The Florida Out-the-Door Rulebook

The out-the-door (OTD) price is the full amount you pay to drive away: the vehicle, dealer fees, taxes, title and registration. On Haggle House, dealers bid in OTD numbers so you can compare bids side by side. The rules below help you check that a number really is all-in.

Section 501.976 lists dealer practices that are unfair or deceptive and actionable under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Among them, a dealer may not:

• Get your signature on a contract that is not fully completed, or that does not accurately reflect what you and the dealer agreed (subsection 9).
• Take a deposit before a binding contract without a written receipt stating how long the vehicle will be held, the amount, and whether it is refundable (subsection 10).
• Add any fee or charge to the cash price other than those allowed by §520.02 and rule 69V-50.001, and allowed charges must be fully disclosed in binding contracts (subsection 11).
• Raise the price after accepting your order or contract, except in specific listed situations such as a damaged trade-in being reappraised or equipment required by law (subsection 15).
• Advertise a price that leaves out fees you must pay, such as freight or destination and dealer preparation. Taxes, tags, registration and title fees do not have to be in an ad price (subsection 16).
• Charge for predelivery service without printing this disclosure on every document with that line item: "This charge represents costs and profit to the dealer for items such as inspecting, cleaning, and adjusting vehicles, and preparing documents related to the sale." (subsection 18).

Read the full text: Fla. Stat. §501.976 (Online Sunshine).

Florida Administrative Code rule 69V-50.001 lists the charges that may be added beyond the cash price on a retail installment contract, and only to the extent they are actually paid or used:

• Taxes prescribed by law.
• Official fees, licenses and other fees prescribed by law.
• Insurance you purchased, with the type noted on the contract.
• Service agreements or warranties you bargained for and purchased, with the type noted on the contract.

Read the rule: Rule 69V-50.001, F.A.C. (Florida Administrative Code).

Florida counties can add a discretionary sales surtax on top of state sales tax. Per the Florida Department of Revenue, the surtax applies to the first $5,000 of the sales amount on a sale of tangible personal property. Calendar-year 2026 rates for Northeast Florida counties:

Source: Florida DOR form DR-15DSS, Discretionary Sales Surtax Information for Calendar Year 2026 and DOR discretionary sales surtax page. Ask the dealer which county's rate they used and why.

Florida licenses motor vehicle dealers by type, for example independent (used) dealers and franchised dealers. See the FLHSMV dealer license types and the FLHSMV licensed dealer lists.

Look up open safety recalls for the exact vehicle by VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls, and compare fuel costs at FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE/EPA).