Average Dealer Documentation Fees by State

Dealer documentation fees (also known as doc fees), cover a dealer's administrative costs related to title, registration, and other paperwork involved with the car purchase.

Doc fees range from $0 to nearly $1,000 depending on which dealer and state you purchase from. Some states such as California limit the maximum amount a dealer can charge for this fee, but most have no limits.

You cannot negotiate a dealer's doc fee because they are required by law to charge the same amount to every customer. You can, however, ask them to reduce the price of the vehicle to compensate for a high doc fee.

TrueCar.com has compiled a list of average doc fees charged in each state. The data is mostly from July 2011, but I've updated some of the States as readers informed me of changes.

They found the highest doc fees to be in the Southeast region of the United States with Florida having an average doc fee of $607. The lowest doc fee is found in California, with an average fee of only $55.

Dealer Documentation Fees

(as of July 2011, subject to change) State Average

Dealer Doc Fee* Range of Fees Statewide Cap or Rules? AL $458 $0 to $899 No cap or rules AR $97 $0 to $129 Restrictions on Display/Terminology AZ $401 $199 to $539 No cap or rules CA $55 $0 to $55 $55 CO $508 $249 to $689 No cap or rules CT $357 $245 to $499 No cap or rules DC $299 $299 to $299 No cap or rules DE $241 $50 to $349 No cap or rules FL $607 $0 to $999 No cap or rules GA $502 $0 to $899 No cap or rules HI $245 $245 to $245 No cap or rules IA $134 $89 to $199 No cap or rules ID $286 $250 to $314 No cap or rules IL $155 $150 to $155 $155 IN $178 $149 to $475 No cap or rules KS $235 $119 to $299 Restrictions on Display/Terminology KY $354 $0 to $698 No cap or rules LA $103 $100 to $100 $100 MA $321 $195 to $495 No cap or rules MD $131 $0 to $200 $200 ME $336 $198 to $399 No cap or rules MI $181 $75 to $214 $194 Max Doc Fee + flat $21 Electronic Filing Fee MN $125 $125 to $125 $125 MO $174 $0 to $199 Restrictions on Display/Terminology MS $274 $139 to $399 No cap or rules MT $224 $99 to $338 No cap or rules NC $466 $0 to $699 No cap or rules ND $124 $98 to $149 No cap or rules NE $222 $29.5 to $399 No cap or rules NH $304 $240 to $399 Restrictions on Display/Terminology NJ $270 $98 to $399 No cap or rules NM $263 $69 to $349 Restrictions on Display/Terminology NV $431 $345 to $599 No cap or rules NY $74 $45 to $75 $75 OH $247 $99 to $250 $250 OK $235 $149 to $399 No cap or rules OR $61 $50 to $100 No cap or rules PA $122 $72 to $250 No cap or rules RI $231 $196 to $379 No cap or rules SC $293 $0 to $599 No cap or rules SD $93 $49 to $149 No cap or rules TN $402 $289 to $699 No cap or rules TX $125 $50 to $150 $150 Max; Restrictions on Display UT $293 $0 to $398 No cap or rules VA $403 $0 to $599 No cap or rules VT $148 $0 to $296 No cap or rules WA $145 $50 to $150 $150 WI $152 $89 to $199 No cap or rules WV $129 $85 to $175 No cap or rules WY $388 $205 to $499 No cap or rules *Top 10 Lowest by Average are labeled in green; top 10 highest by average are labeled in red.

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