How to Get an Out-the-Door Price From a Car Dealer (2026)

Most car dealer ads quote MSRP. That number is the start of the conversation, not the price you pay. "Out the door" (OTD) is the only number that matters: what you sign for, drive-off included.

What "out the door" actually includes

An honest OTD quote bundles every line that ends up on your contract:

Selling price (negotiated, not MSRP)
Documentation fee (varies wildly — $85 in Oregon, $799 in Florida)
State and local sales tax
Title and registration
Tire / battery / state-specific fees
Any dealer add-ons (paint protection, nitrogen, VIN etch — push back hard)

What it should not include unless you've already agreed: extended warranty, GAP insurance, prepaid maintenance. Those are F&I products you decide on after you have the OTD price.

Why dealers resist quoting OTD over email

An OTD quote in writing collapses the dealer's biggest information advantage: opacity. Once you have it, you can shop it. So most dealers will counter with one of these:

"Come in and we'll work up the numbers." Translation: we want you in the chair where the four-square pitch works.
"What's your target monthly payment?" Translation: let us decide your interest rate and loan length for you.
"What other dealers are quoting you?" Translation: tell us the floor so we don't have to beat it.

The fix: ask exactly one question, in writing, and don't move off it until they answer.

The exact email template that works

Paste this and change the bracketed bits:

Subject: [2026 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium AWD] — OTD quote request, ready to buy this week

Hi,

I'm shopping a 2026 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium AWD (any color except white).
I'd like an out-the-door price including:

  - Selling price
  - All dealer fees (doc, etc.)
  - California sales tax @ 9.5%
  - Title and registration
  - DMV / tire / other state fees

No add-ons. Cash deal (or financing through my credit union — rate already secured).
I'm requesting quotes from every Toyota dealer in my area; I'll buy from the
lowest total OTD this week.

Please reply with one number, all-in.

Thanks,
[Your name]
[Your zip]

The "I'm shopping every dealer in my area" line is what moves the needle. Without it, the sales manager assumes you're a one-shot lead and quotes accordingly. With it, you're a competitive deal.

How DealBlast automates this

Writing that email once is fine. Sending it to thirty dealers, tracking who replied, and chasing the slow ones is a part-time job. DealBlast sends the same request to every franchised dealer of your make inside a polygon you draw on a map — one form, no follow-up calls. Dealers reply directly to your inbox. You compare OTD numbers side by side and pick the winner.

Frequently asked questions

Is a doc fee negotiable?

In some states (CA, OR, MN) it is capped by law and effectively fixed. In states with no cap (FL, AL, GA) the fee is set by the dealer and is absolutely negotiable. If a Florida dealer quotes $899 in doc fees, ask another Florida dealer — the one quoting $295 wins.

Should I tell dealers what other dealers quoted?

No. Once they know the floor, no one has to go lower. Tell them you are gathering quotes, give them a deadline, and pick the lowest total.

Does the lowest OTD price really come from email?

Usually yes, for popular models in normal supply. For allocation-limited cars (Toyota Land Cruiser, certain trucks during 2021-2023) you may still need to go in person. For 90% of new-car shopping, written OTD quotes from multiple dealers will beat anything you can negotiate face-to-face on a Saturday.

Get competing dealer quotes →