How to configure fees in Dealer Dash 

Entering your fees in Dealer Dash lets you display a total price on your listings that includes list price, required fees, and a clear itemized breakdown — so shoppers know exactly what they’re paying before they contact you. This builds trust with serious buyers and helps you meet state price transparency requirements.

In this article you will learn how to access the fee configuration section in Dealer Dash, enter your fee details by stock type, and publish your fees so they’re reflected in the total price shoppers see on your listings.

1 Navigate to fee configuration

• Scroll down the main page until you find the Dealer Fees section

• Click Edit Pricing Fees

2Select your price setup 

Select the price setup option that reflects what pricing you send via your IMS. 

• Total Price: the price from your feed will display throughout Cars.com. Entering fees below is recommended but optional. 
• Base Price: we’ll calculate your total price by taking your feed and adding the fees entered below. 

Not sure which to choose? Check your current listings to confirm whether the price you’re sending already includes fees or not.

• Click Add Fees

3

Complete the fields

• Select the fee type:
  • Reconditioning 
  • Document Prep Fee 
  • Other: include a title of the fee (required)
• Choose New or Used: Select one or both 
• Enter in a dollar amount for the fee

Fees are set at the stock type level — the same fees apply to all vehicles within that stock type.

Best practice: Include required fees as part of your total price. Check with your specific state regulations to determine what fees are optional to include. 

Note: You’ll need to configure fees separately for New and Used inventory if you want different fee sets for each.

4Save your breakdown

• Click + Add Fee to save your updates
• Repeat as needed to add more fees to your price stack

Your fee configuration goes live instantly — no inventory feed changes or support ticket required.

See it live on your VDP 

• Open any vehicle listing on your VDP
• Click See breakdown
• Confirm your fees appear correctly alongside your list price and total

What you’ll see

If you select Total Price:

Your IMS sends $31,599 as the vehicle price — a total that already includes your $500 doc fee (as an example).

• Select Total Price
• Enter your $500 doc fee in Dealer Dash
• Cars.com displays $31,599 as your vehicle’s listed price
• Shoppers click Price includes fees, see breakdown to view the itemized total

If you select Base Price:

Your IMS sends $27,499 as the base vehicle price — your $500 doc fee is not included.

• Select Base Price
• Enter your $500 doc fee in Dealer Dash
• Cars.com adds your fees to the base price and displays $27,999 as your vehicle’s listed price
• Shoppers click Price includes fees, see breakdown to view the itemized total

Note: The price displayed on the SRP, VDP, and ads is determined by what price you send through your IMS feed. Ensure your Price Setup selection matches how your feed price is configured.

FAQ

What’s the difference between Total Price and Base Price? It depends on how your feed is configured. If your feed sends an all-in price with fees already included, select Total Price. If your feed sends just the vehicle price without fees, select Base Price and Cars.com will add your configured fees to calculate the total. When in doubt, check your current listings to confirm whether the price you’re sending already includes fees or not.

Is entering fees required? Cars.com offers fee configuration as an optional feature. However, dealers operating in states with pricing transparency regulations may find fee configuration a useful tool for meeting their compliance obligations and supporting pricing transparency efforts. 

Ultimately, dealers are responsible for ensuring their pricing practices meet all applicable legal requirements, and should consult with legal counsel to determine the best approach for their compliance needs.

Will this affect my deal badges or Best Match ranking? No. Deal badges and Best Match both rely on total price. 

Can I set different fees for different vehicles? Fees apply at the stock type level (New or Used), so all vehicles within a stock type share the same fees. You can’t set vehicle-specific fees.

What price do shoppers see on the SRP? Shoppers will see total price as the most prominently displayed price on their VDP, SRP, and ads.

How quickly do fee updates go live? Changes sync near-instantly after you save.