852
BMW of MurrietaMurrieta$852
Honor GMC HummerNational City$852
Ken Garff Automotive Group Corporate OfficeWalnut Creek$851
Cerritos Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAMCerritos$851
Clawson Honda of FresnoFresno$851
Honda World WestminsterWestminster$853
Honda of ResedaReseda$851
Reliable Buick GMC CadillacRoseville$851
Blackstone Chevrolet CadillacFresno$851
Blackstone ChevroletFresno$851
Volkswagen South CoastSanta Ana$851
Puente Hills VolkswagenHacienda Heights$852
Herman Cook EncinitasEncinitas$852
Kearny Mesa VolkswagenSan Diego$852
Concord HondaConcord$851
Autonation Volkswagen CarlsbadCarlsbad$851
Freeway HondaSanta Ana$851
BMW of RosevilleRoseville$851
Niello BMW Mini SacramentoSacramento$852
Audi RiversideRiverside$851
Weir Canyon HondaAnaheim$851
Weir Canyon HondaYorba Linda$851
Kearny MesaSan Diego$1271
SerraMonrovia$3782
Toyota of SeasideSeaside$5991
Tracy VolkswagenTracy$7371
Santa Monica GMCSanta Monica$7431
Longo ToyotaEl Monte$8903
Honda of OaklandOakland$9202
Dublin Chevrolet CadillacDublin$9621
Folsom Buick GMCFolsom$1,0103
Tracy Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAMTracy$1,0121
Norm Reeves SuperstoreIrvine$1,1982
BMW FresnoFresno$1,4045

Based on verified buyer deal sheets. Doc fees extracted from itemized fee breakdowns.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average dealer doc fee in California?

Based on 141 verified buyer deal sheets, the average documentation fee at California dealerships is $199. Actual fees range from $85 to $5,360.

What is the doc fee cap in California?

California caps dealer documentation fees at $85. Not all dealers charge the maximum — check individual dealer profiles for actual fees.

Are dealer fees negotiable in California?

Doc fees are generally fixed per dealership but you can negotiate the overall deal to offset them. Add-ons (paint protection, VIN etching, pro packs) are almost always negotiable — ask to have them removed.