Dealer fees › Destination charge
Destination charge: is it legit?
Verdict: Legit on a new car if it matches the factory window sticker. On a used car, or above the sticker amount, it's junk.
What it is
What the manufacturer charges to ship a new car from the factory to the dealer. It's averaged nationwide and printed on the official window sticker (the Monroney label).
Also shows up as: Destination, Destination & delivery, Freight, Freight & handling.
What it typically costs
- For 2026 models, Consumer Reports found destination charges from $1,150 (Mercedes-Benz) to $3,250 (Alfa Romeo), with big trucks and SUVs near the top (Consumer Reports).
- The average rose to $1,551 in 2025 from $961 in 2015, according to Cox Automotive data reported by Kelley Blue Book (Kelley Blue Book).
Why it's legit
- Consumer Reports calls the destination charge unavoidable on a new car; it's included in the official window sticker (Consumer Reports).
- Prep fees are part of it: Consumer Reports says "dealer prep" and "predelivery inspection" add-ons should be contested because they're part of the destination charge (Consumer Reports).
- A used car's destination was paid by its first owner. A "destination" or "freight" line on a used-car quote is a dealer fee, not a shipping cost.
How to get it removed
- New car: compare the line with the destination amount on the factory window sticker. It should match exactly.
- If the quote is higher, or there's a second "delivery" or "freight" line, ask for the extra to be removed.
- Used car: ask for any destination or freight line to be removed.
- Negotiate the vehicle price itself instead; the destination charge on a new car won't move.
Copy-paste script:
"The destination on the window sticker is the amount I'll pay; please remove the extra delivery charge. Please send me an updated out-the-door price with that line removed, and I can move forward today."
Is this fee on your quote? Snap or paste the quote and our free scan marks every line legit, negotiable or junk in seconds. Want an expert to check the whole deal? $19, money back if we find nothing useful.
How TrustBuy flags it
Our free scan and the $19 report use the same rules as this page: a destination charge line is marked Legit (on a new car, if it matches the window sticker; junk on a used car).
FAQ
Is the destination charge negotiable?
On a new car, no: it's set by the manufacturer and printed on the window sticker. Negotiate the vehicle price instead. Extra delivery or prep lines on top of it are negotiable.
Why is there a destination charge on a used car?
There shouldn't be. A used car's shipping was paid when it was new. Treat it as a dealer fee and ask for it to be removed.
How much is a typical destination charge?
For 2026 models Consumer Reports found $1,150 to $3,250, and Cox Automotive data put the 2025 average at $1,551.
Related
Other fees: Dealer prep fee · Market adjustment (ADM) · Doc fee · all dealer fees
Doc fees by state: California · Texas · Florida · New York · Pennsylvania · Illinois · all states
Tools: Out-the-door price calculator · Free quote scan · Compare: TrustBuy vs CarEdge · vs Carfax
Sources
- Consumer Reports, Most and Least Expensive Car Destination Charges (updated March 2026)
- Kelley Blue Book, Destination Fees Hit Record High (March 2026)
- Consumer Reports, How to Spot and Avoid Unnecessary Car-Buying Fees (updated March 2026)
Checked October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Prices are examples from the cited sources and vary by dealer and state.