Now that my car is at the port, I'm getting into the nitty gritty with the numbers: on my invoice, there's a MSRP price which includes tax, title, and license fees. Further down, however, there are additional charges, one for "Total Fees" and another for "Smog/Weight", which add a little over $1,000 to the MSRP price. Anyone know what these are? The smog part is probably a California thing but I want to know what comprises the Total Fees charges.

 

Holy crap an extra $1k! That's crazy!

 

Ah the privilege of living in the peoples republic of California.

 

If those are dealer charges and not from the manufacturer, they can vary from one dealer to another, but those things should have been disclosed to you before you gave them money down to order your car.

One thing tho, the doc fees and such are not negotiable - if they charge anyone, they have to charge everyone. About the only way you can avoid them is find a dealer that charges less.

You may be able to get them to discount the car to offset some of those costs if they didn't disclose them ahead of time, but you may not....

Good luck!

 

Are you talking about the purchase agreement between you and the dealer or an invoice from Mini to the dealer? At one time there was an extra charge for California emission requirements on new vehicles, but that number would also show up on the factory Monroney (window) sticker and was always a required option. The only weight fee charged on a new vehicle would be in the DMV fees and that would only apply for commercial vehicles registration. Most pick-up trucks and cargo vans have a weight fee included in the DMV fees. You can go to the California DMV page, https://www.dmv.ca.gov/FeeCalculator...VehicleForm.do , and get the license fees for your car based on the price sale; this will also show the sales tax the dealer should collect along with a list of all DMV fees and amounts include in the total DMV fee. It sounds like the dealer might be tacking on what they call “fees”, making you think they are required, to increase the profit in the sale. I’m very curious what dealer this is since I live in Southern California and will be placing an order for a new Countryman in a few months.

 

Yes-what dealer is this from?!

 

http://www.mdwholesale.com/Doc_and_processing_fees.html


Doc and processing fee is pure profit.
Legislation has limited several states on what they can charge.
Example, VA can charge up to $400 for processing/doc fees while Maryland can only charge $99. So I will be driving 15 miles from VA to Md to save around $300, when I do order my car. I'm waiting for the bench seat availability.

 

Dont forget sales tax/road use tax also. Theres a 3% road use tax on vehicle sales here NC.

 

It wasn't a huge savings, but I priced at the next closest MINI dealer and found they charged $300 dealers fees and free mats compared the $500 and no mats at our dealer. Asked my MA to match it (before we ordered) and they did.

When I bought my truck at Dave Smith motors in Idaho, the big sales pitch was $500 under invoice. But then they add paperwork fees and tint the front door windows on all the cars/trucks they sell to get the price back up there close to invoice. Still the best new car buying experience you can get, when you know everyone gets the same deal whether it's you or your Grandma buying.

 

- Don't forget to compare maintenance upgrade price with other dealer when you are in the room with finance or before going in. Remember, you don't have to buy it with this dealer if it doesn't give you at least MSRP, $1895 (per miniusa.com).
- For Tire and Wheel, I believe the lowest price is $799 - $895. :(
- Don't sign anything, take your time to read every paper carefully at least twice ** or have your friend read it. If the finance manager is pushing you, request the new finance manager and complain to finance director.
- Bring water so you don't feel dehydrated.
- Get pre-approved auto loan from a bank but don't show it to them. See their offer first.
- Again, don't rush.

 

I just told them a blanket NO to all their stinking offers......... People are so gullible - the finance dept add-ons is where the real profit is made at a dealership....

 

Love it... "blanket NO to all their stinking offers"

 

It varies from dealer to dealer, state to state - I've heard of some dealers in Fla charging $1000 Doc fees! That's just stupid. The best thing you can do with a dealer like that is not patronize them, and tell them why.

 

If you're talking about the manufacturer's MSRP price on their window sticker, it does NOT include tax, title, license, and any other mandatory fees levied by the state. The term "doc fee" is often used as a catch-all to build in another $100 or so of profit and is negotiable except as I discuss below.

You should have negotiated the total price before the order and if you did, I wouldn't worry about how they're divvied up the price between the car price and the price for doc fees and similar tack-on fees. But I would resist any "add ons" they may attempt to saddle you with in the final stages of closing on the car, like protection packages, wheel insurance, extended warranties, etc. You should be able to drive out of the dealership with the car for the total price you agreed to on your sales contract plus the mandatory state fees/TTL, nothing more.

- Mark

 

They tried to hit me with a $599 doc fee. I flat out told them no. They took it off, and we made a deal. In this economy, everything is negotiable

 

klotz,

Did they really take it off, or just reduce the price of the Mini 599 and still show the doc? Either way works for you of course. In some states dealer can not charge doc to some. Its either all or none. So if wanting a no doc deal and dealer agree's, he just reduces the price of the car...still shows the doc...complying with law in that state.

 

How can a doc fee be $599????

 

The DMV site is perfect. I am purchasing from San Diego Mini and used the Costco program. It did better than Irvine Mini and my credit unions buying service.

 

To be honest, I have no idea what column that $599 came off of. All I know is we agreed on a price, the paperwork showed up, and there was a $599 fee on there. Don't remember if it was "dealer prep", doc fee or whatever. I said I wasn't going to pay that fee, and they said ok. I don't know if they increased my trade value, lowered the car price or just removed the fee. Doesn't matter to me, I got what I wanted at the price I had intended to pay, and everybody went home happy.

What amazes me is to think of how many suckers got to the same point and and just caved in and said ok to another $599.....

 

I'm going through MINI of SD as well. Who is your MA? How has your experience been?

 

Mario is my MA. They are the closest Costco auto buying program dealer to me. The highs so far, is getting to take one of their order slots which put me into production 3 days after ordering.
Lows- waiting to see. How about your MA? If you have any tips on working with them, let me know.

 

That's cool.

Mario is my MA as well. I think he might be annoyed with all the emails I send him...

I got one of their slots, too, and got a quick production date. I had got their info after submitting my info through Costco, but we never really talked about that. What are you getting since going through Costco?

 

Mario has been reluctant to help me with any info so I am sure many people have contacted him multiple times. Not just you.

The February Costco deal was $1,800 over invoice. I believe it changes every month. How do you do directly dealing with him? I believe he is the internet manager too.

 

Being reluctant to help isn't good. He's been kind of spotty getting back to me. Good example is that I sent him an email yesterday morning and haven't heard back from him. I know he gets days off, but this isn't the first time he hasn't gotten back to me.

Did you have to do anything to get the Costco deal?

We went through the costco.com site, sent it to MINI of SD. Wife then called them a few days later and we ordered basically by email, with no mention of Costco...

Did you have to do anything in particular to get the Costco deal?

Sorry to everyone for kind of hijacking the thread here...

 

I submitted my info on the Costco site and he called me back. Said I would have to show my card when I pick up the car to confirm membership.