Buying a car and the out-the-door price

A car costs more than its sticker price once charges, fees and add-ons are counted. The out-the-door price is the total, with all of them included. Ask each dealer for it in writing before you leave home, and you can compare offers side by side.

Before you go

Ask the dealer to confirm that the car you saw advertised is actually on the lot, at the advertised price. Then ask for the out-the-door price for that car in writing. It should include every charge and fee.

Some dishonest dealers advertise a particular car, say it's unavailable once you arrive, and then try to sell you a different one at a higher price. Advertised prices might not include every fee and charge, and add-ons can be tacked on to raise the cost. A written out-the-door price helps you spot a charge added at the last minute.

The trade-in

Get the out-the-door price for the car you want before the dealer values your trade-in. That way, the price of the new car is settled on its own, and the trade-in can't blur it.

Add-ons

Dealers may add extras that raise the cost, such as an extended warranty, GAP insurance or credit insurance. These are generally optional, and you can ask for any you don't want to come off. Each add-on should appear as its own line on the price sheet.

Price ads that mislead

A low price or a discount in an ad is misleading when the dealer doesn't honor it, or when it comes with eligibility restrictions you weren't told about. It's misleading too when big costs, such as a large down payment or a processing fee, are buried in the fine print. Some low prices apply only to limited models. A mailer saying you've won a prize is often just a tactic to get you into the showroom.

Before you sign

When the documents are ready for your signature, check the purchase price and the other terms against what the dealer sent you ahead of time, and ask about anything that doesn't match. If you think a dealer isn't being honest about its ads or its sales, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

An annotated example

What to do next

Email the dealer to confirm the car is on the lot, and ask for the out-the-door price in writing. Keep the dealer's email with the car's papers, and add the final price sheet after the purchase.