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Out the Door Price Calculator
Your purchase
Sales tax rates vary by state and by city or county. Enter the total rate that applies where you will register the car.
Example: a $30,000 car at 7.25% sales tax is $2,175 in tax, plus $85 doc fee, $30 title fee and $400 registration — $515 in fees — for an out-the-door price of $32,690. With a $5,000 trade-in, the amount to finance is $32,690 − $5,000 = $27,690.
Behind the numbers
How the out-the-door price is calculated
The sticker price is only the start. The out-the-door price adds everything you actually pay to drive the car away: sales tax on the vehicle price, the dealer's documentation fee, the title fee, the registration fee and any other fees. If you trade in a car or pay a deposit, those come off the out-the-door price to give the amount you still need to finance or pay.
Sales tax = vehicle price × tax rate. Amount to finance = out-the-door price − trade-in value − down payment. Worked example: $30,000 × 7.25% = $2,175 sales tax. Fees = $85 doc + $30 title + $400 registration = $515. Out-the-door price = $30,000 + $2,175 + $515 = $32,690. With a $5,000 trade-in, the amount to finance = $32,690 − $5,000 = $27,690.
Worked examples
Example out-the-door prices
| Vehicle price | Tax | Fees | Out-the-door | Amount to finance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 at 7.25% | $2,175.00 | $515.00 | $32,690.00 | — (no trade-in) |
| $30,000 at 7.25% | $2,175.00 | $515.00 | $32,690.00 | $27,690.00 ($5,000 trade-in) |
| $22,000 at 6.25% | $1,375.00 | $350.00 | $23,725.00 | $19,725.00 ($4,000 trade-in) |
| $25,000 at 6.00% | $1,500.00 | $500.00 | $27,000.00 | $24,000.00 ($3,000 down payment) |
Fees in the examples are the doc, title and registration fees added together. Your own fees will differ by state and by dealer.
Do not let the fees surprise you.
Ask the dealer for the out-the-door price in writing before you agree — the advertised price never includes tax and fees.
Check your state's doc fee cap before you negotiate; in some states the fee is capped by law, and in others it can run into the hundreds.
Ask whether sales tax is charged on the full price or on the price after your trade-in — in many states the trade-in lowers the taxable amount.
Question add-ons like paint protection or fabric coating, which are often added to the fees; they are optional and usually cheaper elsewhere.
Good to know
Your out-the-door price questions, answered.
What is the out-the-door price of a car?
The full amount you pay to drive it away: the vehicle price plus sales tax, the dealer documentation fee, title and registration fees, and any other fees. On this page, a $30,000 car at 7.25% tax with $515 in fees is $32,690 out the door.
Is sales tax charged on the price before or after a trade-in?
It depends on the state. Many states tax the price after the trade-in is subtracted; others tax the full price. This calculator taxes the full vehicle price, so check your state's rule — if your state taxes after trade-in, subtract the trade-in first and enter the result as the vehicle price.
What is a doc fee?
A documentation fee is what the dealer charges to handle the paperwork. It is usually $85 or less in some states and several hundred dollars in others; some states cap it by law, so check the cap where you live before you pay it.
Does the amount to finance include my down payment?
Yes. The amount to finance is the out-the-door price minus your trade-in value and minus your down payment. If you enter neither a trade-in nor a down payment, the calculator shows no amount to finance.