Buying a Car· Out-the-door pricing
What Does Out-the-Door Price Mean?
The out-the-door price is the only number that tells you what you're really paying. Here's what's in it.
Andrew Woods August 18, 2026
The number that actually matters
The out-the-door (OTD) price is the full amount you pay to drive the car off the lot. It includes the vehicle price, taxes, fees, and any optional products, minus your trade credit.
What's typically included
- Vehicle price (negotiated)
- Sales tax (on the taxed amount after trade credit, in Kansas)
- Documentation fee
- Title and registration fees
- Optional products (if you choose any)
What to watch for
Dealers sometimes lead with a low monthly payment that hides a longer term or larger down payment. Ask for the OTD price and compare apples to apples.
Use the OTD calculator
Plug in your numbers to see the full picture before you go to the dealership.
Frequently asked
Is the OTD price negotiable?
Parts of it are. The vehicle price and optional products are negotiable; taxes and government fees are fixed.
AW
Andrew Woods
Car salesperson in Wichita, Kansas. I built this resource to help local buyers make confident decisions.
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