Plus tax, license, doc.  You see that on car advertising in California, and I expect other places as well.  Clearly you pay a tax on the transaction when you buy a car.  You also have to pay the license fees. So what the fuck is "doc."

That is a documentation fee.  The dealer will lie to you.  They will tell you they are required by DMV to charge it.  That is false.  They are PERMITTED by state law to charge up to $85 to essentially pay for their "dmv girl" to prepare the paper work for the DMV.  It is a modest but ongoing and reliable revenue stream for car dealers.

Assuming SB791 passes into law in the formerly great state of California the allowable amount will become 1%, not to exceed $500.  So if you buy a relatively inexpensive $25,000 car you can figure the dealer with tack on another $250 to pay for his DMV girl to do the paperwork, which will take a half hour or so.  I know.  I used to work for DMV.  I have done that.  Private party transfers can be REAL interesting.  Dealer transfers are only rarely so.

The greedy fucks are alive and well and living in CA and they are shoving their porridge bowls right in our faces.