Bought a new car in CA - Registration fees to dealer vs. DMV Fees?

Question

I bought an almost brand new car (5,000 Miles) from a dealer and paid 1200$ for my registration fees - now I get my tags and it states that the fees paid were 40$ - on top of that, I didnt even get registration for an entire year!
Should I get some of that refunded? or is that how it works typically?

Answer 1

It's the fee plus
the 8% sales tax

thats why I always buy used and from private partys :)

Answer 2

I worked in auto sales for years in California and never saw registration fees that high except on a viper. No, there is a problem or fraud. There is no way your fees should be that high for registration fees alone unless the cost of your car was very expensive or the dealer is making you pay the previous customers late fees or penalty fees , which you should not have to pay. Contact the dmv department of the auto dealership you bought from or discussed with California Dmv directly. The average dmv fees when buying a car in California is around 400 dollars, it is quite possible you could get a lot of that 1200 back if you push the issue.

Answer 3

You're comparing apples to oranges. Registration is usually not for a full year when you pay it, just whatever remains on the tag that is on the vehicle, sometimes that is only a few weeks, although in those cases they usually will ask it you want to do the following year at the same time. You also paid the fee to have a new title issued and the needed changes made in that title, and for the sales, or use tax, or federal excise tax, which ever your area uses, on the worth of the vehicle. If you have any questions, just ask the dealer, I'm sure they wouldn't mind explaining the fees to you. Since it's a CA vehicle, you probably also paid for smog certification. But as far as a refund, probably not.

Answer 4

Dealer fees are a big problem everywhere. If you question them as to what your paying for, they will tell you that it's for arranging loans, checking for leans on titles etc. Work it out. If they have some clerk doing that in a office at the dealership some place, and they make, $15.00 a hour, this must be some time consuming process. You were right to walk on the deal, it's a scam, and I kinda remember the good old days when that sort of thing was included in the margin that they made on the car. The Government should step in and stop this crap.

Answer 5

On your contract, does it say that you paid sales tax? If so I would march down to the dealer and demand a refund, if you don't get it tell him that you're going to dmv and then you will getr a refund. Dealers don't like DMV sniffing at their dealership