At the dealership
"That fee is non-negotiable"
A dealer may keep a fee line fixed; ask about the vehicle price and compare the total.
What to say
“If you keep this fee, can you reduce the vehicle price? Please show me the full out-the-door total.”
What it is
When a dealer says a documentation fee is non-negotiable, ask whether that reflects its pricing policy or an applicable state rule. The statement alone does not establish a universal legal rule against discounting the fee. FTC staff pricing guidance discusses document-fee discounts and says dealer-required fees belong in the advertised price. The guidance is not binding on the public or the Commission. State-specific fee limits and disclosure rules still apply. Ask whether the dealer can reduce the fee or the vehicle price, and compare the full out-the-door total. The dealer may decline a proposed reduction.