Buying without the dealership · Broker Black education

The exact out-the-door price, before you visit.

The fastest way to see a car's exact taxes and fees before visiting is to price it against the city and county where you will register it, not the dealer's ZIP code. Broker Black does this on every car: enter your ZIP and each listing shows the sales tax at your combined rate, title and registration for your state, the selling dealer's published doc fee, and shipping if the car comes to you. Here is what goes into that number and why most "out-the-door" estimates miss.

By Broker Black · Published September 19, 2026 · Part of How to buy a new car without dealership pressure or haggling

What an out-the-door price is made of.

Why most estimates are wrong.

Most payment calculators use one state-level tax rate and a placeholder for fees. The combined rate in Chandler, AZ is 7.8%; in Phoenix it is 9.1%; in Los Angeles it is 9.75%. On a $50,000 car that spread is $650 to $975 of tax alone, and it changes the monthly payment.

Out-of-state buyers get it wrong in the other direction. A car shipped out of Arizona by the dealer is not taxed in Arizona at all (A.R.S. 42-5061); you pay your home state when you register. A car picked up in Arizona is taxed at the dealer's city rate first, and only the state portion is credited back by your home state. Broker Black shows both totals side by side so you can pick.

How to get the exact number on any car.

Quick answers.

Is sales tax based on where I live or where the dealer is?

For most buyers, where you register the car. Arizona is the exception when you pick up in person: the dealer's city rate applies first, and your home state credits the Arizona state portion when you register. Shipping the car out of state removes Arizona tax entirely.

What is a fair doc fee?

It depends on the state. California caps it at a set amount; Arizona and Nevada do not cap it, and stores publish their own. Broker Black shows the selling dealer's published fee so it is in the number before you decide.

Can I get the out-the-door price in writing before I visit?

Yes. The numbers you lock in on Broker Black are sent to you and to the Concierge, and the deal is written from them. You can compare that sheet against any other store's written quote.

Price any car for your ZIP code Ask the Concierge