What makes a car deal good
- A fair price for the car. Compare it with the same model listed now: cars for sale around Fremont, each scored against similar cars. On a new car, a markup over the sticker price is negotiable.
- No charges you don't need. Sales tax and DMV fees are required. The doc fee is capped at $85. Add-ons and finance-office products are optional, and dealer charges are negotiable. The check above marks each line of your quote.
- A loan that adds up. The check works out the monthly payment again from the amount financed, the rate and the term, so anything packed into the payment shows. On a new car it compares the rate with the Federal Reserve's average for new-car loans at commercial banks (August 2026).
A sample quote, checked
| Doc Fee | $150 | Over the legal limit |
|---|---|---|
| VIN Etch | $399 | Optional |
| Nitrogen Tires | $199 | Optional |
| Protection Package | $1,495 | Optional |
| Sales Tax | $3,730 | Required |
Aim for $36,694 out the door$2,379 less than quoted
A made-up quote. Check yours to see your own.
How it works
- Paste the dealer's email or the itemized lines, or type them in.
- Check what we read and fix anything we got wrong. Add the city where you'll register the car, so the sales tax can be checked.
- 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
How do I know if a car deal is good?
Look at three things: the price against the same model for sale now, the fees and add-ons on the quote, and the loan. A low price can come with add-ons that cost more than the discount, and a low monthly payment can hide a longer loan or a higher rate. Compare written out-the-door totals, not monthly payments.
What should a dealer quote show?
The sale price, each fee and add-on on its own line, sales tax, DMV fees and the out-the-door total. If a dealer sends only a monthly payment, ask for the itemized total in writing: here is an email that asks for it.
Which lines can I ask to take off?
Add-ons like VIN etching, nitrogen and paint protection, and finance-office products like service contracts and GAP, are optional. Dealer charges like a prep fee are negotiable. The doc fee is capped at $85 ($70 for dealers without a DMV partner contract). Sales tax and DMV fees are required, and we never mark them down.
Does it check quotes from other states?
Not yet. The doc fee cap, the sales tax rates and the CARS Act checks are California's, so a quote from another state would be checked against the wrong rules.
Do you keep my quote?
We keep the lines of each quote you check (the labels and amounts, the car, the dealer's name and city, and your city) to see which fees dealers charge. We don't keep your name, street address, phone number, email or license number. 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.