Buying a new car? Know your true cost before stepping into the showroom. Our new car OTD calculator shows exactly what you'll pay—including destination charges, sales tax, dealer fees, and registration. Get your complete out-the-door price and negotiate with confidence.
The sticker price on a new car is just the beginning. New vehicles include destination and handling charges ($995-$1,995), plus all the standard costs: sales tax, registration, title, and doc fees. Some popular models even carry dealer markups. Our calculator accounts for all these factors.
Every new car includes a destination charge—the cost to transport it from the factory to the dealer. This fee is non-negotiable and the same at every dealer for that model. It's already included in the window sticker but adds $1,000-$2,000 to the base MSRP.
Manufacturers often offer rebates, special APR financing, or loyalty discounts on new cars. These reduce your out-the-door price, but you usually can't combine cash rebates with promotional financing. Our calculator helps you compare which option saves more.
Dealers often add accessories, protection packages, or 'market adjustments' to new cars. Some are pre-installed, others are pure markup. Review the window sticker carefully and question any charges beyond MSRP plus destination.
The window sticker shows MSRP plus destination as separate line items, but both are part of the manufacturer's pricing. Destination is non-negotiable and identical at every dealer.
Usually yes, especially on slow-selling models or at month/quarter end. Popular vehicles in short supply may sell at MSRP or above. Research current market conditions for your target vehicle.
Typically 3-8% below MSRP for average-demand vehicles. Use invoice price as a reference point—dealers can profit at invoice due to manufacturer incentives and holdback.
Doc fees are typically the same regardless of whether you're buying new or used. They're set by the dealer, not the manufacturer, and vary by dealership and state.
You pay sales tax on your negotiated purchase price, not MSRP. The lower you negotiate the price, the less tax you pay.
Additional Dealer Markup (ADM) is extra profit dealers add to high-demand vehicles. It's negotiable and not all dealers charge it. Shop around for dealers selling at MSRP.
Rebates reduce your purchase price, which lowers both the base cost and the sales tax you pay. A $2,000 rebate saves you $2,000 plus tax savings.
Year-end and model year-end often bring clearance incentives. You may get better deals on outgoing models, though selection becomes limited.
December, end of quarters (March, June, September), and when new model years arrive (August-October) often bring the best deals as dealers push to meet quotas.