Why trust this: VaultRubric's owner spent years in dealership sales and management. This guide explains how the deal is built from the other side of the desk, and every number is either cited or yours.
Short answer: the out-the-door price is everything you pay to drive away: price, add-ons, doc fee, sales tax and title/registration. Enter your numbers below.
Best pick for your situation
Your out-the-door price in Tennessee: $32,843. Compare dealers on this one number in writing, never on the monthly payment. Trade-in rule in Tennessee: full credit: tax is figured on price minus trade.
State tax 7% × $30,000 = $2,100.00; local tax $44.00 (typical local rate; your county can differ).
Doc fee $699: No doc-fee cap found in our best-effort check; many states require only disclosure.
Title/registration is your own number: fees depend on weight, county and plate type, so copy it from your DMV's fee page or the dealer's buyer's order.
Sign only when the contract total matches the written quote.
Your itemized total
Vehicle price
$30,000.00
+ Dealer-installed add-ons
$0.00
+ Service contract / GAP
$0.00
− Rebate
$0.00
+ Doc fee
$699.00
+ State tax (7% on $30,000 taxable)
$2,100.00
+ State single-article 2.75% on $1,600–$3,200
$44.00
+ Title & registration
$0.00
= Out-the-door price
$32,843.00
Tennessee: 7% state vehicle tax. Local option tax (up to 2.75%) applies to the first $1,600, plus a 2.75% state single-article tax on $1,600–$3,200; adds up to about $88. (confidence: medium).
The total you pay to drive the car away: vehicle price, dealer add-ons, doc fee, sales tax, and title and registration, minus rebates. The FTC advises getting it in writing before you visit.
Is the dealer doc fee negotiable?
Some states cap it (California, Maryland, New York, Oregon and Washington in our best-effort check). Where it isn't capped, dealers usually charge every buyer the same fee, so negotiate the vehicle price down by that amount instead.
Do I pay sales tax on a trade-in?
Most states tax only the price minus your trade-in. In Tennessee: full credit: tax is figured on price minus trade.
Estimates, not financial advice. Taxes, insurance, PMI and fees vary by lender, county and city; confirm with your lender, dealer and state agency before acting.