On the Dash:
- Rising destination fees, up 67% since 2015, may impact affordability conversations and deal structuring.
- Heavier trucks and EVs, some weighing over 10,000 pounds, incur higher logistics costs that influence pricing.
- Standardized nationwide fees limit dealers’ regional pricing flexibility.
The Detroit Three automakers dominate a new list tracking the highest non-negotiable vehicle destination fees charged to buyers across the U.S. auto market, according to a report from Consumer Reports.
The watchdog group’s latest roundup shows that Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis trucks and SUVs captured nine of the top 10 spots for the most expensive destination charges. The only passenger cars on the list, holding the No. 1 position, were models from Italian luxury brand Alfa Romeo, which operates under the Stellantis umbrella.
Destination fees, which cover the cost of transporting vehicles from factories to dealer lots, have risen sharply in recent years. Separate data from Edmunds indicates that the average U.S. destination charge increased from $952 in 2015 to $1,592 in 2026, a jump of about 67%.
A 2021 Consumer Reports investigation found that destination fees often “far exceed the actual cost of transporting a vehicle” and suggested automakers may be using the charges to bolster margins. The group also noted that the fees have risen faster than overall inflation.
Automakers are required under the Automobile Information Disclosure Act of 1958 to disclose the amount charged to dealers for transporting vehicles. According to Consumer Reports, manufacturers standardize those charges nationwide, meaning a vehicle purchased near a manufacturing hub carries the same destination fee as one sold across the country.
The 10 lowest destination fees on Consumer Reports’ list were from foreign automakers, some of which build vehicles in the United States, while others import them from Japan, Germany, and elsewhere.
