Inflation erodes purchasing power, making it crucial for incomes to keep pace with rising costs—a challenge keenly felt in the automotive market. While sticker shock is common for new car buyers, a detailed look at the Monroney label reveals one particularly large and escalating hidden cost: the destination charge. This mandatory fee, which covers vehicle delivery from the factory to the dealership, has doubled in some cases over the last decade and represents a significant and often overlooked expense just before the grand total.
Destination Unknown: Your Cost
Why have destination fees risen? For one, freight prices have risen, making it more expensive for manufacturers to bring a vehicle from factory to dealership. That is a cost you largely bear, if not mostly…in entirety.
Another reason your delivery charge is higher may very well have something to do with tariffs. The Trump Administration, in a bid to equalize the tariffs other nations are charging America, have placed tariffs on many items. If not always automobiles directly, then on the many parts that comprise them – electronics, engines, transmissions, and so on.
Instead of creating a line item for tariffs or for increasing the starting price for the vehicle, manufacturers are simply adding those costs to the freight charge. Sometimes they do both.
At DrivenAutos, we have been tracking this painful reality, especially this year. Our findings are eye-opening as we sampled delivery increases over three years: 2015, 2020, and 2025. And where prices suddenly surged for the 2026 model year, we are pointing those out as well. Read on and we will drill down on that sample.
Toyota
For the 2025 model year, many of Toyota’s SUVs and trucks list a destination fee of around US $1,395, with examples like the 2025 Toyota 4Runner showing a $1,450 destination charge.
In earlier years – for example 2015 – Toyota’s destination fee was in the $825 range for models like the Camry. Over time the fee has climbed significantly, and official bulletins even noted increases in 2024 (e.g., cars $1,095 → $1,135) to cover rising transport and logistics costs.
Honda
In 2015 the destination or delivery fee for mainstream Honda models like the Accord was approximately $820, while larger models like the Pilot ran about $880. Today, by 2025, many Honda vehicles carry destination fees in the $1,095 to $1,395 range, depending on model and drivetrain. (Consumer data and industry tracking show the upward trajectory.)
Nissan
For 2015 U.S. models, Nissan’s destination fees ranged from about $825 (Sentra) up to $1,095 for larger models (Titan pickup).
By 2025, Nissan’s U.S. model-year fees increased to $1,245 for the Sentra and $1,895 for the Titan. All other models have seen similar increases.
Subaru
In 2015 the destination fee for models like the Forester and Outback hovered around US $850.
For 2020, many Subaru models listed destination in the region of $900 to $1,010, depending on model size. By 2025, that cost has risen to $1,170 to $1,395, depending on the model. It should also be noted that Subaru has increased its general prices for the year according to Reuters, with vehicles costing between $750 to just over $2,000 more, plus destination.
Hyundai
While 2015/2020 detailed fee data was less publicly broken out for every model, recent U.S. pricing (2025) from Hyundai indicates destination fees around US $1,395 for models such as the 2025 Hyundai Tucson plug-in hybrid. For all-new models, such as the Ioniq 9 EV, the cost is $1,600.
Kia
Similar to Hyundai, in 2025 Kia models list destination fees such as $1,175 for the 2025 Kia K5, and up to $1,495 for large or EV models (e.g., EV9). In 2020, the Sorento had an “inland freight and handling” charge of $1,120. For 2026, the “destination fee” is now $1,445.
Volkswagen (VW)
In 2015, VW listed destination charges around US $820 for models such as the Jetta and Golf. By 2025, VW specified a destination fee of US $1,425 for the U.S. lineup.
Audi
For the 2015 model year, Audi’s destination fee for cars (used in a TT / TTS media kit) was about $895. For 2025, the company’s press material lists $1,295 as the “destination and delivery” fee for most models.
BMW
BMW has shown much restraint for raising delivery charges, holding the line at $995 from 2015 to 2024, before rising to $1,175 for 2025.
Mercedes-Benz
For 2020, many Mercedes-Benz U.S. model spec sheets list destination handling around US $995. By 2025, some larger models show destination fees around US $1,150 (e.g., the G 550) in U.S. documents. Notably, we’re seeing $1,175 for 2026.
Volvo
While explicit 2015/2020 destination fee values are harder to pinpoint in public press archives, by 2025 Volvo U.S. spec/consumer pages show a destination fee of US $1,295 for models like the XC60. For 2026, there is no change in the destination fee.
It should be noted that Volvo’s large S90 and related ES90 sedans are no longer available in the U.S. Both models are built in China and are no longer available due to tariffs.
General Motors (GM)
For larger trucks and EVs, destination fees have climbed significantly. For example, in 2015, the delivery charge was $1,195 for the Chevrolet Silverado. By 2020, the cost had risen to $1,595. By 2025, consumers were paying $2,195. But for 2026, the fee is now $2,595, for one of the highest in the industry.
Ford
Industry tracking (e.g., CarEdge’s database) shows Ford’s destination/transport fees on large trucks/SUVs reaching US $1,895 by 2023, climbing to $2,195 for 2025. Just one year later, the fee has risen to $2,595. As recently as 2015, the destination fee was $1,195.
Stellantis (formerly Fiat-Chrysler, Jeep/Ram/Dodge/Chrysler)
Stellantis has delivered the highest destination fees in recent years. In 2023 data, models such as the Jeep Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer listed a $2,000 destination charge. For 2026, that fee is now $2,595, matching GM and Ford. Other Jeep models are approaching the $2,000 threshold, although not all 2026 data is in place as of this writing.
Non-Waivable Fee
There is not much good news to share about destination fees and what they cost consumers. Importantly, these fees are non-waivable, which means you cannot negotiate them down or away. If you are looking to reduce your overall cost, that is still possible, but the delivery fees stay, and they are only becoming more expensive.
- Automakers Are Running Out of Ways to Hide Rising Prices, by Byron Hurd. The Drive, October 27, 2025.
- What Makes Up a Destination Charge?, by Fred Meier. Cars.com, August 30, 2024.
- What Are Destination Charges?, by Chris Hardesty. Kelley Blue Book, May 2, 2025.
- Destination Charges and Dealer Fees Explained, by Renee Valdes. Autotrader, April 3, 2025.
- Why Even Domestic Cars Could See Higher Prices, by Joann Muller. Axios, August 20, 2025.
