How to get an out-the-door price in writing

The FTC describes it as the total price of the car, before financing, including taxes and fees. Getting it in writing before you go helps you compare dealers, catch extra charges and add-ons, and keep your eye on the total, not the monthly payment. A complete quote has these lines:

• Vehicle price: the price of the car itself, after any discount.
• Dealer-installed products or accessories: anything the dealer added, like window tint or nitrogen in the tires. These are add-ons. The CFPB says add-ons are optional, and their prices are negotiable.
• Dealer fees: charges the dealer sets, like a doc (paperwork) fee or a prep fee. See which dealer fees are legit.
• Taxes and government fees: sales tax, title, and registration. Your state and local government set these, so they depend on where you live.
• The out-the-door total: everything above, added up.

• The cost of a loan. The OTD price comes before financing. If you borrow, interest comes on top, and how much depends on your APR and loan length.
• Your trade-in and down payment. These are how you pay part of the price, not a discount on it. The FTC says to get the OTD price even if the dealer can't yet say what it will give you for your trade-in.
• Rebates, unless the quote says so. The FTC says not to assume a rebate is already in the price. Ask.
• Car insurance. You pay it separately. If you borrow, your lender will require it. Get a quote for this car before you buy.

Here's what a complete quote can look like. These are made-up example numbers. Your tax rate, what gets taxed, and your government fees depend on your state and ZIP code.

Every line has a name and an amount, and they add up to the total. Watch for:

• A product you didn't ask for, like nitrogen, VIN etching, or a protection package. Ask to take it off. See add-ons you can refuse.
• One lump sum for “fees” with no breakdown. Ask what each fee is for and who gets it.
• A “market adjustment” or a second sticker with dealer items on a new car. See how to avoid paying a market adjustment.
• No VIN or no date. Without them, the price isn't tied to a specific car or day.

Subject: Itemized price for a [Year] [Make] [Model] [Trim]

Hello,

I'm shopping for a [Year] [Make] [Model] [Trim]. Before I visit, please email me a written price for one car you have that matches. Include its VIN, stock number, and equipment.

Please list these amounts separately:
- Vehicle price
- Any dealer-installed products or accessories
- Dealer fees
- Estimated taxes and government fees (please tell me the ZIP code you used)
- Out-the-door total (the full price to buy the car, before financing)

If this price assumes a rebate, trade-in, or dealer financing, please say so. Please don't add optional products I didn't ask for.

Please date the quote. I'm comparing written offers before I decide where to visit.

Thank you,
[Your Name]

You can also find it in the script library, next to the follow-up emails for comparing quotes and confirming the final deal.

Buying used? Add the VIN if the listing shows it, and run it through the VIN check before you visit.

A payment isn't a price. The FTC warns that lower monthly payments often come with longer loans and higher interest rates, which raise your total cost. The CFPB says the total cost of the loan matters more than the payment.

Reply and ask again for the total. Don't give a target payment yet.

Still no total? Move on to a dealer that will put one in writing. The FTC says your bargaining power is greatest before you go to the lot.

In California (from October 1, 2026), a dealer's first written reply about a specific car must show its total price. A written monthly payment must come with the total you'd pay over all the payments. California's total price can leave out taxes, government fees, and the doc fee, so still ask for the out-the-door total. See your rights under California's CARS Act.

Put each line into the quote check. It checks that the lines add up, flags missing lines, and calls out dealer fees and add-ons to ask about. You can save quotes from different dealers and compare them.