Where the cars come from
- Autotrader, CarMax and Carvana, read from their public search pages; every list shows when it was last updated. Each car links to its listing, and the price there is the one that counts.
- The same car on two sites is shown once, by its VIN, with each site's price.
- Price ratings compare a car with the same make and model listed now, adjusted for year, miles and trim when there are enough of that trim. No rating when there are fewer than 8 similar cars or their prices are too scattered.
- A price far below similar cars is marked "Check this listing", not a great deal: it often means damage, a branded title or fees left out.
- No dealer pays us, and a better rating can't be bought.
What the quote check checks
- The doc fee. California caps the document processing charge at $85 for dealers with a DMV partner contract and $70 for other dealers. Anything over $85 is flagged.
- Add-ons. VIN etching, nitrogen, paint and fabric protection, tint, anti-theft and protection packages are dealer products. Each is marked optional, with the words to decline it.
- Finance-office products. Service contracts, GAP and prepaid maintenance are optional and listed on their own.
- Sales tax. Compared with the rate for the city where you will register the car, from the state's table effective October 1, 2026.
- The monthly payment. Worked out from the amount financed, the rate and the term, so anything packed into the payment shows up.
- The interest rate. For new cars, compared with the Federal Reserve's average rate on new-car loans at commercial banks (August 2026).
- Anything we can't check is listed, never skipped.
How it works
- Add a photo or PDF of the quote, or paste the dealer's email.
- Check what we read and fix anything we got wrong.
- Get the out-the-door price to aim for and a message asking the dealer to take off what you don't want. You send it. We never contact the dealer.
Questions
Is the doc fee negotiable in California?
The law sets a maximum: $85 for a dealer with a DMV private industry partner contract and $70 for other dealers (Vehicle Code 4456.5). A dealer can charge less, and it may not present the charge as a government fee.
Do I have to pay for add-ons I didn't ask for?
Add-ons like VIN etching, nitrogen and protection packages are dealer products, not government charges, so you can ask for them to come off. Under California's CARS Act, in effect since October 1, 2026, a dealer may not charge for an add-on that gives you no benefit.
Which charges can't be negotiated?
Sales tax and DMV fees are set by the state, and we never mark them down. On a new car, the destination charge is set by the manufacturer and printed on the window sticker.
Is my photo stored?
No. It goes to Anthropic's Claude model to read the lines, and we don't keep it. We keep the lines of checked quotes (labels, amounts, the car and the dealer) without your name, address or contact details. See privacy.
Is this legal or financial advice?
No. It's facts and math, with the source of every rule. Laws change, so get anything important in writing from the dealer.
Sources
- Doc fee cap: Cal. Vehicle Code §4456.5(a)(1), checked October 19, 2026.
- Electronic filing charge: Cal. Vehicle Code §4456.5(a)(2), checked October 19, 2026.
- Add-ons, disclosures and the used-car right to cancel: California's CARS Act (SB 766, Stats. 2025 ch. 354), in effect October 1, 2026.
- Sales tax rates: CDTFA, Effective Sales and Use Tax Rates, table effective October 1, 2026.
- New-car loan rate benchmark: Federal Reserve G.19, August 2026 rates, released October 7, 2026.
- Fuel economy, fuel cost and size class: U.S. EPA, fueleconomy.gov, data of October 25, 2026.
- Safety ratings, recalls and owner complaints: NHTSA, checked October 25, 2026.