The Auto Advocate Blog

Plain-English car buying guides from a 25-year dealership insider.

The Real Cost of "Out-The-Door Pricing" — and How to Get It Right

Most buyers think OTD price is just MSRP plus tax. It's not. Here's what actually goes into your final number, and what the dealer hopes you'll miss.

Most buyers know about the markup. They don't know about the other three. Here's the full picture from a 25-year insider.

Rates are higher. Residuals shifted. Lease deals are weirder than they've been in a decade. Here's how to decide which makes sense for you.

These three habits hand the dealership thousands of dollars before you've even sat down. Stop doing them.

The blog is free. The 30-min Deal Audit ($85) is where you actually get the numbers.