Out-the-door price calculator
The advertised price is never what you pay. Enter the car price and your state to estimate sales tax, the dealer doc fee, title and registration — and the real total to drive away.
Your estimated out-the-door price
$27,749
- Vehicle price
- $25,000
- Rebate or discount
- -$0
- Trade-in credit
- -$0
- Sales tax (6% of $25,000)
- $1,500
- Documentation fee
- $999
- Title and registration
- $250
- Out-the-door total
- $27,749
- Amount to finance after down payment
- $27,749
Estimate only. State tax rates, local taxes, doc fees and DMV charges vary — always ask the dealer for an itemized out-the-door quote in writing.
Now get that number down
DealHunter searches cars for sale at dealerships near your ZIP code, then emails dealers to negotiate the out-the-door price for you. You approve every message and the final offer.
How the out-the-door price is calculated
Vehicle price, minus rebates and trade-in, plus sales tax on the taxable amount, plus the dealer documentation fee, plus title and registration. Anything else on the sheet — VIN etching, paint protection, nitrogen-filled tires, dealer prep — is an add-on you can refuse.
Frequently asked questions
- How do you calculate the out-the-door price of a car?
- Start with the negotiated vehicle price, subtract any trade-in credit or rebate, apply your state's sales tax rate to the taxable amount, then add the dealer documentation fee plus title and registration. The total is your out-the-door price — the amount you actually pay.
- Is sales tax charged before or after a trade-in?
- In most states sales tax is charged on the price after the trade-in value is deducted, which lowers your tax bill. A few states tax the full purchase price. This calculator lets you turn the trade-in tax credit on or off.
- What is a typical dealer doc fee?
- Documentation fees range from about $85 in states that cap them to $999 in states that do not. The calculator pre-fills a typical figure for your state and you can change it to match the dealer's quote.
- Can you negotiate the out-the-door price instead of the monthly payment?
- Yes, and you should. Ask every dealer for an itemized out-the-door quote in writing and compare the bottom-line totals. Monthly payments can hide a higher price behind a longer loan term.