Documentation Fee?
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 2
From: Chesapeake, VA
Every state charges new and used car dealers certain fees when registering a vehicle within that state. Most of the fee (charged to the consumer by the dealer) is pure profit. Tell them that you are willing to pay for the actual DMV costs plus $75.00 for the $12.00/hr gal to take the paperwork to the DMV. That's all I would be willing to pay.
Be aware that many dealers will not back off of this charge and you may find yourself butting heads with your preferred dealer over a small amount of money. If they have the car you really want or are the dealer that you really want to work with then prepare to be flexible. GL!
Last edited by HaveBullDogWillTravel; Mar 10, 2012 at 06:09 PM.
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
I paid $150 in Seattle, WA. They wouldn't budge on the doc fee once I was sitting in front of the finance guy. I would negotiate this with the dealer before going to the finance guy. In WA state, it clearly says that it is a negotiable fee.
AudiWorld Newcomer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 132
Likes: 26
From: Edmonton, AB. Canada
"Profit Recovery Fees"
I'll weigh in on this one from a Canadian perspective. It's been something I've laughed at for all my German vehicle purchases for some time now.
My Q5 had the following:
Dealer Preparation/Fuel/Detail/Battery Maintainer: $495
Audi Anti Theft: $189
Administration Fee: $495 (This one gets me the most. I hand you a cheque, you hand me keys)
Air Conditioning Tax Recovery Fee: $100
Tire Levy: $20
Security Locking Wheel Bolts: $195
AMVIC Fee: $6.25
While a couple are possible local regulatory fees out of the control of the dealer, make no mistake about it, fees are a recovery of negotiation discounts. I've become friends with GSM and his own admission of same is confirmation of my suspicions years ago.
Lesson here. Know your anticipated fees before negotiation process.
Additional vehicle purchase fees are similar to airline ticket taxes.
Good talk.
My Q5 had the following:
Dealer Preparation/Fuel/Detail/Battery Maintainer: $495
Audi Anti Theft: $189
Administration Fee: $495 (This one gets me the most. I hand you a cheque, you hand me keys)
Air Conditioning Tax Recovery Fee: $100
Tire Levy: $20
Security Locking Wheel Bolts: $195
AMVIC Fee: $6.25
While a couple are possible local regulatory fees out of the control of the dealer, make no mistake about it, fees are a recovery of negotiation discounts. I've become friends with GSM and his own admission of same is confirmation of my suspicions years ago.
Lesson here. Know your anticipated fees before negotiation process.
Additional vehicle purchase fees are similar to airline ticket taxes.
Good talk.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 13,980
Likes: 124
From: SE Massachusetts, U.S.
At the end of the day, the price you pay for the car after discount and fees is all that matters. Pretty much, any fee (other than those required for vehicle registration) is a reduction of the negotiated discount on the sell price. A deep discount with a fee could be as good as a lesser discount w/o it. Audi has a 7% gross profit margin plus full freight from list price. The goal is to get as close as possible to net invoice cost however you get there, fees or no fees.
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AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,040
Likes: 82
From: Edmonton, Alberta
I'll weigh in on this one from a Canadian perspective. It's been something I've laughed at for all my German vehicle purchases for some time now.
My Q5 had the following:
Dealer Preparation/Fuel/Detail/Battery Maintainer: $495
Audi Anti Theft: $189
Administration Fee: $495 (This one gets me the most. I hand you a cheque, you hand me keys)
Air Conditioning Tax Recovery Fee: $100
Tire Levy: $20
Security Locking Wheel Bolts: $195
AMVIC Fee: $6.25
While a couple are possible local regulatory fees out of the control of the dealer, make no mistake about it, fees are a recovery of negotiation discounts. I've become friends with GSM and his own admission of same is confirmation of my suspicions years ago.
Lesson here. Know your anticipated fees before negotiation process.
Additional vehicle purchase fees are similar to airline ticket taxes.
Good talk.
My Q5 had the following:
Dealer Preparation/Fuel/Detail/Battery Maintainer: $495
Audi Anti Theft: $189
Administration Fee: $495 (This one gets me the most. I hand you a cheque, you hand me keys)
Air Conditioning Tax Recovery Fee: $100
Tire Levy: $20
Security Locking Wheel Bolts: $195
AMVIC Fee: $6.25
While a couple are possible local regulatory fees out of the control of the dealer, make no mistake about it, fees are a recovery of negotiation discounts. I've become friends with GSM and his own admission of same is confirmation of my suspicions years ago.
Lesson here. Know your anticipated fees before negotiation process.
Additional vehicle purchase fees are similar to airline ticket taxes.
Good talk.
BTW, does your wife drive btw Edmonton and Calgary on a regular basis? I've seen white TDI on my travels recently on hwy 2. If so, tell her to turn off the rear foglights!
They're damn annoying. Also, she drives really fast.
Last edited by NABS4; Feb 8, 2014 at 08:34 AM.
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