# [Out-the-door price: compare the complete car deal](https://trymumm.com/guides/out-the-door-price-car)

> Ask each dealer for a written total that includes the vehicle, fees, add-ons, taxes and registration. Compare the same vehicle and purchase conditions across quotes. Review financing and trade-in terms separately so you can see the contribution of each part.

- **Updated:** 2026-07-20
- **Category:** Auto
- **Read time:** 8 min

## Start with the complete total

Compare the complete out-the-door price before discussing monthly payments. Ask for every fee and optional product in writing, then compare financing separately so a longer loan does not hide a higher total.

## What belongs in it (and what does not)

An out-the-door quote should show the vehicle price, dealer fees, taxes, title and registration, plus each optional product or accessory. Ask which charges are government-required and which the dealer controls. Request removal of unwanted extras and compare the final amount across dealers.

## The script that gets it in writing

Request written quotes: “I am buying a [year, make, model and trim]. Please send your complete out-the-door price, including fees and add-ons, and state any financing or trade-in conditions.” Send the same request to dealers you would buy from.

## Run the quotes against each other

Take the lowest written OTD and send it to the next two: "I have $X out the door at [dealer]. Beat it by enough to make the drive worth it and I sign today." One or two rounds of this is where the real money moves. The endgame: when a dealer says they cannot go lower, ask what they CAN add — all-weather mats, the first two services, an extended warranty at cost. Then get the final number re-confirmed in writing before you drive over, so the finance office cannot "find" new fees.

## Questions people actually ask



## How much below MSRP should I expect to pay?

Compare written quotes for the exact vehicle and check incentive eligibility. A lower sticker-price percentage is only one part of the offer; fees, financing conditions and included equipment can change the total.

## Is the doc fee negotiable?

Ask the dealer to explain the documentation fee and compare the complete out-the-door total. If the fee itself stays, ask whether the vehicle price can change. Verify any applicable fee cap with the state’s current guidance.

## Should I mention my trade-in or financing up front?

No — each is a separate negotiation and bundling lets the dealer move money between them. Settle the OTD first, in writing. Then negotiate the trade-in (get competing offers from Carvana/CarMax first as your floor). Then financing: a preapproval from your bank or credit union is the benchmark the dealer's finance office has to beat.

## Do dealers honor emailed OTD quotes?

Keep the written quote and compare it with the buyer’s order before signing. Ask the dealer to explain or remove differences and confirm the current price, expiry and purchase conditions.

## Related

- [Dealer fees and add-ons you can refuse \(line by line\)](https://trymumm.com/guides/dealer-fees-to-refuse)
- [How much off MSRP should you actually get?](https://trymumm.com/guides/how-much-off-msrp)