new purchase fees, am i getting screwed?

kunzjob

Member
:
08.5 Mazdaspeed 3 Black Mica
Hi guys,
new member here. finishing up the final paperwork on my new mazdaspeed 3. there are a few fees in there that I would like to know if they are legit or not. Here they are:
Dealer Doc Fee $349
VTR (Vehicle Theft Recovery) $189
License and Reg. Fees $64.50
Age based/property assessment $150

Let me know if you guys have encountered these before, mostly the VTR and the Age based fee. I think they might be BS but this is my first new car so I'm not sure. Thanks.
 
Ask what it is....and if its not something you asked for....Tell them you will not be paying for it.
Tell them you walking if need be....If you havent signed...you haven't bought.

Another dealer, I am sure, Would be happy to have your business.....
especially with the economy right now.
 
Not sure if this is a state or federal law regarding your Doc fee, but according to the contract that I have with the dealer when I bought my wife her new car it states: "A documentary fee is not an official fee. A documentary fee is not required by law, but may be charged to buyers for handling documents and performing services relating to the closing of the sale. A documentary fee may not exceed $50.00 for a motor vehicle contract or reasonable amount agreed to by the parties for a heavy commercial vehicle contract. This notice is required by law.". I live in Texas though so maybe that's just a state law for here, but either way, I would address that ridiculous Doc fee.

License and registration fee sound legit.

VTR (Vehicle Theft Recovery) $189- Never seen that before- probably an optional fee...

Age based/property assessment $150- Another one I haven't seen before, sounds like BS.

Have you already signed your contract? I not, I would seriously question the Doc fee, VTR fee, and the age based/property assesment fee. And if you have already signed, you still might be able to work something out with them. Good luck!
 
Ohh, another interesting find. That VTR is the etching that gets put into the glass or something of your vehicle for identification when and if it gets stolen. Here is some legal info on it:

http://www.santaclara-da.org/portal...ntId=e74b3f6e2e545010VgnVCM10000048dc4a92____

Doesn't seem like something they can really charge you extra for. I would cause a stink dude.

EDIT: When I bought my car, I believe I was told that the etching was already put on there beforehand. I may be wrong and might have just opted for it (I got it loaded with a discount) so please don't hold me to that.
 
Ohh, another interesting find. That VTR is the etching that gets put into the glass or something of your vehicle for identification when and if it gets stolen. Here is some legal info on it:

http://www.santaclara-da.org/portal...ntId=e74b3f6e2e545010VgnVCM10000048dc4a92____

Doesn't seem like something they can really charge you extra for. I would cause a stink dude.

EDIT: When I bought my car, I believe I was told that the etching was already put on there beforehand. I may be wrong and might have just opted for it (I got it loaded with a discount) so please don't hold me to that.


Mine had the etching before I even went to look at it. They tried to charge me for it but I told them that since I didnt ever ask for it, I won't be paying it. I ended up not having to pay for it, and I got the window etchings for free.
 
I told the dealer I wouldnt pay for any of the stuff on the rip off sticker, ended up getting rubber floor mats and locking wheel lugs for "free", the rest of those charges sound like crap to me, they try and make the charges sound official so you think they are real.
 
Hi guys,
new member here. finishing up the final paperwork on my new mazdaspeed 3. there are a few fees in there that I would like to know if they are legit or not. Here they are:
Dealer Doc Fee $349
VTR (Vehicle Theft Recovery) $189
License and Reg. Fees $64.50
Age based/property assessment $150

Let me know if you guys have encountered these before, mostly the VTR and the Age based fee. I think they might be BS but this is my first new car so I'm not sure. Thanks.

My invoice looked like this:

Negotiated car price, inc. delivery charge
Doc fee $55
Sales tax,
DMV Registration,

That is it!!
 
$349 for a doc fee? They're smoking the good stuff. My doc fee in NJ was $180. All I paid was a doc fee, registration transfer, which was about $60-70 and a tire recycling fee, which is some stupid state law here in the Communist State of NJ, but that was only like $7.00. I'm not quite sure the theory behind the tire fee, but for $7, I wasn't going to argue. $349 for a doc fee is ridiculous and so is theft recovery. The age tax, well, that's Utah, can't do much about that.
 
One of the ways dealers try to make money is to give you a good deal on the sticker price and then nail you with "fees." If you're paying for more than tax, freight, pre-delivery inspection and licensing and registration fees, you are getting hosed. Just tell them you won't be paying them, and if they give you a hard time, walk. Find a dealership that wants your business.
 
well it looks like the age based fee is the real deal, thanks for the link chacon101

i will try to get them to drop the VTR free and the doc fee a little bit. thanks for all the info guys. even with those fees, i still made out pretty good.
 

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