Depends on how competitive the dealer is on price and exactly what you are looking at new vs used. If you like the car/options/color combo/condition(on a used car) sometimes its worth it to just pay the extra $500-2,000 that dealer is asking vs the guy on the other side of town. I'm kind of picky about color and condition on the used cars I've bought, so going across town to save a few bucks on something that is a bit more ragged out in a color I don't like doesn't make much sense.

 

If you don't like the price at dealer X, and you purchase at dealer Y, you are not obligated to use the parts and service department at dealer Y. Just go back to dealer X...they will gladly take your $$ for parts and service. I bought my Mazda a few years ago at a dealer 45 mins away in Allentown ... it was $800 cheaper than my next best price. When I have needed to use a local dealer for parts, service, warranty and recalls, they are happy to have me. NEVER decide where to buy a car based on where you want to have it serviced...NEVER.

 

I agree with this 100%. The dealer I bought my Lexus GS350 is about 45miles away in upstate NY - they slowly started changing staff and their sales/service left me hanging on a few items soon after purchase. I bought the car from them in upstate NY because they had a great sales team and the CPO cars they sell are super clean, just off lease but I service my car at a Lexus dealership in New Jersey and with a local mechanic 5mins away.

Back on the primary topic though - sometimes the dealer advertises a lower price but their fees wind-up making the car cost the same as a more convenient dealer or a more "expensive" dealer. This is why its important to get the dealerships to compete for your business and be open to walking away.

Locally, the Lexus dealers aren't the best near me (sales/service/cars themselves/reconditioning always lacking) but they are usually offering a cheaper advertised price ... then when you go there, thousands extra are added in fees which are non-negotiable. They get folks to come in bc of the cheaper advertised price, and hope that once you're there, you'll get tired and decide to give up a few extra thousand dollars for free.

 

I recently looked at a clean title 2016 IS 350 at Greenway Dodge in Orlando, FL. Advertised price was 22,900. After test driving it and pointing out the many problems the car had, I was presented as a first offer of 29,700. All of this increase was due to "fees". I just left. Didn't try to negotiate or argue. I just left them an accurate review on Google and continued my vehicle search. In cars and real estate, I've learned, EVERYTHING is negotiable.

 

Are you leasing or financing?

* tire/ battery / MVWEA $10 - Normal

* tag agency fee $170 = This and the one below should be combined. It's for the plate and registration. Depend on the stated but this looks marked up. In NY, its around $250 combined. The $600 sounds like a mark-up
* tag/registration fee $ 600

* dealer service fee $ 850 - If you are leasing, this can be the acquisition fee. There should be no acquisition fee for financing.

 

Florida makes it somewhat easier to determine what fees are legit and what are not. When the dealer gives you the buyers order (ask for one with a quote if they don't offer it up) the dealer is required by Florida law to have the disclaimer “This charge represents costs and profit to the dealer for items such as inspecting, cleaning, and adjusting vehicles, and preparing documents related to the sale" next to any charges that are basically dealer profit. These are the dealer fees, fees the dealer charges to prepare and submit documents(not the actual fee the state charges), reconditioning fees if used car, etc. This is not the fees that they are being charged by the state. It's all in Florida Statute 501.976.

Current cost to register a vehicle in Florida as a new owner is approximately $225 if you do not have a plate to transfer or cannot do so. Might be slightly more if you require temporary tag first. Tag agency fee is pure profit my guess it that is their Doc prep fee they charge you to fill out all the stuff, make copies and have their book keeper submit your stuff. Tire/battery fee is standard. Tag/registration fee is grossly over quoted and you should be due a refund for any amount over actual cost. The dealer service fee as everyone knows is pure profit especially on a new car and again according to FL law the dealer cannot charge you for any pre-delivery services or inspections that they are reimbursed for by the manufacturer so they must be very careful what they say when explaining that fee to you. That info is in the same statute quoted above.

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