Free Tool · All 50 States
Car Dealer Fee Calculator — Is That Fee Legit?
Works for all 50 states. Enter any fee from your dealer worksheet to find out if it's required by law, negotiable, or pure markup. Covers documentation fees, market adjustments, add-ons, GAP, and more — with the exact rules and legal caps for your state.
Where are you buying your car?
Dealer fee rules and legal caps vary by state. We'll apply the rules for the state you select.
Results are estimates based on typical market conditions for Your State. Actual fees and negotiability vary. Not financial or legal advice. Your State fee caps are based on publicly available state regulations.
Dealer Fees — Frequently Asked Questions
What dealer fees are required by law?
Only government fees are truly required: the title fee and registration/license fee, both set by your state and paid to the DMV. Every other line — doc fees, dealer add-ons, market adjustments, GAP, paint protection — is either negotiable or pure markup. Required fees are the same no matter which dealer you use.
Which dealer fees can you negotiate?
Almost all of them. Documentation fees are negotiable in most states (and capped by law in a few, like Texas at $150 and California at $85). GAP insurance and extended warranties are negotiable and usually far cheaper outside the dealer. Pure-markup items — nitrogen tires, VIN etching, paint protection, dealer add-ons, and 'market adjustments' — can and should be removed entirely.
What is a market adjustment fee?
A market adjustment (also called ADM or additional dealer markup) is an arbitrary amount a dealer adds above MSRP during high demand. It reflects no added value and is completely negotiable. Many dealers will drop it if you push back or show you're willing to shop elsewhere.
How does AutoLenis eliminate fee games?
Instead of negotiating fees one dealer at a time, AutoLenis has up to 8 local dealers compete privately for your business in a 48-hour auction. Each submits their best out-the-door price — fees included — so you compare real totals side by side and pick the winner. The fee games disappear when dealers know they're being compared.
Skip the fee games entirely
Let up to 8 local dealers compete for your business in a private 48-hour auction. Compare real out-the-door prices and pick the best one.
Get Dealers to Compete