Dealer Add-On Fees in Texas?

[Jim Lewis]

Would love to hear from other Texas buyers out there what their dealer charged in processing fees. Here's my bill for my Lightning Lariat ER with Tow Technology, Max Tow Package, Spray-in-Bed Liner, and Plastic Floor Tray and Mats. The "Other Fees" is what I'm wondering is typical for Texas Ford buyers or not? TIA for any pointers on how your purchase pricing went with dealer surcharges.

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[jimfigler]

Not Texas but I had $358 in fees in addition to the $100 dealer doc fee. The $358 included NYS registration and title costs and some other stuff

 

[astricklin]

The dealer should be able to give you a breakdown of what that amount includes. As stated I bet most of it is registration/title/license plate fees, but it's possible they are padding it.

 

[Jim Lewis]

Here's the fee breakdown. I'm in Bexar County, TX. The fine print says that I don't have to pay the dealer inventory tax if I don't want to but the dealer rep I dealt with at Red McCombs Ford has been so helpful, I thought he and Red McCombs more than earned their fee as a "tip" for great service.

 

[bmwhitetx]

I wish I had known about the Inventory tax, I think I read that was not required. Here's what I paid
beyond sales tax
Automation fee 4.75
Dealers Inventory tax 151.17
Child Safety Reg fee 5.00
Doc fee 150.00
State Inspection fee 23.75 (Denton County requires emission)
Deputy service fee 5.00 (get tags from dealer instead of tax office)
License fee 101.50
Title Fee 33.00
Road& Bridge Fee 20.00

Total: $494.17

 

[astricklin]

"inventory tax" I believe is just them trying to pass a cost of doing business onto the customer. Texas state comptroller says that it is a negotiable item

https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/96-254/vit.php

 

[bpcunning]

I wish I had known about the Inventory tax, I think I read that was not required. Here's what I paid
beyond sales tax
Automation fee 4.75
Dealers Inventory tax 151.17
Child Safety Reg fee 5.00
Doc fee 150.00
State Inspection fee 23.75 (Denton County requires emission)
Deputy service fee 5.00 (get tags from dealer instead of tax office)
License fee 101.50
Title Fee 33.00
Road& Bridge Fee 20.00

Total: $494.17

My fees were remarkably similar. Dealer was in Harris County, I live in Brazoria County.

 

[Jim Lewis]

The fine print says that I don't have to pay the dealer inventory tax if I don't want to

I wish I had known about the Inventory tax, I think I read that was not required.

I might be overinterpreting the fine print on my sales contract. Here's what it actually says:

In other words, my TX county doesn't require me to pay that fee, although the dealer wants me to help pay his tax bill to the county. I could try to haggle out of it or pay less, but I wanted to reward the dealer rep for bending over backwards to help me. Seems like the documentary (doc) fee is a charge in the same ballpark. Something the dealer wants to collect for doing paperwork, which somehow the destination and delivery fee doesn't manage to cover! You can tell I don't buy new vehicles very often!

 

[astricklin]

To me it's a bit pedantic to argue over $200-$300 on a $60k+ purchase. However if they try to charge $500 for one of these items, that's a bit excessive.

 

[Artificial Intelligence]

Have you already picked up the truck? If not be prepared for the surprises when you show up. My dealer wanted to charge $1500 extra for tint and stuff that he ended up taking off in the end.

your fees generally look inline no red flags there

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