State of Dealer Fees 2026
We analyzed 33,567 verified out-the-door quotes from 8,762 dealers across the U.S. to reveal what car buyers are actually paying in doc fees, add-ons, and markup. Here's what we found.
Data collected Jan 2024 — Feb 2026. Updated in realtime as new quotes are verified.
National Overview
Grade Distribution
How do America's dealers stack up? Here's the breakdown across 8,762 scored dealers.
Top 10 Most Transparent Dealers
These dealers consistently deliver the lowest fees, fewest add-ons, and most accurate pricing.
| Rank | Dealer | Grade | Quotes |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Keyes Lexus Of Van Nuys | A 100/100 | 7 |
| #2 | Airport Marina Ford | A 100/100 | 11 |
| #3 | Ws Healey Chevrolet | A 100/100 | 5 |
| #4 | Alexandria ToyotaDC | A 100/100 | 7 |
| #5 | Williamsburg Hyundai | A 100/100 | 8 |
| #6 | A & M Motorsports, Inc.GA | A 100/100 | 5 |
| #7 | Anchor Buick GMCMD | A 100/100 | 6 |
| #8 | West Herr Chevrolet Of WilliamsvilleNY | A 100/100 | 5 |
| #9 | Weir Canyon Honda | A 100/100 | 6 |
| #10 | Weikert Ford | A 100/100 | 9 |
Top 10 Highest Doc Fees
These dealers charge the most in documentation fees. Some exceed the state average by 2-3x.
| # | Dealer | Doc Fee | Quotes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midway AutohausIL | $1,663 | 7 |
| 2 | Duval AcuraFL | $1,633 | 5 |
| 3 | Coral Springs Honda | $1,566 | 7 |
| 4 | Coral Springs Auto Mall | $1,566 | 8 |
| 5 | Auto Giants Nissan | $1,499 | 11 |
| 6 | Mckay Chevrolet Fairfax | $1,495 | 16 |
| 7 | Jim Mckay Chevrolet FairfaxVA | $1,495 | 7 |
| 8 | Luxury Auto CollectionAZ | $1,489 | 12 |
| 9 | Superstition Springs LexusAZ | $1,450 | 7 |
| 10 | Toyota Of WallingfordCT | $1,450 | 5 |
Doc Fees by State
Sorted by highest average doc fee. Click a state to see its full report.
Transparency by Brand
How transparent are dealers for each brand? Ranked by number of verified quotes.
Most Common Dealer Add-Ons
These are the most frequently charged add-on items across all verified quotes. Many are negotiable or removable.
💡 Tip: Most add-ons are negotiable. Ask the dealer to remove or reduce these before signing.
Key Findings
Doc Fees Vary Wildly
Doc fees range from $0 to over $2,000 depending on the dealer and state. The national average is $512, but states like Florida average $999 while California averages just $85. Even within the same state, fees vary dramatically between dealers.
Add-ons Are the Hidden Cost
While 51% of dealers charge no mandatory add-ons, those that do average $1,205 in extras like paint protection, nitrogen tire fill, and VIN etching. These are often negotiable — knowing your dealer's track record gives you leverage.
Reviews vs. Reality
Traditional review sites let dealers game ratings through paid programs and selective review solicitation. Our transparency scores are based purely on verified pricing data — what buyers actually paid, not how friendly the salesperson was.
Knowledge Is Leverage
Buyers who compare OTD quotes from multiple dealers save an average of 3-5% off the first price they're quoted. Use the data in this report to know what fees are normal in your state before you step into a dealership.
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Methodology
This report is based on 33,567 verified out-the-door (OTD) price quotes collected between January 2024 and February 2026. Each quote is a real price breakdown from a dealer to a buyer, extracted from quote images using AI and verified for accuracy. Dealer transparency scores weight four factors: fee transparency (30%), add-on behavior (30%), price accuracy (30%), and data quality (10%). Dealers must have at least 1 quote to be scored. Read the full methodology →