How many of you got stuck with this? And how many negotiated out of it? I have never paid one and am loath to start.....

 

What was the fee for and how much was it?

 

This is a fee that gives the dealer extra profit even if they sell cars below invoice. It is meant to cover the cost of completing paperwork to title and register the car. For a dealer that sells cars at MSRP, they are just renaming the surcharge to make people willing to pay extra.
In NJ, the dealer can only charge actual tax/title/registration fees. They add this extra fee to cover their expenses. The charge varies from $0 to $450.
The salesman's first response will be that everyone pays it, other dealers charge more, he cannot remove it because it is required by the dealer management (or it's fixed in their computer system or whatever).
If they won't remove it, you can either pay it, ask for some other compensation (accessories, no-charge for dealer install of accessories...) or refuse the deal.
Of course it's harder to negotiate for a car that's in demand.

 

Dealer prep + doc fee here. I believe 300 for the dealer prep, and another 320 for documentation fees. For the price I was paying, there was no way in hell they were putting their decal on the back of Siva.

 

So, is this different from the "destination fee" that is factored into the MSRP on miniusa.com?

 

My processing fee at Checkered Flag in Virginia Beach was $399. There was no negotiation. None. I didn't even get free car mats, had to pay for those too. They were otherwise great and effcient, and they have last years service award so they must be good at that too...

I am a Navy Federal Credit Union member, and on their preferred Dealer list Mini of Sterling was listed, and they waived the Processing fee for NFCU members.

 

Both Mini places here in Atlanta scam you out of $499 for bogus document fees.

 

Destination fee should cover shipping to dealer and checking/preparing the car for delivery. The doc/prep fee (if it is separate from title/registration fee) should cover completing the forms for title/registration and sending someone to DMV for the plates which clearly shouldn't take long nor require advance skills. For $400, you can pay somene $25/hour for 2 days of full-time work!

 

wow, that is a lot. You know I traveled 1,200 miles to pick up my bimmer and I'm traveling about 900 to pick up my mini.... even after the trip cost, I'm still saving. Get on the internet and find the best price, then go get it.

My daughter just traveled from Va to Ca to save $2,000. After airfare and gas/hotel/food she still saved $1,100 and had a paid road trip out of it.

 

My car is on order and I haven't paid for it yet, but on the paperwork I could/will be signing there is a $389 Prep Fee (Dealer fee more or less). I kind of assumed it would be there and didn't talk about it when I ordered. However, when the car gets here I wonder if I'll be able to get them to take it off the price of the car.

 

$50 doc prep fee in Dallas, couldn't get out of it no big deal though no other added on fees. Paid MSRP and got $500 accessory allowance.

 

I think I paid somewhere around $300 for this, but my memory is fading. I know it was not free, and I remember being "irritated" about paying it. Like others said, none negotiable.

 

Anyone negotiate this out at Downtown Mini in Orlando, FL?

 

can anyone speak to experience with dealer prep fees charged by east bay mini? any success negotiating or getting something in return like an accessory credit or free accessory installation like mudflaps?

 

Glad they never called me back in time to place my order then. I had told them to call me before 11am after a week of playing phone tag to order the car via fax. I was going on Vacation they didn't call till after lunch that day. So on my way I called Hendrick Mini and they say sure we will have your paperwork ready by the time you drive through here. So I bought mine there I paid the fee but got free mats all around and window tint I was happy.

 

$599.00... I signed too quickly without realizing what exactly it was!!! My husband usually buys our cars... once I signed I guess there is no negotiating prior to pick-up..??

 

I thought east bay charges $50 for prep fee. I can't remember exactly. Mine is still on order

 

$299.50 processing fee, $79.90 local business tax, $5.50 temp. tag in Nashville. Atlanta quoted $700+ more than that !?!? The distance to either one is about the same, 200 miles or so. Clubman should be in Nashville late October, early November!

 

Had to stomach the $499 here in ATL. Makes me pretty upset but it is what it is especially with this car. I dread hearing the stories from FL where the fees amount to extortion, pure and simple.

 

Well Downtown Mini in Orlando charges the dealer of $389. I'm not sure what the others charge. I"m sure it's negotiable, but I haven't tried yet so we'll see. I'm not sure what the other dealerships charge around here. The car itself goes for MSRP.

 

I think the Doc/Prep Fee was $90 or $99 at Mini of Annapolis.
I pointed to the fee, looked at my MA and said "You are gonna remove that, right?" Without hesitation, he immediately took it off the invoice.

Still got the free mats and wheel locks.

 

I was about to order from Century Mini in SC and was told that in addition to the 325 doc fee, there is an additional prep fee...I mean cmonnn! You get paid MSRP, you quote a doc fee to write up the papers and you need a 'prep fee' as well??

 

Okay, I just emailed my MA asking for a complete break down of the pricing for my car (currently on order). Hopefully he'll get back with me soon. Basically I know he'll say there is a $389 "doc" fee so I'm going to reply with "That's going to be removed, right?"

I'm not to sure what his reply will be but regardless I don't want to pay it. If I'm paying MSRP for a car I don't think I should have too. Anywho, if he does want to change it I may just cancel the order and go to another MA there at the dealership who will.

Any thoughts? This is my first new car buying experience.

 

Hope you are right - I can live with 50 bucks. Mine is on order, too and due to arrive in a few weeks. Did your MA mention that specifically when you ordered, or do you just remember this from a past purchase? Neither I nor my MA brought it up when I ordered.

 

Here is my breakdown from WestchesterMini

Application processing fee: $45.00
Registration Fee: $130 - I think this is dictated by DMV (NY)
Inspection Fee: $10
Waste Tire Management Fee: $10 - Should get this removed... where is the waste tire on a new car??

Anway, pretty reasonable $45 doc/prep fee.