[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by RoboVil

Generally, the doc fee maximum is set by the state. Dealers must charge each customer the same doc fee. However, dealers do not have to charge the maximum or any doc fee. I have even been successful in having the dealer reduce the price of the car the additional amount of the doc fee essentially negating the doc fee. Everything is negotiable.

In Florida, the law does not set a maximum doc fee. The law does require dealers to charge the same doc fee for every customer, but this is meaningless because the dealer can just reduce the price of the vehicle. Personally, I would never pay a doc fee or an electronic filing fee when buying a vehicle. I will also not pay the excessive advertised prices for dealer installed add-ons.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

My research indicates Honda still takes factor orders, but not Toyota (which is one of the reasons we selected the HRV over the Cross). That being said, I never trust what I read on the internet, so I very well might find out differently very soon when I begin contacting Honda dealers.

We own a Honda Dealership in MA and I can tell you ... no orders.

Dealers will tell you they can do that, to get your deposit ... then tempt you, with what shows up on their Monthly Allocation.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by RoboVil

Generally, the doc fee maximum is set by the state. Dealers must charge each customer the same doc fee. However, dealers do not have to charge the maximum or any doc fee. I have even been successful in having the dealer reduce the price of the car the additional amount of the doc fee essentially negating the doc fee. Everything is negotiable.

17 States set a "Cap". Most states require the Doc Fee to be consistent for all customers.

Here you go:


Average Dealer Documentation Fees by State (Updated 2023) (2023)

[billlaur]

Just flash the cash….👍

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by billlaur

Just flash the cash….������

The dealer gets "cash" for EVERY SINGLE new automobile (& most used) sold in the USA.

"Flashing cash" in most dealerships, will get you thrown out. It's not impressive and presents too many liabilities for a legitimate dealership.

Cash in the form of greenbacks, went out of style 20 years ago. Other than $2 bills for the starter shacks in TV, I haven't carried a "greenback" on my person, in 10+ years. Who does?

[gorillarick]

Yeah, cash is a downer at a car dealership. They make most of their money on F&I.
Finance & and can you imagine some people even buy their Insurance from a car dealer?

Maybe so they can stop paying it asap after leaving the lot?
(you gotta have insurance to license a car in Florida)

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

A car dealer "tag agency fee" refers to the title and registration fee charged by dealerships to cover the cost of registering the vehicle, getting license plates, and processing the vehicle's title, which are set by the state and are not typically a profit center for the dealer.

To clarify, the "tag agency fee" is a fee charged by a "private" organization to do the paperwork, and it is not set by the state. Yes, the state charges a fee for the title and tag, but these charges are IN ADDITION to the tag agency fee. When I recently purchased a vehicle, I did not pay a tag agency fee because some dealers do not charge this fee. From AI:

A "tag agency fee" or Private Tag Agency (PTA) fee is a service charge in Florida that private agencies or dealerships add to a vehicle purchase to handle title and registration paperwork on your behalf. These fees are not regulated or set by the state, so they vary by county and agency, though some counties like Broward and Miami-Dade have limits on what can be charged. The fee covers the agency's administrative costs for transmitting your vehicle's information to the state's database, but you may also be able to do the registration yourself to avoid these costs.

[retiredguy123]

When buying a new car, I recommend trying to find a "Mullinax" dealership within driving distance of The Villages. Two of them that I know of are Mullinax Ford in Apopka, and Hyundai of Central Florida in Clermont. Mullinax dealers do not charge any of the bogus fees listed by the OP in this thread. Also, they do not install overpriced dealer add-ons, such as pin striping, fabric protection, appearance packages, nitrogen in the tires, replacement insurance, etc. They only charge for options that are added to the vehicle by the manufacturer and listed on the Federally mandated window sticker. They do not attach an extra window sticker like some dealers do.

[Bassdeer]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I just helped a friend buy a car at Hyundai of Central Florida. We paid the MSRP minus a dealer discount of $5,000, plus the sales tax of 6 percent plus a title and tag transfer fee of about $150. No dealer installed options. We didn't pay any other fees. Period. That is the way Mullinax dealers sell all of their vehicles. All of the fees you cited are totally bogus.

Just got a used truck for Mullinax, no extra fees.

[Babubhat]

Originally Posted by Bassdeer

Just got a used truck for Mullinax, no extra fees.

Why are people still negotiating? Use Costco car buying service or similar service. Get out the door price. If unhappy keep shopping

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Babubhat

Why are people still negotiating? Use Costco car buying service or similar service. Get out the door price. If unhappy keep shopping

Using Costco, Sam's or any other "Buying Service" might simplify the process, but it's unlikely to save you any money. When you walk into a Dealership using a "Buying Program", you have a big, giant target on your chest.

You're a Dealer's wet dream. In the industry, you're what's known as a "roll-over".

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Using Costco, Sam's or any other "Buying Service" might simplify the process, but it's unlikely to save you any money. When you walk into a Dealership using a "Buying Program", you have a big, giant target on your chest.

You're a Dealer's wet dream. In the industry, you're what's known as a "roll-over".

I agree. I tried to use the free Costco buying service. It was completely worthless. First, they said that they had no Ford dealers who participated. Then, they referred me to a Toyota dealer, who refused to give me an out-the-door price, and only said that the buying service would provide coupons for discounts on maintenance work. I think the dealer was only using the buying service to attract potential customers. I talked with the Costco buying service a few times, who were not Costco employees. They could not give me any reason why I should use their "service" but they did repeat that I would get coupons from the dealer for discounts on maintenance work. A total waste of my time.

[jimbo2012]

The doc tag fee is not required by FL, it is another bogus add on, it cost them $12 to do the registration plus the DMV fee itself.

I was shopping last week, said it's mandated by FL, it's not FL has no such requirement,
they tried to add $499, I refused, showed them another dealer adding $99.
they knocked off $400.

then the BS Prep $1199, the manufacturer gives them $$ to prep the car, again refused they dug their heals in on that, I said fine changed my offer to $1199 less.

that worked,

I was trying for 12% discount off MSRP, best found was 8% out of state but no dealer in FL would do more than 5%.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Danube

Not true, again. You said you own a dealership... and you expect people to trust you. (rolls eyes)

I can only speak about the Costco buying service. It was completely worthless. See Post No. 57. Everything in that post is true.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Danube

Not true, again. You said you own a dealership... and you expect people to trust you. (rolls eyes)

No. A company I consult for, owns almost 20 of them.

I don't really care who trusts me or doesn't. ToTV and the opinions expressed, have minimal impact on my psyche.

.. but having been in or associated with the automobile business since August, 1972, I have a fairly good clue how it works. How long have you been anything other than a "customer" of an Automobile Dealership?

& "Buying Clubs" are a joke.