What is the difference between the all-inclusive price and the on-road price?
4 Answers
Here are the differences between the all-inclusive price and the on-road price: 1. Scope: The all-inclusive price refers to the price that includes all necessary expenses from purchasing a new car to obtaining the license plate, but it does not include various car insurances. The on-road price, in addition to the vehicle's own price, also includes legally required taxes and fees such as purchase tax, compulsory traffic insurance, and vehicle and vessel tax. 2. Price: The all-inclusive price is cheaper than the on-road price. Below are some extended details about the related content: 1. On-road price: The on-road price of a car is the ex-factory price (the car price from the 4S store) + purchase tax + car insurance + car usage tax + license plate inspection fee. 2. Concept: The concept corresponding to the on-road price is the ex-factory price, which is the price of the purchased car itself.
I'm a seasoned car salesman with over a decade of experience working at 4S dealerships. Every day, customers ask me about the difference between the 'all-inclusive license plate price' and the 'on-the-road price'. Simply put, the 'all-inclusive license plate price' covers the vehicle's price including license plate fees, but excludes other expenses like purchase tax and insurance. On the other hand, the 'on-the-road price' bundles all costs required before driving the car home, including the base vehicle price, taxes, insurance, license plate fees, service charges, etc. Customers often get confused, thinking the 'all-inclusive license plate price' covers everything, only to be surprised by additional taxes at payment, leading to awkward situations. Let me give you an example: last month, a young man bought a car with an 'all-inclusive license plate price' of 150,000 yuan, feeling quite pleased. But when picking up the car, he was hit with over 10,000 yuan in purchase tax and several thousand more for insurance, ending up paying nearly 20,000 yuan extra. That's not cost-effective. So, I always advise customers to ask for the 'on-the-road price' upfront, clearly calculating their budget to avoid being misled. Buying a car is no small matter—don’t just focus on promotional prices; the actual total cost is what truly matters.
I remember when I bought my car last year, I also made a funny mistake. The salesperson at the 4S store enthusiastically said the package price was 180,000, and I thought that covered everything, including the license plate and so on. But on the day I picked up the car, the finance department told me there was still a purchase tax of over 20,000 to pay, insurance was extra, plus various service fees. In the end, I had to shell out 220,000 before I could drive it home. Oh, how I regretted not asking for the total on-road price—that would have been the full cost. It turns out the package price only covers the license-related fees, saving you the hassle of going to the DMV yourself, but taxes and insurance are still on you. This experience taught me a lesson: when buying a car, don’t just get fooled by jargon—ask the dealer for a full on-road price list with all the costs laid out. Now, when I share this with others, I always remind them to clarify the total on-road cost to avoid overspending and heartache. After all, a car is something you drive every day, and the money saved can go toward gas.
As a complete novice who knows nothing about cars, I was quite confused when I first heard the terms "all-inclusive price" and "on-the-road price" while learning to drive. A friend explained to me that the all-inclusive price covers the cost of licensing in the amount you pay, allowing you to drive the car away directly, but other expenses still need to be calculated separately. The on-the-road price, on the other hand, is a one-time bundled price that includes all necessary costs for purchasing a car, such as the car price itself, taxes, insurance, and licensing fees. This is the actual total amount you'll pay, though you might need to add more for insurance. I once experienced a test drive where the salesperson quoted a discount based on the all-inclusive price, making it seem hassle-free. However, upon asking for details, I found out taxes weren't included, which almost pushed me over my budget. Learning this distinction is quite useful to avoid being taken advantage of as a beginner. Asking a few more questions before buying a car and focusing on the on-the-road price is more reliable, saving both time and money.
