Find out what documentation & administration fees mean
The price shown on the vehicle
The price you see on the window sticker, as well as any other advertisement, must be the total price. This is the full amount you have to pay to purchase the vehicle (with the exception of taxes).
This number needs to include:
Dealer fees in advertising
Dealer fees may be displayed in the following ways:
Dealer fees during negotiations
Dealer fees are not illegal and there is no set amount for the fee or fees. However, it is improper if they are added unexpectedly at the end of a transaction, described as mandatory, or presented as government fees.
Dealer/broker agent fees are charged by most dealerships. Regardless of the amount, dealers must inform you of these extra fees during any negotiations about the final price. Dealer fees cannot be added once a price has been negotiated and agreed to.
Finance placement fees
If you’re financing your vehicle, “finance arrangement” or “finance placement” fees may appear on your documents. These are often negotiable fees that are charged by some dealers to arrange financing with a bank or finance company. However, it is improper for a dealer to indicate the fee is required by the lender if it is not. Note that these fees must also be disclosed to you before you sign the agreement and need to be included in the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) calculations.
Remember:
If you have any questions, please contact VSA Consumer Services.
NOTE: This is to provide general information and is not intended to be legal advice.
Do you have a dispute with a dealer about dealer fees?
Please use the VSA’s My Self-Help to learn about your legal rights and responsibilities of the dealer and to try and resolve your issue.
If eligible, My Self-Help will provide you with access to the VSA’s online dispute resolution platform Connector to try and resolve you issue directly with the dealer. The information about your legal rights from My Self-Help will help you to try to negotiate a settlement for your issue. Negotiations are usually the fastest way to resolve a dispute.
Please note that the VSA does not investigate formal consumer complaints about dealer fees.
