[jaguarjoe]

I have been looking at a used car in Las Vegas. At a used car dealership. The salesman there said they have the lowest document fees in the city at $395. What are document fees? This is new to me being from Canada. I've never heard of this. Please assist. Thanks

[Raiderman]

Doc fees are basically additional dealer profit that is used primarily to offset the salaries of the office folks. I managed car dealerships for many years, and they vary by state and region. Basically, it is as much as a dealer can charge and still be competitive. In New England, we used to charge $195 or so. In Florida, it can be as high as $1500. You will probably be told it is a fee to process the paperwork (hence the origination of the term "documentation fee"), but it really is just dealer profit. You will, however, most likely not have it waived. If anything, they will lower the price of the car an additional $395 to keep you happy if you put up enough of a fuss. But it cannot literally be "waived", as the dealership would open themselves up to a class-action law suit by everyone who has ever paid it. Hope this helps clarify for you.

[BBMW]

Flat out refuse to pay any fee that is not directly paid to a gov't entity (ie tax, registration, etc.) Know what these will be going in.

[Raiderman]

Originally Posted by BBMW

Flat out refuse to pay any fee that is not directly paid to a gov't entity (ie tax, registration, etc.) Know what these will be going in.

Exactly.. 9 times out of 10 we would reduce the price of the vehicle by the doc fee amount if pressed.

[airics]

Originally Posted by BBMW

Flat out refuse to pay any fee that is not directly paid to a gov't entity (ie tax, registration, etc.) Know what these will be going in.

Refuse the fee and 1 of 2 things happens..... if you're lucky they lower the price of the car and still reflect the fee elsewhere or 2. They show you the door and you're back to looking for the car from the beginning.

[Raiderman]

Originally Posted by airics

Refuse the fee and 1 of 2 things happens..... if you're lucky they lower the price of the car and still reflect the fee elsewhere or 2. They show you the door and you're back to looking for the car from the beginning.

That has happened as well. Dealers know that every other dealer charges the fee. If you are getting what you perceive to be a good deal on the car, then buy the car. If another dealer will lower the price to accomodate the fee and that works out to be a better deal, then get it there. Personally, although I have spent the majority of my adult years managing dealerships, I don't haggle over that part of the price. It is what it is, and everyone charges for doc fees. I normally will ask, but won't press the issue, as it is a fraction of the price and not worth the hassle.

[airics]

if you are looking for a used car, you should be looking from a private individual anyway to avoid paying the salestax.

[Raiderman]

Originally Posted by airics

if you are looking for a used car, you should be looking from a private individual anyway to avoid paying the salestax.

You don't pay sales tax on a used car purchase??

[airics]

Originally Posted by Raiderman

You don't pay sales tax on a used car purchase??

not from an individual

[Raiderman]

Wow.. I've never heard of such a thing! Another Nevada perk!