Dealer Add-On Statistics (2026): Rates and Costs by State and Brand
34.1% of new-car quotes contain dealer-installed add-ons, averaging $1,454 per affected quote — window tint, door edge guards, wheel locks, and bundled “protection packages.” In Florida, 59.3% of quotes carried add-ons; among brands, Lexus quotes led at 63.4%. Based on 5,211 verified buyer purchase quotes.
By the CarWhere Research Team · Updated 2026-06-12 · Download full table (CSV) · Press inquiries: [email protected]
This is a frozen snapshot of buyer quotes through 2026-06-12. For live, continuously updated fee and add-on rates from completed transactions, see the dealer-fees dashboard.
“A $188 set of wheel locks and $224 door edge guards don't sound like much until they're stacked into a $1,454 package you never asked for. The quotes show add-ons are a coin-flip in some states — buyers should ask for the itemized list and treat every line as negotiable.”— CarWhere Research Team
Key findings
- 34.1% of verified new-car purchase quotes included dealer-installed add-ons.
- Among quotes with add-ons, the average add-on total was $1,454.
- Florida had the highest state rate (59.3% of quotes, 20+ quote minimum).
- Lexus had the highest brand rate (63.4%, 30+ quote minimum).
- Most common itemized add-ons: accessories bundles, window tint, door edge guards, wheel locks, and protection packages.
- Based on 5,211 verified buyer-submitted purchase quotes; updated 2026-06-12.
Share of quotes with dealer add-ons, by state
| Rank | State | Quotes with add-ons | Avg add-on total | Verified quotes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 59.3% | $1,569 | 253 |
| 2 | South Dakota | 59.1% | $2,412 | 22 |
| 3 | Arizona | 56% | $1,605 | 168 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 53.8% | $1,027 | 93 |
| 5 | Nevada | 50% | $2,427 | 62 |
| 6 | Montana | 48.1% | $2,634 | 27 |
| 7 | Washington | 48.1% | $1,142 | 54 |
| 8 | Utah | 47.4% | $1,311 | 38 |
| 9 | Texas | 45.7% | $1,922 | 230 |
| 10 | North Carolina | 45.3% | $1,234 | 256 |
| 11 | Louisiana | 45.1% | $1,169 | 71 |
| 12 | Indiana | 43.5% | $1,118 | 177 |
| 13 | New Jersey | 42.3% | $1,682 | 104 |
| 14 | California | 39.1% | $1,550 | 258 |
| 15 | Georgia | 37.9% | $1,419 | 211 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 37.3% | $1,951 | 67 |
| 17 | Iowa | 36% | $1,429 | 75 |
| 18 | Arkansas | 34.8% | $1,278 | 69 |
| 19 | Minnesota | 33.3% | $889 | 84 |
| 20 | South Carolina | 30.3% | $1,190 | 208 |
| 21 | Colorado | 29.6% | $1,563 | 125 |
| 22 | Alabama | 29.1% | $1,403 | 117 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | 28.2% | $1,464 | 259 |
| 24 | Kentucky | 27.6% | $1,308 | 87 |
| 25 | Tennessee | 26.6% | $1,673 | 94 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | 25.7% | $934 | 113 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | 25% | $471 | 64 |
| 28 | Ohio | 25% | $1,143 | 200 |
| 29 | Wyoming | 25% | $1,376 | 20 |
| 30 | New York | 24.5% | $1,930 | 155 |
| 31 | Missouri | 23.8% | $1,261 | 105 |
| 32 | Oregon | 22.5% | $2,311 | 102 |
| 33 | Maryland | 22.1% | $1,211 | 95 |
| 34 | Maine | 21.9% | $2,332 | 32 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | 21.7% | $1,248 | 23 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | 21.5% | $1,643 | 65 |
| 37 | Virginia | 21.3% | $1,351 | 89 |
| 38 | Idaho | 20% | $1,832 | 40 |
| 39 | Michigan | 19.7% | $1,551 | 132 |
| 40 | New Mexico | 19.7% | $1,139 | 66 |
| 41 | Illinois | 17.4% | $1,751 | 236 |
| 42 | Kansas | 14.3% | $1,014 | 77 |
| 43 | Mississippi | 10% | $931 | 30 |
| 44 | Vermont | 9.1% | $421 | 33 |
By brand
| Rank | Brand | Quotes with add-ons | Avg add-on total | Verified quotes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexus | 63.4% | $1,823 | 145 |
| 2 | Kia | 43.3% | $1,477 | 134 |
| 3 | Toyota | 37.7% | $1,637 | 1053 |
| 4 | GMC | 36.4% | $1,441 | 379 |
| 5 | Ram | 36.2% | $1,900 | 307 |
| 6 | Cadillac | 36% | $1,870 | 50 |
| 7 | Honda | 35.1% | $1,159 | 609 |
| 8 | Chevrolet | 32.4% | $1,443 | 537 |
| 9 | BMW | 32% | $1,269 | 437 |
| 10 | Ford | 31.4% | $1,235 | 296 |
| 11 | Jeep | 31.1% | $1,972 | 61 |
| 12 | Audi | 29.6% | $1,605 | 250 |
