Dealer documentation fees are nothing more than a big fat rip off. It is a scam that's been going on for way too long. Never buy a car from a dealership that insists on you paying a documentation fee. When you were in the finance department and when they're asking you to sign a contract make sure that the box that's designated for the charge of the documentation fee has nothing but a big fat zero printed in that box.
REFUSE to sign the contract if they put a dollar amount in that box. Keep that money for yourself. The dealership to be grateful that you're buying a car from them and paying all the other BS fees that they're charging you.
That would be grateful that you're not buying a car from a private party in that case you do not have to pay a documentation fee nor do you have to pay sales tax. Don't be there sucker.
State | Average Dealer Doc Fee* |
Range of Fees | Statewide Cap or Rules? |
AL | $458 | $0 to $899 | No cap or rules |
AR | $97 | $0 to $129 | Restrictions on Display/Terminology |
AZ | $401 | $199 to $539 | No cap or rules |
CA | $55 | $0 to $55 | $55 |
CO | $508 | $249 to $689 | No cap or rules |
CT | $357 | $245 to $499 | No cap or rules |
DC | $299 | $299 to $299 | No cap or rules |
DE | $241 | $50 to $349 | No cap or rules |
FL | $607 | $0 to $999 | No cap or rules |
GA | $502 | $0 to $899 | No cap or rules |
HI | $245 | $245 to $245 | No cap or rules |
IA | $134 | $89 to $199 | No cap or rules |
ID | $286 | $250 to $314 | No cap or rules |
IL | $155 | $150 to $155 | $155 |
IN | $178 | $149 to $475 | No cap or rules |
KS | $235 | $119 to $299 | Restrictions on Display/Terminology |
KY | $354 | $0 to $698 | No cap or rules |
LA | $103 | $100 to $100 | $100 |
MA | $321 | $195 to $495 | No cap or rules |
MD | $131 | $0 to $200 | $200 |
ME | $336 | $198 to $399 | No cap or rules |
MI | $181 | $75 to $214 | $194 Max Doc Fee + flat $21 Electronic Filing Fee |
MN | $75 | $75 to $75 | $75 |
MO | $174 | $0 to $199 | Restrictions on Display/Terminology |
MS | $274 | $139 to $399 | No cap or rules |
MT | $224 | $99 to $338 | No cap or rules |
NC | $466 | $0 to $699 | No cap or rules |
ND | $124 | $98 to $149 | No cap or rules |
NE | $222 | $29.5 to $399 | No cap or rules |
NH | $304 | $240 to $399 | Restrictions on Display/Terminology |
NJ | $270 | $98 to $399 | No cap or rules |
NM | $263 | $69 to $349 | Restrictions on Display/Terminology |
NV | $431 | $345 to $599 | No cap or rules |
NY | $74 | $45 to $75 | $75 |
OH | $247 | $99 to $250 | $250 |
OK | $235 | $149 to $399 | No cap or rules |
OR | $61 | $50 to $100 | No cap or rules |
PA | $122 | $72 to $250 | No cap or rules |
RI | $231 | $196 to $379 | No cap or rules |
SC | $293 | $0 to $599 | No cap or rules |
SD | $93 | $49 to $149 | No cap or rules |
TN | $402 | $289 to $699 | No cap or rules |
TX | $125 | $50 to $150 | $150 Max; Restrictions on Display |
UT | $293 | $0 to $398 | No cap or rules |
VA | $403 | $0 to $599 | No cap or rules |
VT | $148 | $0 to $296 | No cap or rules |
WA | $145 | $50 to $150 | $150 |
WI | $152 | $89 to $199 | No cap or rules |
WV | $129 | $85 to $175 | No cap or rules |
WY | $388 | $205 to $499 | No cap or rules |