Dealer Fees by State: What You'll Actually Pay
Updated September 2026 | Based on 3,450 verified transactions | Refreshed hourly
31.3%
Deals with Add-Ons
$1,196
Avg Add-On Cost
17
States with Fee Caps
3,450
Verified Transactions
Most Common Dealer Add-Ons
Add-ons found most frequently in verified buyer deal sheets nationwide.
| Add-On | Avg Cost | Found In |
|---|---|---|
| Accessories | $1,372 | 72 deals |
| Window Tint | $486 | 71 deals |
| Wheel Locks | $211 | 56 deals |
| Nitrogen | $181 | 41 deals |
| Appearance Protection - 3 Yr | $730 | 36 deals |
| Etch | $276 | 35 deals |
| Door Edge Guards | $264 | 34 deals |
| Dent Protection - 3 Yr | $727 | 32 deals |
| Tint | $436 | 30 deals |
| Other Fees | $541 | 25 deals |
Dealer Fees by State
Sales tax rates, doc fee caps, and notes for all 50 states.
| State | Sales Tax | Doc Fee Cap | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2% | No cap | No state limit on doc fees - negotiate aggressively |
| Alaska | 0% | No cap | — |
| Arizona | 5.6% | No cap | No state limit on doc fees - negotiate aggressively |
| Arkansas | 6.5% | $129 | Strict $129 cap on doc fees |
| California | 7.25% | $85 | Capped at $85 for DMV private-industry partner dealers, $70 for other dealers |
| Colorado | 2.9% | No cap | — |
| Connecticut | 6.35% | No cap | No state cap on doc fees |
| Delaware | 0% | No cap | No sales tax but a 5.25% document fee applies to vehicle purchases |
| Florida | 6% | No cap | No state limit on doc fees - Florida dealers frequently charge $700-$1,000+ |
| Georgia | 7% | No cap | No cap - fees can exceed $700 |
| Hawaii | 4% | No cap | No doc fee cap; Hawaii charges a general excise tax rather than traditional sales tax |
| Idaho | 6% | No cap | No state cap on doc fees |
| Illinois | 6.25% | $377.63 | Capped at $377.63 for 2026 (adjusted annually for inflation) |
| Indiana | 7% | No cap | No state cap on doc fees |
| Iowa | 5% | $180 | Capped at $180 by state law |
| Kansas | 6.5% | No cap | No state cap on doc fees |
| Kentucky | 6% | No cap | No state cap on doc fees |
| Louisiana | 5% | $425 | Capped at $425 by state law |
| Maine | 5.5% | No cap | No state cap on doc fees |
| Maryland | 6.5% | $800 | Capped at $800 (raised from $500 by SB 362, effective July 1, 2024) |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | No cap | No state cap on doc fees |
| Michigan | 6% | $280 | Capped at $280 for 2026 (reviewed by DIFS, next review 2027) |
| Minnesota | 6.875% | $350 | Capped at $350 as of July 2025 (or 10% of sale price if under $3,500) |
| Mississippi | 5% | No cap | No state cap on doc fees |
| Missouri | 4.225% | $585 | Capped at $585 by state law |
| Montana | 0% | No cap | No sales tax on vehicles |
| Nebraska | 5.5% | No cap | No state cap on doc fees |
| Nevada | 6.85% | No cap | No state cap; combined tax rate varies by county |
| New Hampshire | 0% | No cap | No sales tax on vehicles |
| New Jersey | 6.625% | No cap | No state cap on doc fees |
| New Mexico | 4% | No cap | No state cap on doc fees |
| New York | 4% | $175 | Low $175 cap protects buyers |
| North Carolina | 3% | No cap | No state cap on doc fees - average is around $700-$800 |
| North Dakota | 5% | No cap | No state cap on doc fees |
| Ohio | 5.75% | $387 | Capped at $387 or 10% of sale price, whichever is lower |
| Oklahoma | 3.25% | No cap | No state cap on doc fees |
| Oregon | 0% | $250 | Capped at $250 with an electronic-filing integrator, $200 without (ORS 822.043, amended 2025) — and the statute expressly allows negotiating the fee. No sales tax, but a 0.5% privilege tax applies to new vehicles |
| Pennsylvania | 6% | $477 | Capped at $477 for electronic filing ($398 for non-electronic) |
