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Out-the-door price calculator
Work out what a car really costs with tax, title, registration, dealer fees and add-ons included, then what is left to pay or finance after your trade-in and down payment, and what the loan costs in total. Free, and nothing you type leaves your browser.
Enter the selling price to start.
Have the dealer’s actual quote? Upload it instead of typing: we read every line, you confirm the figures, and we check the dealer’s arithmetic, explain each fee and add-on, and draft your reply. Two quotes? Compare them side by side.
Explain my dealer quoteCompare two quotesHow the out-the-door price is worked out
The out-the-door price is the selling price, minus discounts and rebates, plus sales tax, government fees, dealer fees and any add-ons. It is the total for the car itself. Your trade-in and down payment come afterwards: they reduce what is left to pay or finance.
So the calculator shows three things separately: the out-the-door price, the amount financed (or balance due) after your trade-in, payoff, down payment and deposit, and, if you add an APR and term, the monthly payment and the total of payments. Mixing those three up is one of the easiest ways to misread a deal; here is why.
About sales tax
Sales tax on a car depends on where you live and register it. States differ on whether manufacturer rebates and your trade-in reduce the taxed amount, and local rates can apply on top of the state rate. The two tick boxes let you match your state’s approach; if you have a dealer quote, switch to Tax amount from my quote and type the dealer’s figure instead.
Checking a dealer’s quote
If a dealer gave you an out-the-door price, type in its lines and compare your total with the dealer’s. A difference that matches one line exactly usually means that line was counted twice or left out. Our guide to calculating the out-the-door price walks through an example, and dealer fees explained covers what each fee usually is.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the out-the-door price of a car?
Start with the selling price, subtract dealer discounts and rebates, then add sales tax, title and registration fees, the documentation fee, any other dealer fees and any add-ons. Your trade-in and down payment are not part of the out-the-door price; they reduce what is left to pay or finance afterwards.
Does the out-the-door price include tax and fees?
Yes. The out-the-door price includes sales tax, government fees such as title and registration, dealer fees such as the documentation fee, and any add-ons. It is the total for the car before your trade-in and down payment.
How is sales tax calculated on a car?
It depends on your state and sometimes your city or county, including whether rebates and a trade-in reduce the taxed amount. This calculator lets you choose both. When you have a dealer quote, use the tax the dealer printed and ask how it was worked out if it looks off.
Is my trade-in included in the out-the-door price?
No. The trade-in allowance pays part of the out-the-door price, and any loan payoff on the trade-in is added back. The calculator shows both the out-the-door price and the balance or amount financed after the trade-in and down payment.
Why is my dealer's out-the-door price different from this calculator?
Usually because a fee, add-on or tax amount is different, missing or counted differently. Ask the dealer for every line to be itemized, or upload the quote to Explain My Dealer Quote, which rebuilds the dealer's total from its own lines and shows any gap.