The 6 fees between the sticker and the out-the-door price
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These are the fees I saw on Florida RV deals. Not every dealer charges every one, and the names change from dealer to dealer. What matters is that you know what each line is for, and that you ask about anything you don't recognize.
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Fee 1
Freight or destination
The cost of getting a new RV from the factory to the dealer's lot. It's real, but the amount varies, and it should be shown as its own line, not folded into something else. Ask what the freight charge is before you talk numbers.
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Fee 2
Pre-delivery inspection (PDI)
A charge for inspecting the RV and getting it ready before you take it. A real PDI is worth something. A rushed one isn't. If you're paying for a PDI, ask what it covers. I wrote about what a good one looks like in what an RV pre-delivery inspection should include.
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Fee 3
Walk-through or orientation
A charge for showing you how everything works before you drive away. Some dealers charge more when the RV is more complex, like a high-end diesel pusher with more systems to cover. Ask whether it's included or extra, and how long it lasts.
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Fee 4
Dealer add-ons
Items the dealer installs or bundles in, like hitches, sway bars, or starter kits, plus protection packages. Some are useful, some are marked up, and some are already on the RV before you ever see it. Every one should be on its own line with its own price, so you can say no. See the 7 dealer add-ons to refuse.
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Fee 5
Title and tag
The state fees to title and register the RV in your name, which the dealer collects and files. The amount depends on the RV and your situation. You can check current fees on the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles site.
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Fee 6
Sales tax
Florida charges 6% state sales tax, plus a county surtax that applies only to the first $5,000 of the price (see the Florida Department of Revenue). Dealer charges like freight and prep are generally taxed as part of the price, while state title and registration fees are not. A trade-in in the same deal lowers the taxable amount.
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How some dealers hide fees inside the deal
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Most dealers I saw put the fees right on the buyer's agreement: PDI, title and tag, add-ons, each on its own line. That's how it should work. But I've also seen dealers try to hide some of the fees, and build them in so they seem like part of the deal.
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Talking payment, not price
If the conversation is about what you can afford each month, fees can be added without you ever seeing the total. A few hundred dollars barely moves a monthly payment on a long loan.
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Vague line names
"Dealer services," "protection package," or "processing" can mean almost anything. If you can't tell what a line is for, ask, and ask for it in writing.
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Fees baked into the price
A number that's been "adjusted" to include prep or add-ons can look like a discount on the RV while the fees are still there. Compare the itemized total, not the headline price.
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Surprises in the finance office
The out-the-door number you agreed to on the sales floor can grow once products are added in the finance office. Compare the final paperwork line by line with the number you agreed to.
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What Florida law says
Florida's vehicle dealer law, section 501.976, says a dealer's advertised price must include all fees the customer has to pay, such as freight, destination, and dealer prep, though taxes, tag, and title can be left out. A pre-delivery service charge must be disclosed on its own line with a statement that it "represents costs and profit to the dealer." If you see a fee that wasn't in the advertised price, ask why.
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What an out-the-door price can look like
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Here's a simple illustration with round, made-up numbers. Your fees, county, and taxes will be different.
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Agreed RV price: $80,000
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Freight / destination: $2,000
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Pre-delivery inspection: $1,000
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Walk-through: $500
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Dealer add-ons: $1,500
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Sales tax (6% of $85,000: the price plus dealer fees and add-ons): $5,100
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County surtax (1% on the first $5,000): $50
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Title and tag (estimate): $400
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Out-the-door price: $90,550, which is $10,550 more than the agreed price
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That's before the finance office adds anything. If an extended warranty or other products get rolled into a long loan, you pay interest on those too. See what a 20-year RV loan really costs.
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How to get a real out-the-door price
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Ask for it in writing, itemized
Ask for the out-the-door price on paper or by email, with every fee on its own line. A number said out loud on the lot isn't a number.
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Get it before the finance office
Know your total before you walk into that room. Then you can compare the final paperwork against it.
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Question every line
Ask what each fee is for, and whether it's required. Freight, title, tag, and tax are real costs. Add-ons are optional, and you can say no.
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Compare out-the-door, not sticker
When you shop two dealers, compare the full out-the-door numbers. A lower sticker with higher fees can cost you more.
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Don't negotiate by monthly payment
Settle the out-the-door price first. Talk about financing only after that number is locked.
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Once you have your number, the next place deals change is the finance office. Read how the RV dealer finance office really works before you go in.
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