Just curious what you guys in the US are paying for the "documentation fee" when you purchase a new car. I have run into a few dealers that are charging almost $500 for what ends up as printing your bill of sale. Why can't GM stop these types of charges that can only be called ridiculous profit for the dealer ?

 

Not sure. I was too excited to look at my bill when the car arrived.

 

Because they really don't have much to do with them. Its not just GM and its not just new car dealerships. Its nothing but the dealer charging you for the transaction. Yes, a rip off.

Theres a reason they're called stealerships. This is why I always ask to see a blank bill of sale somewhere before the transaction is competed.

 

Zero.

But I bought from a forum dealer that doesn't play those games.

Many, unfortunately will, tho.

 

My dealer charges $289 for doc fees. They handle the tax and tags and a few other "administrative" tasks. Not sure it's necessary but not outrageous either.

 

Ridiculous. Waste of money. They already get a lot of kick back bonus, why do they have to be greedy. Every brand and every dealership is like this, not just GM.

 

You don't want to know what I paid lol. Let's just say it was more than 500 for the fee. But it was worth it to me. Maybe not others, but to me it was

 

My DOC fees were 599.00 and most dealers in my area charge the same.

 

Doc fees started as just a small amount added by dealers for added profit. But then some dealers got greedy, charging higher and higher fees, whatever they thought they could get away with. When a customer caught it and protested it was often dropped. Finally to protect customers many states had to pass laws limiting doc fees. Dealers in those states immediately started charging the max amount. I think the max charge in FL is $600, MI is $200, IL increases each year, currently around $200. Unfortunately some of these laws also require dealers to charge the fee to every customer if they charge it at all. In those states you can't bitch and make him cross it off. Still, there are dealers that take the high road and don't charge a doc fee to anybody. It's better to ask first than be blindsided later.

 

They wanted $200. I told them it was a bs charge and wasn't paying it. They said they had to show it on the paperwork but then they put $200 more on my trade in.

 

doc fees are BS. It is fraud to say you are MSRP and then charge this random meaningless fee on top of MSRP.

mike furman at criswell charges a doc fee and would not do msrp minus doc fee to cover that. he was so stubborn about it even though i could get one with no doc fee from his competitors... which i ended up doing. He said that law requires that they if they charge it to one customer then they have to charge it to every customer. So why the f did you charge it to begin with to any customer? answer to trick them in to paying more money. Think about it.. you order a car a year back back and for a year have been waiting so patiently. The car is built and finally arrives and just about to sign and.. what is this? doc fee? oh.. well sir you can pay that or we can sell the car so someone else. What are you going to do? exactly. 99% of people will pay it. They should not be able to say msrp. they should say msrp+$500, because that it exactly what it is. Every dealer that says msrp and then charges a doc fee is committing fraud. I said to him just charge me the doc fee but compensate me by charging me msrp minus 200, and then that will match the deal of your competitors with no doc fee. He absolutely would not budge. And then he lost my sale and future sales, and gets not recommendations from me, and gets to see me tell everyone about this story on every forum every chance i get. Was it worth it mike?


ken fichtner promised me msrp with no doc fee and then was acquired by rimrock chevrolet and then went back on his word and charge $599 i think.. wtf. I would think that when you are acquired you say hey lets honor the deals i had with customers before the acquisition. but he didnt.. either didnt think of it or didnt care. $$$

i ended up buying a car from MacMulkin. No stupid doc fee yay!!! They handled everything perfectly. My loaded laguna a8 z07 will be built TPW 1/26. Love these guys Somebody is using the allocation i gave up at criswell, but chances are it is not fully loaded like mine, so criswell loses a lot more than $200.. they would have probably been more profitable with me.. not a smart business man. I told him mine would be loaded. And not honest because saying you charge msrp is not accurate.

 

A huge chevy dealer in Atlanta area also charges $599

 

Calm down gentlemen/ladies....it is not illegal, profit is not a bad term, i am sure no one in here goes to work everyday expecting to work for free and not get paid!?!?!? We still practice capitalism???...i think. When did it become illegal to make a profit? Shop around, look for better deals if you're' not comfortable paying it but dont bash a/any business for trying to make a profit!!! Paying $90k for a car and then whining about a few hundred bucks??? Right....whew!!! Got that one off my chest!!! Now lets see the replies...

 

sorry, but a few hundred bucks to me is a few hundred bucks....
and fwiw I don't whine about it, I just negotiate...
if you don't mind throwing money away, no matter how big or small the amount, more power to you...

 

i have every right to whine about it as loud as possible so that other people can benefit from my experience and save money.

 

Fair, but yes it is whining. Again, if your'e not comfortable with the pricing, there are several other options/dealers. And yes you can def negotiate which is what "i" do and i don't feel the need to have a business entity not make a living from selling their products or bashing them for trying to make a living.

 

Mine was $259.00 just outside of Houston

 

I paid $160

 

don't really see any1 here bashing any1 for trying to make a living, this is simply a car forum where the ins and outs of buying/selling cars is often discussed-calm down buddy

and if you call others stating that doc fees are bullchyt whining well than Im a whiner cause I know that that is exactly what they are

 

I do think it is unfair these dealers advertising MSRP but no mention of the fees until you ask or see a sales order. You are not charging MSRP if you are charging optional dealer fees.