What is a doc fee and is it negotiable?

The dealer's charge for preparing the title, registration and contract paperwork. In 20 states it is capped by law; everywhere else it is whatever the store charges, and it is rarely removed, but the price of the car is negotiable to offset it. Ask for the out-the-door number.

Which states cap doc fees?

California ($85), Minnesota ($125), Arkansas ($129), Texas ($150), New York ($175), Iowa ($180), Indiana ($199), South Dakota ($200), Washington ($200), Ohio ($250), Oregon ($250), West Virginia ($250), Michigan ($260), North Dakota ($299), Illinois ($347), Louisiana ($425), Massachusetts ($459), Arizona ($499), Maryland ($500), Missouri ($565). Caps are often indexed yearly; the table notes which.

Is sales tax charged on the doc fee?

In most states yes, the doc fee is part of the taxable selling price. Title and registration fees are government charges passed through without tax; see the sales tax by state page.

Dealer doc fees by state

The average documentation fee is $398; it runs from $85 in California to $999 in Florida. 20 states cap it. Title and plate fees are listed too, so you can see the full government-and-dealer stack before tax.

$398 average doc fee

$999 Florida, highest

$85 California, lowest (capped)

20states with a legal cap

Your deal

State

Agreed vehicle price ($)

Sales tax rate (%)

Trade-in ($)

Other dealer add-ons ($, e.g. protection packages)

Out the door

estimated out-the-door price

$0doc fee (state average)

$0title + registration

$0sales tax

0%fees as share of price

Tax applied to price minus trade (where the state credits trades) plus doc fee and add-ons; a rough estimate, since registration varies by vehicle weight, value and county. Use the OTD price tool for the full worksheet.

Doc fee by state

#	State	Avg doc fee	Legal cap	Title fee	Registration	Note
1	Florida	$999	no cap	$75	$297
2	Virginia	$799	no cap	$15	$36
3	Colorado	$699	no cap	$7	$595
4	North Carolina	$699	no cap	$56	$370
5	New Jersey	$695	no cap	$60	$271
6	Connecticut	$599	no cap	$25	$180
7	Georgia	$599	no cap	$18	$20
8	Oklahoma	$599	no cap	$11	$100
9	Missouri	$565	$565	$9	$57	indexed yearly (CPI)
10	Wyoming	$500	no cap	$15	$616
11	Arizona	$499	$499	$4	$564	$499 under the 2025 statute
12	Kansas	$499	no cap	$10	$80
13	Maryland	$499	$500	$100	$187	$500 from 2025
14	Maine	$499	no cap	$33	$40
15	Nevada	$499	no cap	$20	$49
16	Tennessee	$499	no cap	$14	$29
17	Alabama	$489	no cap	$18	$393
18	Delaware	$475	no cap	$35	$45
19	Massachusetts	$459	$459	$75	$60	no statutory cap; attorney general guidance
20	Kentucky	$450	no cap	$6	$26
21	Pennsylvania	$449	no cap	$58	$39
22	Louisiana	$425	$425	$77	$64	$425 max
23	Mississippi	$425	no cap	$8	$719
24	South Carolina	$400	no cap	$15	$40
25	Idaho	$399	no cap	$14	$126
26	Rhode Island	$399	no cap	$53	$58
27	Hawaii	$395	no cap	$5	$78
28	New Hampshire	$375	no cap	$25	$51
29	Illinois	$347	$347	$155	$151	indexed yearly
30	New Mexico	$339	no cap	$3	$60
31	District of Columbia	$300	no cap	$26	$185
32	Alaska	$299	no cap	$15	$245
33	Montana	$299	no cap	$12	$237
34	North Dakota	$299	$299	$5	$123	$299 from 2023
35	Nebraska	$299	no cap	$10	$83
36	Utah	$299	no cap	$6	$57
37	Wisconsin	$299	no cap	$165	$85
38	Michigan	$260	$260	$15	$128	5% of price up to $260
39	Ohio	$250	$250	$15	$31	$250 or 10% of price
40	Oregon	$250	$250	$106	$169	$250 e-filing / $200 paper
41	West Virginia	$250	$250	$15	$52
42	South Dakota	$200	$200	$10	$122
43	Vermont	$200	no cap	$35	$78
44	Indiana	$199	$199	$15	$38	$199 for 2026 per Secretary of State notice
45	Washington	$199	$200	$15	$73	$200
46	Iowa	$180	$180	$25	$333	$180 indexed
47	New York	$175	$175	$50	$146
48	Texas	$150	$150	$33	$74	reasonable, with state notice above $150
49	Arkansas	$129	$129	$10	$28
50	Minnesota	$125	$125	$8	$69	$125 plus electronic filing
51	California	$85	$85	$25	$524

Sources: CarEdge: car dealer doc fee by state (2026) · OTD Check: dealer doc fees by state · Indiana Secretary of State: doc fees in 2026. Averages as of 2026-01-27; registration is a typical passenger-car figure and varies with weight, value and county. Caps change: Indiana and Illinois index theirs yearly; confirm with the state before quoting.

Dealer-side notes

Charge the same doc fee on every deal; selective waivers create disparate-impact exposure. Disclose it on the buyer's order and in advertising where state law requires.
In capped states the fee is the cap; in uncapped states the market has drifted to $500 to $1,000 in the Southeast and under $300 in the Midwest.
Electronic title and registration (ETR) fees are separate pass-throughs in several states and must be itemized.
Related desk tools: F&I calculator, OTD price, sales tax by state, payment grid.