Tip #1 — Always Start With the Out-the-Door Price

"Asking for just the car price is like ordering a burger and forgetting about the fries, drink, and taxes." - Chase Jordan

If you’re serious about getting a great deal on a car in 2025, here’s your first and most powerful tip: always ask for the out-the-door (OTD) price — not just the vehicle price.

Sounds simple, right?

But most car buyers get so focused on the sale price or monthly payment that they completely forget to ask for the total cost.

And guess what?

Dealers love that. 😏

At Deal Guard, America's most trusted car buying concierge service, we make it our mission to cut through the noise and get you the real number — the one that actually matters.

Let’s break it all down in plain English. In this series of tips we are letting you in on how our negotiators deal with all aspects of buying a vehicle!

Don't miss a tip!

🔍 What Is the Out-the-Door Price?

The out-the-door price is the total cost to legally drive that car off the lot.

It includes everything you’re required to pay upfront, like:

• ✅ Vehicle sale price (negotiated amount)

• ✅ Sales tax (varies by state or province)

• ✅ Title and registration fees

• ✅ Doc fees (the sneaky “paperwork” charge)

• ✅ Dealer-installed accessories (floor mats, tint, nitrogen tires, etc.) - FYI - Avoid At All Cost!!

• ✅ Add-ons (extended warranty, prepaid maintenance, appearance packages, etc.) - ALWAYS Negotiate these!

It’s like the final price at the bottom of your Amazon cart — taxes, shipping, and all.

It does not include:

• ❌ Long-term finance interest

• ❌ Optional insurance products not included in the deal

• ❌ Warranty add-ons unless they’re added in advance

Bottom line: The OTD price is your true cost before financing.

😬 Why Dealers Don’t Offer It Freely

Car dealerships rarely volunteer the out-the-door price.

Why? There training and shady ways is way. These ways have been passed along from dealer to dealer over years and years. It's a deeply ingrained and TERRIBLE practice!

Because once you know the real number, the game changes.

You suddenly have clarity and power:

• Can compare prices across dealerships accurately

• See where hidden fees and fluff are hiding

• Understand if a “deal” is actually a deal (or just smoke and mirrors)

Instead, they’ll often say:

• “Let’s just talk about monthly payments.”

• “This is the car price — we’ll talk fees later.”

• “We’ll figure the final number in the finance office.”

🛑 Don’t fall for that. The real negotiation starts with the OTD price.

✅ How to Ask for the Out-the-Door Price

Here’s how to ask for it the right way:

"Can you please give me the full out-the-door price — including taxes, title, registration, doc fees, and any dealer-installed add-ons — whether I’m paying cash or financing?"

Then follow up with:

• "Can you (1) Text me or as a last result (2) email that to me itemized so I can compare apples to apples?"

• "I want everything upfront, no surprises."

If the dealership pushes back, that’s a red flag. You may or may not have to run!

💥 Deal Guard Tip: Get It in Writing

Never take a verbal quote.

Always ask for the OTD in an itemized written quote — preferably via email.

That way, you can:

• Review it carefully at home (without pressure - TAKE YOUR TIME IF YOU HAVE IT)

• Send it to us at Deal Guard to review for red flags

• Use it to compare multiple dealers — side by side

Knowledge is power.

And written proof is your armor. As a car buying concierge service we always get things in writing within our 21 step process.

🛡 How Deal Guard Works for You

When you hire Deal Guard as your car buying consultant and advocate, we:

• Ask for OTD quotes from multiple dealerships

• Strip out hidden fees, inflated add-ons, and fluff

• Negotiate from the final number, not the inflated one

• Spot fake charges like “dealer handling” or “customer service fee”

• Save you time, stress, and dealership headaches

We’re not ex-car salespeople. We’re trained consumer advocates who only work for one side: yours.

💸 Why Monthly Payment Math Can Trick You

One of the oldest dealership tricks in the book? Distract you with a monthly payment you can afford — even if it means overcharging you by thousands on the back end.

They’ll stretch the loan term to make the number look better, but you end up:

• Paying way more in interest

• Getting trapped in negative equity

• Missing the fact that the real price was never fair

Don’t start with the payment. Start with the out-the-door price.

Then (and only then), work backward into what a smart payment should be.

😎 Final Word from Chase

Want to avoid surprises at the dealership? Ask for the out-the-door price — always. It’s your best weapon against hidden fees, inflated markups, and slick sales tactics.

At GetDealGuard.com, we help clients get OTD quotes from multiple dealers, cut through the fluff, and land a deal that’s clean, honest, and transparent.

🎯 Buying a car soon? Don’t go in blind.
Let Deal Guard do the heavy lifting and protect you from day one.