Statutory Fee Index
Dealer Doc Fees by State & Legal Caps (2026 Index)
Documentation fees charged by car dealerships vary from $85 under statutory law to over $1,000 in uncapped states. See official legal ceilings and state averages below.
Lowest Statutory Cap
$85 (California)
California strictly caps dealer processing at $85 per Cal. Veh. Code § 11713.1. Dealers cannot legally exceed this amount.
Highest State Average
$995+ (Florida)
Florida has no statutory ceiling on dealer documentation charges, with averages frequently exceeding $1,000 on dealership buyer orders.
2026 Indexed Ceilings
OH: $398 | PA: $490
Ohio caps doc fees at $398 (Ohio Rev. Code § 4517.261). Pennsylvania caps electronic titling fees at $490 ($409 manual).
Understanding Dealer Documentation Fees
A dealer documentation fee (also known as a "doc fee", "prep fee", or "conveyance fee") is charged by dealerships to cover the administrative paperwork of registering and titling a vehicle. Unlike state sales tax and DMV license fees, the doc fee is kept directly by the dealership as taxable dealer revenue.
Exactly 16 states impose mandatory legal ceilings on documentation fees, while the remaining 35 states allow dealerships to establish their own pricing without statutory restrictions. When negotiating your out-the-door price, knowing your state's legal status gives you leverage against predatory dealer markups.
| State | Average Charged | 2026 Statutory Cap | Legal Status & Authority Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $485 | None | Uncapped · No statutory limit |
| Alaska | $200 | None | Uncapped · Market regulated |
| Arizona | $590 | None | Uncapped · Must be disclosed on buyer order |
| Arkansas | $129 | $129 | Capped · Ark. Code § 23-112-604 |
| California | $85 | $85 | Capped · Cal. Veh. Code § 11713.1 ($70 manual / $85 electronic) |
| Colorado | $690 | None | Uncapped · Must be included in advertised price |
| Connecticut | $595 | None | Uncapped · Conveyance fee disclosure required |
| Delaware | $475 | None | Uncapped · State doc fee 4.25% in lieu of tax |
| Florida | $995 | None | Uncapped · Fla. Stat. § 501.976 (Must be disclosed in advertising) |
| Georgia | $695 | None | Uncapped · Subject to 7% TAVT |
| Hawaii | $350 | None | Uncapped · Regulated by consumer affairs |
| Idaho | $390 | None | Uncapped · No statutory limit |
| Illinois | $377.63 | $377.63 | Capped · 815 ILCS 375/11.1 (Indexed annually to CPI) |
| Indiana | $200 | $200 | Capped · Ind. Code § 9-32-13-7 |
| Iowa | $180 | $180 | Capped · Iowa Admin. Code r. 761-425.26 |
| Kansas | $499 | None | Uncapped · Must be uniform across buyers |
| Kentucky | $590 | None | Uncapped · Taxable administrative fee |
| Louisiana | $200 | $200 | Capped · La. R.S. § 6:969.18 |
| Maine | $495 | None | Uncapped · Disclosed on dealer worksheet |
| Maryland | $500 | $500 | Capped · Md. Code Ann., Transp. § 15-311.1 |
| Massachusetts | $490 | None | Uncapped · Itemized on purchase agreement |
| Michigan | $260 | $260 | Capped · MCL § 257.251a (Lesser of $260 or 5% of price) |
| Minnesota | $275 | $275 | Capped · Minn. Stat. § 168.27 subd. 31 |
| Mississippi | $425 | None | Uncapped · No statutory limit |
| Missouri | $565.04 | $565.04 | Capped · Mo. Rev. Stat. § 301.558 (Indexed to CPI) |
| Montana | $300 | None | Uncapped · Flat fee environment |
| Nebraska | $299 | None | Uncapped · Market rate |
| Nevada | $499 | None | Uncapped · Disclosed before contract execution |
| New Hampshire | $475 | None | Uncapped · No statutory ceiling |
| New Jersey | $595 | None | Uncapped · N.J.A.C. 13:45A-26B.2 (Itemization required) |
| New Mexico | $399 | None | Uncapped · Disclosed on sales order |
| New York | $175 | $175 | Capped · 15 NYCRR § 78.13 |
| North Carolina | $699 | None | Uncapped · Included in Highway Use Tax basis |
| North Dakota | $299 | None | Uncapped · No ceiling |
| Ohio | $398 | $398 | Capped · Ohio Rev. Code § 4517.261 (Lesser of $398 or 10% of price) |
| Oklahoma | $499 | None | Uncapped · Subject to sales tax |
| Oregon | $150 | $150 / $115 | Capped · ORS § 822.043 ($150 with EVR / $115 manual) |
| Pennsylvania | $490 | $490 / $409 | Capped · PennDOT Bulletin ($490 electronic / $409 manual) |
| Rhode Island | $350 | None | Uncapped · Market rate |
| South Carolina | $495 | None | Uncapped · S.C. Code Ann. § 56-15-110 |
| South Dakota | $299 | None | Uncapped · No statutory limit |
| Tennessee | $595 | None | Uncapped · Taxable dealer charge |
| Texas | $150 | None | Uncapped · OCCC requires filing for fees over $150 |
| Utah | $299 | None | Uncapped · Regulated under consumer protection |
| Vermont | $350 | None | Uncapped · Dealer discretion |
| Virginia | $699 | None | Uncapped · Taxable under Motor Vehicle SUT |
| Washington | $200 | $200 | Capped · RCW 46.70.180(2) |
| West Virginia | $175 | $175 | Capped · W. Va. Code § 17A-6-10b |
| Wisconsin | $395 | None | Uncapped · Wis. Admin. Code Trans 139.05 |
| Wyoming | $299 | None | Uncapped · No statutory limit |