| 13 | Volkswagen | 27.4% | $1,170 | 391 |
| 14 | Mercedes-Benz | 27% | $1,141 | 204 |
| 15 | Mazda | 18.4% | $967 | 239 |
The most common add-ons
| Add-on | Avg price | Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| accessories | $1,386 | 107 |
| window tint | $504 | 95 |
| door edge guards | $224 | 82 |
| wheel locks | $188 | 81 |
| port installed packages & accessories | $1,152 | 63 |
| tint | $463 | 49 |
| nitrogen | $203 | 49 |
| appearance protection - 3 yr | $733 | 44 |
| factory installed packages & accessories | $1,988 | 41 |
| etch | $283 | 41 |
| dent protection - 3 yr | $732 | 40 |
| mudguards | $162 | 40 |
Methodology
CarWhere analyzed 5,211 verified buyer-submitted purchase quotes as of 2026-06-12; 1,777 (34.1%) contained itemized dealer-installed (aftermarket) add-ons. Add-on totals exclude doc fees, taxes, registration, and title charges. State rankings require 20+ quotes; brand rankings 30+. Unlike studies based on advertised listing prices, these figures come from real deal sheets buyers received. Full table available as CSV and may be republished with attribution to CarWhere (carwhere.com).
Consumer-protection context
Dealer add-on practices are an active regulatory focus: the FTC has warned auto dealer groups that advertised prices must include all mandatory charges, including required add-on items (see the FTC's consumer guidance on buying and financing a car). Pre-installed add-ons remain negotiable on price even when they stay on the car.
Cite this study
CarWhere, “Dealer Add-On Statistics,” updated 2026-06-12 — analysis of 5,211 verified buyer purchase quotes. Suggested attribution: “According to CarWhere's analysis of 5,211 verified buyer purchase quotes, 34.1% of new-car quotes included dealer-installed add-ons, averaging $1,454 per affected quote.” Data: full CSV · press: [email protected] · may be republished with attribution.
Limitations
The dataset is buyer-submitted and may overrepresent engaged shoppers; quotes are deduplicated and reviewed before inclusion. State rankings exclude states with fewer than 20 fee-itemized quotes and brand rankings exclude brands with fewer than 30. Counts reflect quotes received, not national sales weighting.
FAQ
What are dealer add-ons?
Dealer-installed products added to the car before (or at) sale and itemized on the quote: window tint, door edge guards, wheel locks, nitrogen-filled tires, VIN etching, paint sealant, and bundled "protection packages." In 34.1% of verified buyer quotes they appear pre-loaded — averaging $1,454 per affected quote.
Do I have to pay for dealer add-ons?
Some add-ons are already installed and stay on the car, but their price is still negotiable — you can ask the dealer to discount or waive them, and comparing a competing quote without the add-ons gives you leverage. Add-ons that aren’t installed yet can simply be declined. The FTC has targeted unavoidable add-on charges as junk fees.
Which add-ons appear most often?
Across verified quotes: accessories (avg $1386), window tint (avg $504), door edge guards (avg $224), wheel locks (avg $188), port installed packages & accessories (avg $1152). Generic "accessories" bundles average $1,386 — always ask for the itemized breakdown.
Which states have the highest dealer add-on rates?
Among the 44 states with at least 20 verified quotes, the highest observed add-on rates in our sample were Florida (59.3%), South Dakota (59.1%), and Arizona (56%). The 44-state table above shows each qualifying state's rate and average add-on total.
Are dealer add-ons negotiable?
Yes — even pre-installed add-ons are negotiable on price. A dealer may not un-install window tint, but they can discount or waive the charge, and a competing quote without add-ons is useful leverage. Add-ons not yet installed can simply be declined.
Where does this data come from?
CarWhere analyzed 5,211 verified buyer-submitted purchase quotes; 1,777 (34.1%) contained itemized dealer-installed add-ons. Unlike studies based on advertised prices, these figures come from real deal sheets buyers received. States with under 20 quotes and brands with under 30 are excluded from rankings.