PLATFORM UPDATE | APRIL 2026

Itemized fee breakdowns give 
shoppers full pricing transparency

←  View all platform updates

MAY 15, 2026 UPDATE:

Your total price now displays as the most prominent price across SRP, VDP, and ads, regardless of how you send pricing through your IMS. 

Configure your fees in Dealer Dash to ensure your total price and fee breakdown accurately reflect all required fees.

Show shoppers every dollar, before they ask

As state & federal regulations evolve to focus more on consumer pricing transparency, Cars.com price stacking gives you the tools to display itemized fee breakdowns across your inventory.

Price stacking is a new option for Cars.com listings that allows you to display a transparent breakdown of your list price and required fees:

  • Gives every shopper a transparent, itemized total before they contact you
  • Shoppers see your total price on SRP, VDP, and ads — with a detailed fee breakdown available on your VDP
  • Enter fees for new and used vehicles once, and it updates across your entire inventory
  • Works with your existing inventory feed — your current setup stays exactly as-is

Configure in minutes

A few clicks in Dealer Dash is all it takes. Here’s how it works:

1. Find the Dealer Fees section

2. Select your price setup

  • Select the price setup option that reflects what pricing you send via your IMS
  • “Total Price”— Select this if your feed price already includes your fees. We will display your feed price as the Total Price. (Recommended: Add fees below to provide an itemized breakdown on your VDP).
  • “Base Price” — Select this if your feed price does not include fees. We will add your configured fees to your feed price to calculate the Total Price.

3. Add your fees

  • Select the fee type (doc prep, reconditioning, or other)
  • Choose New, Used, or both
  • Enter the dollar amount

4. Save your breakdown

  • Click + Add Fee to save
  • Repeat as needed to add more fees to your price stack
  • Your VDPs update instantly

Important: Dealers must comply with their state’s fee disclosure regulations, ensuring all required fees are reflected in the total price.


Additional resources to reference

Cars.com provides you with resources to effectively list your vehicles with us. Just a click away, you can find information on our Vehicle Listing Policy (“Policy”).  Our Policy provides general guidelines to aid in ensuring your vehicle listings comply with online advertising consumer protection laws. While our Policy is not legal advice, it may serve as educational and foundational knowledge regarding local, state, and federal transparent pricing laws.

For detailed steps and FAQs, read the price stacking fees Help Center article.

1 Cars Commerce Internal Data, FY 2025

2 Cars Commerce Consumer Study, Q3 2025

Not on Cars.com yet?

The #1 most recognized automotive marketplace puts your inventory in front of 26 million shoppers every month1 — 82% of whom plan to purchase within six months.2 Connect with us and we’ll show you how Cars.com can help you reach more ready-to-buy shoppers, with price stacking configured from day one.

1 Cars Commerce Internal Data, FY 2025

2 Cars Commerce Consumer Study, Q3 2025