What does out the door price mean?
The out-the-door price (OTD price) is the total you pay to drive a car off the lot: the vehicle price plus sales tax, title and registration fees, and dealer fees such as the doc fee, minus any trade-in, rebates, and discounts. It is the one number that lets you compare dealers fairly, because every dealer’s sticker price leaves different charges out.
What is included in the out-the-door price
- Selling price of the vehicle, after discounts and rebates, plus destination on a new car.
- Sales tax (or the state’s equivalent, such as a title tax or excise tax), usually for the state where you register the car.
- Government fees: title, registration, plates, and a lien recording fee if you finance.
- Dealer doc fee, which some states cap.
- Add-ons you agree to keep, such as a service contract or GAP.
- Minus your trade-in, and in many states the trade-in also lowers the taxed amount.
What it does not include
Loan interest is not part of the out-the-door price, and neither is insurance. A low monthly payment can hide a high out-the-door price, so ask for the OTD total first and talk about financing second.
Estimate yours
Open the out the door price calculator, choose your state, and type the price. For the step-by-step math, read how to calculate the out-the-door price.
Estimates from official sources as of October 24, 2026; not legal or tax advice; confirm with your DMV.