Car Dealer Doc Fee by State in 2026 (Updated)
Key Takeaways
- Doc Fees vary widely by state, and range from $100 to nearly $1,000.
- Some states, such as Florida, don't cap doc fees.
- Don't buy a car without our FREE personalized Car Buyer's Guide.
Through the ups and downs of the auto market, one thing remains the same: every state has a documentation fee. Also known as a doc fee, this isn’t like the other fees you’ll encounter. Be sure to familiarize yourself with what car dealer fees you should and shouldn’t pay.
The price of a car is never what it seems. There’s the selling price, the fees, the add-ons, and taxes. When it’s all said and done, you end up with the out-the-door price, and one of the line items you’ll see on your purchase agreement is a “doc fee”. Car dealer doc fees show up on EVERY car deal, and on this page we’ve aggregated all the car dealer doc fees by state for 2026.
Some states (like California and New York) cap the dealer doc fee. Others, such as Florida, don’t cap the doc fee. We’ve gathered the average doc fee that you should expect a dealership to charge in every state. If a dealer is charging more, you should try to negotiate the price down. Download this FREE negotiation cheat sheet!
Car Dealer Doc Fee by State – 2026
We’ve also included the average title and registration fee you should expect to pay in each state.
| State | Average Doc Fee | Title Fee | Total Registration Fees | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AK | $299 | $15 | $245 | More info |
| AL | $489 | $18 | $393 | More info |
| AR | $129 | $10 | $28 | More info |
| AZ | $499 | $4 | $564 | More info |
| CA | $85 | $25 | $524 | More info |
| CO | $699 | $7 | $595 | More info |
| CT | $599 | $25 | $180 | More info |
| DC | $300 | $26 | $185 | More info |
| DE | $475 | $35 | $45 | More info |
| FL | $999 | $75 | $297 | More info |
| GA | $599 | $18 | $20 | More info |
| HI | $395 | $5 | $78 | More info |
| IA | $180 | $25 | $333 | More info |
| ID | $399 | $14 | $126 | More info |
| IL | $347 | $155 | $151 | More info |
| IN | $199 | $15 | $38 | More info |
| KS | $499 | $10 | $80 | More info |
| KY | $450 | $6 | $26 | More info |
| LA | $425 | $77 | $64 | More info |
| MA | $459 | $75 | $60 | More info |
| MD | $499 | $100 | $187 | More info |
| ME | $499 | $33 | $40 | More info |
| MI | $260 | $15 | $128 | More info |
| MN | $125 | $8 | $69 | More info |
| MO | $565 | $9 | $57 | More info |
| MS | $425 | $8 | $719 | More info |
| MT | $299 | $12 | $237 | More info |
| NC | $699 | $56 | $370 | More info |
| ND | $299 | $5 | $123 | More info |
| NE | $299 | $10 | $83 | More info |
| NH | $375 | $25 | $51 | More info |
| NJ | $695 | $60 | $271 | More info |
| NM | $339 | $3 | $60 | More info |
| NV | $499 | $20 | $49 | More info |
| NY | $175 | $50 | $146 | More info |
| OH | $250 | $15 | $31 | More info |
| OK | $599 | $11 | $100 | More info |
| OR | $250 | $106 | $169 | More info |
| PA | $449 | $58 | $39 | More info |
| RI | $399 | $53 | $58 | More info |
| SC | $400 | $15 | $40 | More info |
| SD | $200 | $10 | $122 | More info |
| TN | $499 | $14 | $29 | More info |
| TX | $150 | $33 | $74 | More info |
| UT | $299 | $6 | $57 | More info |
| VA | $799 | $15 | $36 | More info |
| VT | $200 | $35 | $78 | More info |
| WA | $199 | $15 | $73 | More info |
| WI | $299 | $165 | $85 | More info |
| WV | $250 | $15 | $52 | More info |
| WY | $500 | $15 | $616 | More info |
In today’s market you will likely not be able to negotiate the dealer doc fee. That being said, we have this complete guide to car dealer fees you should never pay.
You can find this data incorporated into our out the door price (OTD) calculator. When you are shopping for a new or used car it is important that you understand the total “out the door” price that you will be paying. Dealers like to get you to talk about monthly budget, however the most important things is to negotiate the OTD price.
When Buying a Car Out of State, Where Do You Pay Registration Fees?
Registration fees and taxes are generally paid in the state where you reside and where the vehicle will be titled and registered. If you buy from a dealership, they may collect your home state’s taxes and registration fees at the time of purchase and handle the paperwork for you. This saves you lots of time and hassle. If the dealer doesn’t handle it, you’ll need to register the vehicle yourself at your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or equivalent agency. Unfortunately, vehicle registration fees are not negotiable, and are set by state law.
Here’s a look at vehicle registration fees by state as of 2026:
Free Car Buying Help Is Here!
Ready to outsmart the dealerships? Download your 100% free car buying cheat sheets today. From negotiating a deal to leasing a car the smart way, it’s all available for instant download. Get your cheat sheets today!
Sponsored by Insurify
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare rates from top carriers in under 5 minutes. CarEdge users save an average of $996/year on auto insurance.
*Disclosure: CarEdge may earn a commission when you compare insurance quotes through our partner, Insurify. This does not influence our editorial content.*
