True OTD total
See vehicle price, tax, government fees, dealer charges and add-ons as separate lines.
Before you sign the buyer's order
Know the real price—not just the payment.
Calculate the out-the-door price, separate government charges from dealer-controlled fees, understand trade equity and audit a dealer quote before you commit.
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Step 1 of 4
Start with the deal price.
Use the negotiated selling price, not the monthly payment.
9 detailed state engines
Start with what you already have
What are you trying to check?
Choose the shortest path to the number or decision you need.
I have a dealer quotePaste the worksheet, classify fees and check the arithmetic.I have a vehicle priceBuild the tax, fee and OTD total with a state-specific engine.I have a trade-inCompare dealer trade value with a private sale after tax savings.I owe more than my trade is worthSee the payment and interest cost of rolling debt forward.I have a maximum budgetWork backward to a target selling price.I need tax, title and license feesEstimate TTL with your current rate and official government-fee amounts.I have a state tax or fee questionOpen the correct state engine and official sources.
A complete deal view
Separate the price from the noise.
A low advertised price or monthly payment can hide dealer fees, add-ons, negative equity and a longer loan.
Quote audit
Classify each worksheet line and surface optional, unclear or potentially duplicated charges.
Normalized comparison
Compare up to three offers by total price and amount to fund—not by payment alone.
Choose your starting point
One deal. Three ways to check it.
Calculate from selling priceBuild the OTD total from the negotiated vehicle price.Work backward from a budgetFind a suggested maximum selling price for your OTD limit.Audit an existing quoteClassify fees, verify arithmetic and generate questions for the dealer.Compare competing dealer offersNormalize up to three quotes by OTD price, fees, trade and amount to fund.
Built for the negotiation
Ask for a clean buyer's order.
The downloadable report records the calculation basis, state path, trade treatment, financing illustration, assumptions and items to confirm. It supports a factual conversation without automatically calling any charge unlawful.
Source-backed buying guides
Understand every number before it reaches the contract.
Use the guide library to identify dealer-controlled fees, evaluate financing, follow trade equity and prepare for title, registration and delivery.
Dealer fees explainedClassify government charges, dealer fees and optional products.Read a buyer's orderReconcile selling price, credits, trade, OTD and financing.Dealer financing markupCompare the lender buy rate with the APR offered to you.Used-car inspectionCombine history, recall, title and mechanical checks.Out-of-state purchasePlan tax, temporary tags, transport and registration.Browse all 38 guidesExplore price, fees, financing, taxes and transaction safety.
Clear answers
Frequently asked questions
What does out-the-door price include?
The out-the-door price is the total purchase price after vehicle price, taxes, title and registration, dealer fees and add-ons. Down payment and trade equity affect how much cash or financing is needed, but they do not change the underlying OTD purchase price.
Does a trade-in reduce sales tax?
Trade-in tax treatment varies by state. CarDealAudit models qualifying trade treatment for detailed state engines including Florida, Texas, Washington, Georgia, North Carolina, Illinois, New York and Tennessee, while California intentionally shows no trade-in sales-tax deduction. The payoff affects equity rather than replacing the gross trade allowance.
Are dealer documentation fees government fees?
No. A documentation or processing fee is normally dealer-controlled even where state law regulates how it must be disclosed or limits it. Government title, registration and tax charges should be shown separately.
Can the calculator check every US state exactly?
Detailed rule-backed engines are available for Florida, Texas, Washington, California, Georgia, North Carolina, Illinois, New York and Tennessee. Where tax or registration depends on location or vehicle-specific details, the calculator asks for that input instead of pretending a statewide number is exact.