| Rhode Island | 7% | $420 | Capped at $420 by state law |
| South Carolina | 5% | No cap | No state limit - fees average $300-$600 |
| South Dakota | 4% | No cap | No state cap on doc fees |
| Tennessee | 7% | No cap | No cap but most charge $300-$600 |
| Texas | 6.25% | No cap | No hard cap. Under Texas OCCC rules a dealer charging a doc fee above the state threshold must file a cost justification — a filing requirement, not a legal maximum. Observed doc fees run higher (median ~$225). |
| Utah | 4.85% | No cap | No state cap on doc fees - dealers must charge same amount to all customers |
| Vermont | 6% | No cap | No state cap on doc fees |
| Virginia | 4.15% | $250 | Processing fee capped at $250 by state law |
| Washington | 6.5% | $200 | Capped at $200 by state law; local taxes can add 3-4% more |
| West Virginia | 6% | $250 | Capped at $250 by state law |
| Wisconsin | 5% | No cap | No cap but must be reasonable |
| Wyoming | 4% | No cap | No state cap on doc fees |
Tax rates are state-level base rates. Local taxes may apply. Updated September 2026.
Add-On Rates by Region
How frequently dealers include add-ons and what they cost, broken down by U.S. region.
| Region | Add-On Rate | Avg Add-On Cost | Avg Doc Fee | Deals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | 46.7% | $1,678 | $459 | 336 |
| Southeast | 38% | $1,230 | $743 | 1,141 |
| West | 32.7% | $1,382 | $377 | 511 |
| Northeast | 22.1% | $667 | $587 | 612 |
| Midwest | 21% | $933 | $374 | 799 |
States with Highest Add-On Rates
States where dealers most frequently include add-ons in the deal.
| # | State | Add-On Rate | Avg Add-On Total | Deals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | 58.3% | $1,414 | 108 |
| 2 | Florida | 56.9% | $1,473 | 216 |
| 3 | South Dakota | 50% | $805 | 6 |
| 4 | Washington | 46.7% | $1,073 | 45 |
| 5 | Texas | 45.8% | $2,014 | 153 |
| 6 | North Carolina | 43.6% | $1,121 | 181 |
| 7 | Montana | 42.9% | $2,392 | 21 |
| 8 | Utah | 42.9% | $953 | 28 |
| 9 | Connecticut | 42.3% | $735 | 71 |
| 10 | Louisiana | 40% | $1,024 | 60 |
| 11 | Oklahoma | 40% | $1,491 | 40 |
| 12 | Georgia | 39.9% | $1,121 | 158 |
| 13 | Nevada | 38.8% | $1,280 | 49 |
| 14 | Indiana | 38.5% | $827 | 135 |
| 15 | Arkansas | 37.3% | $892 | 51 |
About This Data
Add-on and fee data is extracted from verified buyer deal sheets showing itemized breakdowns of all charges. Doc fee caps and sales tax rates are sourced from state regulations. Regional patterns reflect actual dealer behavior, not estimates.
Cite as: "According to CarWhere, based on 3,450 verified buyer transactions as of September 2026..."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a dealer doc fee?
A documentation fee (doc fee) is charged by dealerships to process the paperwork for a vehicle sale. It covers title work, registration filing, and contract preparation. Doc fees range from $0 to over $1,000 depending on the state. 17 states cap how much dealers can charge, while 33 states have no limit. Always ask for the doc fee upfront and negotiate if your state has no cap.
Which states cap dealer doc fees?
The following states cap dealer documentation fees: Arkansas ($129), California ($85), Illinois ($377.63), Iowa ($180), Louisiana ($425), Maryland ($800), Michigan ($280), Minnesota ($350), Missouri ($585), New York ($175), and 7 more. In states without caps, doc fees are fully negotiable.
How much are dealer add-ons on average?
Based on 3,450 verified transactions analyzed by CarWhere, 31.3% of car deals include dealer add-ons averaging $1,196. Common add-ons include paint protection, fabric coating, window tint, and VIN etching. Most add-ons have dealer margins of 50-80% and are fully negotiable.