The eight things on a Ohio quote — and who controls each one
Almost every line on a dealer worksheet falls into one of eight buckets. Sorting them is the single most useful thing you can do before you talk about price, because only three of the eight are actually fixed by someone other than the dealership.
| Line on the quote | What it really is | Who controls it |
|---|---|---|
| Sales or use tax | A percentage of the taxable price collected for the state (and often a county or city) | Government — not negotiable |
| Title charge | The fee to issue a title in your name | Government — not negotiable |
| Registration / plate | Tag, plate transfer, and registration period charges | Government — not negotiable |
| Documentation / processing fee | The dealership's own paperwork charge | Dealer — often subject to a state limit, and always offsettable in the selling price |
| Electronic filing / e-filing | A charge for submitting title and registration electronically | Dealer or a third-party vendor |
| Dealer add-ons | Nitrogen, etch, paint or fabric protection, pinstripes, wheel locks, tracking devices | Dealer — optional, and frequently pre-installed to feel mandatory |
| Protection products | Extended service contract, GAP, tire & wheel, prepaid maintenance | Optional — priced by the dealer, almost always negotiable |
| Market adjustment / ADM | Any amount added above MSRP | Dealer — pure margin |
A charge being non-negotiable does not make it un-checkable. Government charges should still match the vehicle, the county, and the registration period you actually chose.
Ohio specifics
Ohio limits the dealer documentary service charge. Ohio Revised Code § 4517.261 authorises the charge, and the state's dealer-licensing programme states that the amount is updated annually to reflect an adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index (verified 14 August 2026). Because the ceiling moves each year, we do not print a fixed figure here — look up the amount currently in force through the sources below and compare it with your buyer's order.
- Ohio's state sales-tax rate is 5.75% under Ohio Revised Code § 5739.02, and counties and transit authorities add permissive rates on top, so combined rates commonly land in the 6.5%–8% range (verified 14 August 2026).
- For a titled vehicle the local rate generally follows the county where you register the car, so a dealer applying their own county rate can produce the wrong tax line. Ask which county rate was used.
- A trade-in allowance factors into the taxable amount; Ohio Administrative Code rule 5703-9-36 also addresses how negative equity on a trade is treated, which is where rolled-over loan balances show up.
- Ohio title and registration amounts are published by the BMV, and many counties add permissive registration taxes to the base registration fee.
- Because the documentary service charge is capped and reset annually, a fee noticeably above the current published amount is worth asking about directly — get the answer in writing.
The worked example below is an estimate built from a statewide average rate. Your county's permissive rates, your registration county, and any rolled-over negative equity will change the total.
What to ask the dealership, in order
- 1"Can you send me a written out-the-door figure with every line itemised?" — a verbal monthly payment is not a quote.
- 2"Which of these charges are collected for the state, and which are yours?" — the answer tells you what is actually on the table.
- 3"This documentation fee is higher than I expected. If it can't change, can the selling price come down by the same amount?" — the total is what you pay; the label does not matter.
- 4"Which of these add-ons are already installed, and what is the price without them?" — ask for the figure both ways, in writing.
- 5"Is this rate the buy rate or a marked-up rate?" — then compare against a credit-union pre-approval you obtained yourself.
Keep the vehicle price, the trade-in, and the financing as three separate conversations. Bundling them is what makes a worse deal look like a better payment.
Before you sign, confirm on the written buyer's order
- The vehicle's VIN, year, trim, and mileage match the car you drove
- The selling price matches what you agreed, before any fees
- Tax is calculated on the correct taxable amount (check trade-in treatment)
- Title and registration charges look like government amounts, not round dealer numbers
- The documentation or processing fee is stated as a dollar amount, not folded into 'fees'
- Every add-on and protection product is listed individually with its price
- Nothing appears that you did not agree to — including anything labelled 'accessories' or 'protection package'
- The out-the-door total on the paper equals the number you were told out loud
- APR, term, amount financed, and total of payments are all printed
A worked out-the-door example (educational)
This is a teaching example, not a quote and not a prediction of your deal. Every input below is an assumption, and each one is labelled.
| Assumed vehicle selling priceChosen for illustration | $33,000 |
|---|---|
| Estimated sales tax at 7.2%Statewide estimate; your county or city may differ | $2,376 |
| Estimated title + registrationGeneral allowance for a new vehicle, not a published amount | $500 |
| Example dealer documentation feeCommonly reported figure — unverified, and dealer-controlled | $250 |
| Example out-the-door total | $36,126 |
Assumptions: no trade-in, no add-ons, no market adjustment, no financing charges. Real quotes usually include several of those — which is exactly what the audit is for.
To run this with your own numbers, use the free out-the-door price calculator.