The main fees to consider when buying a car include sales tax, registration, title transfer and inspection. You will have to pay different amounts and types of fees depending on things such as where you live, the weight of the car and whether it is new or used. The list of fees provided here is not exhaustive, but it covers most of the general costs you will run into.
New Car Fees
- **Vehicle registration** -- covers the title and license plates. This will usually be handled by the dealer you buy the car from.
- _[Doc fee](http://www.ehow.com/facts_6764516_doc-fee-buying-car_.html) --_ includes all of the costs associated with the paperwork and filing a contract. This fee varies greatly depending on your state.
- **Sales tax** -- varies by state, but can also vary by county or even the city you live in.
Used Car Fees
- [Title transfer](http://www.dmv.org/title-transfers.php) -- generally is required when you buy or sell a vehicle, gift a car or need to make a name change on a car title, according to DMV.org.
- Vehicle registration.
- **Inspections** -- such as smog or emission checks, where applicable.
- [Used car tag fees and taxes](http://www.dmv.org/buy-sell/tax-and-tags-calculator.php) -- depend on which state you live in; there is even an annual property tax on cars in North Carolina.
Fees And Tricks to Avoid
Car dealers and other sales-oriented professions often come up with elaborate ways to charge extra fees, so you need to be aware of everything in the contract before paying.
- **Dealer or car preparation**: When the manufacturer sends the dealer the car, it is basically ready to go, so don't pay a lot for prep.
- **Delivery charge**: While it is fair for a dealer to charge a fee for delivery, the dealer will often try to double this by adding an additional charge on top of the actual cost of shipping the vehicle from the manufacturer.
- **Advertising fee**: Much like the delivery charge, the advertising fee is one that some dealers double. The manufacturer adds the charge once, which will be stated on the invoice, but watch out for a duplicate.
- **Interior stain protection/paint protection**: You don't need either of these. The fabrics and paint finishes used in modern cars are fine, and again, you will just be paying a lot for little extra value. Buy a spray can of fabric protector for a fraction of the price if you think it's going to get messy in your new car.
There are many other factors that will affect the vehicle price -- not just location -- such as the weight of the vehicle, whether you made a trade-in and what type of license plates you require. Check on these before buying a vehicle.
