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2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
We should have the option of being able to do it ourselves.
But, I think there is more to it. When we bought the 2014 C (used at the time) we had about 25 pages to look over, read and sign.....for the first time it was all done on a laptop, that was new for the dealer. The Guy said there were more papers to sign for a car, than if you were buying a house. It probably took about 30 minutes. I suppose DOC fees include ALL of the paperwork.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
You pay for the registration and any county/state fees. They process the paperwork in bulk, probably 10-15 cars at a time. It may take a person 2 hours.
Let's say they are paid 50K / year. That's about $24/ hour. Let's round up to $50 for 10 cars of paperwork.
$5.00 a car and they charge each customer hundreds.
This is one reason they can sell cars at a "loss".
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
Maybe Mike can confirm, but I recall reading that a lot of dealers now are tied into the DMV directly, so don't even have to send a runner to wait on line at DMV (where, at least in NJ, there is a special dealers only line, but not sure if mostly smaller used car lots do that).
It sounds good to say just DIY it, but dealers won't do that, because they can't ever be sure you really did go register the car.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Putty: "We had to go find it."
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
JERRY: Yellow? I wanted black.
PUDDY: I can’t give you black at that price.
So cost to the dealer in NY is theoretically about $135 but I’ve always seen that added into to final cost of the car. In fact, on my last car they overcharged me $65 because they wouldn’t accept that there was still the bulk of the old car’s registration credit and I didn’t need new plates. To their credit they refunded the overcharge.
Even if they have to physically send someone to the DMV I can’t see $600 being justified. I think it’s just another way for dealers to get more money from uninformed buyers. Most posters on this board just factor a doc fee into the deal and deduct it from their offer. The dealer is counting on the ignorance of your average buyer.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Should be popular with parents with messy kids.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Anyone who says there are more papers to sign buying a car than buying a house hasn't bought a house.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Last month when we bought the BMW we had the new plates on the car and the registration paperwork before we drove away.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
The doc fee is absolutely just extra revenue. The pass through DMV fees are all separate line items, as is sales tax. So you pay the hard government costs itemized out. The $299-$399 doc fee is added after all those, and goes straight into dealer pocket.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Ask your legislators about dropping the doc fee to the amount charged by BMV plus actual labor cost, if any, if someone goes to the BMW title office to transfer it. They'll try to act like you have no idea what you're talking about.
Ours quietly changed the wording of the legislation applicable a few years back. It used to justify the doc fee for time payment forms costs of preparation (loan agreements). If someone paid cash, the doc fee was not applicable, in my humble legal opinion.
My last used car purchase at the Voss group around Dayton had the salesman justify the doc fee because the dealership had to pay the cost of the computer equipment for retaining those records for 10 years or some number like that. LOL
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Why only $899? They should put five, or better ten grand there, cause why not? State doesn't care, apparently, so go ahead. I wait for "you pay $1" ad with $24999 dealer prep fee. It's coming and it will happen here, in Sunshine State.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
@qbrozen @stickguy have you ever received your plates/NJ registration at time of delivery?
Volvo took three weeks for plates.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
I think dealers do it because they can’t lose. Like you said, it lets them advertise lower prices. Plus, if they go with normal prices (or internet TMV type stuff), while some people are smart enough to negotiate OTD, plenty will focus only on the good top line deal, and pay the doc fee without thinking. So dealer makes a killing on some deals, normal on the rest.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
2018 430i Gran Coupe
When I lived in PA and left 7 years ago, everything was electronic - you left the dealer with your physical license plate and a temporary registration paper and within a week or so they mailed you your registration card and sticker. Now you don't even get stickers. I believe the doc fee is capped in PA though - I want to say it was capped out under $200 when I left.
Now in WA, the doc fee is capped at $150 and in OR it is capped at $115. For WA, you are issued a paper temp tag that goes in your back window good for 90 days. Usually within 60 days you get your plates. Nothing is electronic for the initial plate issuing unless you are taking it to an actual licensing office. My penance for such a low doc fee is incredibly high registration costs - the i3 was over $700 for year 1 and 10.5% tax on payments/incentives.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Usually it takes a couple weeks. Makes it easy to tell when people got a new car, since they have the paper plate on the back. Used to be a window sticker.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
The county then sends me a post card with the purchase price and other vehicle info on it; I take that, plus proof of insurance, to the county offices, write my check, and they issue the plates then and there.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I think in NY plates require a trip to the DMV. Whenever I’ve purchased a new car the plates were on it upon delivery. Certainly when I buy a hooptie I have to go to the DMV. I don’t think NY issues temp plates and I read a while ago that they don’t honor temp tags from other states either. So theoretically if you buy a car in Florida and drive it home with temp tags you could be ticketed. Sounds stupid enough to be a NY law.
A friend bought a car in CT and returned home to NY with temp tags without trouble so it must not be a big police priority.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Everything is as you note, when we bought the truck I had a permanent plate but temporary registration slip. A week later the permanent registration card came in the mail. One of the bigger changes is that with no more plate stickers PA gives you the option to do a 2 year registration when you renew.
I'll check 3 others tonight or tomorrow morning when they're again cold.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
If you are adding a car to your fleet they issue a paper temporary permit and submit the paperwork, and your new plates come in the mail with the registration.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
I still have the plates off my Elantra since that was a 3 year initial registration. If I bought a car tomorrow I could throw them on it and pay a small fee to transfer the rest of the registration over to it.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
My wife saw one one once on her phone when the tire on her MKC was dismounted to remove a screw and patch the tire.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
After driving for about 15 minutes the TPMS light comes on and the display shows the pressure in all 4 tires is 27 PSI but the display shows the left front and right rear tires are the guilty ones, HUH ?
jmonroe
'18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
I was just there again today to register the Charger. Took about 30 mins this time. Cost with tax and tags was $825.
Speaking of temp tags, when I went to replace it, I noticed something that previously escaped me. I have a special plate frame.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S