What “out-the-door price” means
The out-the-door (OTD) price is the total you pay to drive away: vehicle price plus sales tax, doc fee, title and registration and any add-ons, minus rebates and trade-in. Always negotiate and compare on OTD, not on sticker or monthly payment.
Worked example
$18,500 car, 9.5% sales tax, $85 doc fee (taxed), $450 title/registration, and a $299 etching add-on:
- Taxable amount: $18,884.00
- Sales tax: $1,793.98
- Out-the-door: $21,127.98
Remove the etching and the OTD drops by $327.40 (the $299 plus the tax on it). Tax treatment of doc fees and trade-ins varies by state; the OTD calculator lets you set both.
How to ask for it
“Please send an itemized out-the-door price for this car (stock #), including all taxes, fees and any add-ons.” The Negotiate tool writes this for you; you send it.
Next step: Calculate your out-the-door price →
Sources
Last reviewed October 12, 2026 by TrustBuy Expert. General information, not legal or financial advice.