The sticker price is never the final price. Understanding what fees you'll see — and which are required vs. optional — puts you in control of the transaction.
Mandatory Illinois fees (you'll pay these everywhere)
- Sales tax — Illinois state rate is 6.25%, plus county and city taxes. In Chicago, expect roughly 10.25% total
- Title fee — approximately $150 to transfer the title into your name
- License plate / registration — varies by vehicle weight, typically $100–$200/year in Illinois
- Electronic Registration Fee — small fee for electronic title processing
Dealer fees (varies by dealership)
- Documentation fee ("doc fee") — Illinois caps this at $324.24. This covers the dealer's paperwork processing cost. It's standard and non-negotiable at most dealers.
- Dealer prep fee — Some dealers charge for cleaning and inspecting the vehicle. At Dial Auto Group, we don't add this.
- Advertising fee — Some dealers pass their advertising costs to buyers. We don't do this either.
Optional products (your choice)
- Extended warranty — Can be valuable, but shop around. Know exactly what's covered and what's excluded.
- GAP insurance — Covers the difference between your loan balance and insurance payout if your car is totaled. Often worth it on financed vehicles.
- Credit insurance / debt protection — Usually not worth the cost. Skip it.
- Paint/fabric protection — Typically overpriced for what you get.
How to calculate your actual out-of-pocket cost
Here's the formula: Vehicle price + doc fee ($324 max) + title (~$150) + registration (~$150) + sales tax (10.25% in Chicago) = your total
Example: $15,000 vehicle in Chicago = $15,000 + $324 + $150 + $150 + $1,538 tax = approximately $17,162 total before your down payment and trade-in.
Our commitment to transparency
At Dial Auto Group, we show you every fee before you sit down to sign. Nothing appears in the finance office that wasn't discussed upfront. If you ever have questions about what you're being charged, just ask.