What an online car configurator does
An online car configurator is a tool on a manufacturer's or dealer's website that lets you build a car by selecting options — color, engine, interior trim, safety packages, wheels — and see the price update in real time. You choose each feature, the tool calculates the total cost including destination charges and any regional fees, and shows you what that specific combination looks like in photos or 3D renderings. Most configurators also display which options are compatible with each other (some packages cannot be combined) and which are available on your chosen model year.
The configurator does not reserve a vehicle, place an order, or commit you to anything. It is a shopping and pricing tool. When you finish building your car, you typically see a summary you can print, email to yourself, or send to a dealer. Some configurators let you save your configuration to revisit later or share with a salesperson.
Key Takeaways
- Configurators show you real pricing for each option and combination, so you can compare costs before talking to a dealer.
- The final price includes destination charges and manufacturer-set fees, but not dealer markup, taxes, or financing costs.
- Not all options are available on all trim levels or model years — the configurator tells you which combinations are possible.
- You can save or share your configuration with a dealer, but the price shown is not a binding quote and may change based on dealer inventory or current incentives.
How pricing works in a configurator
The base price shown is the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the model and trim you selected. When you add options — a larger engine, a premium sound system, a sunroof — the tool adds the manufacturer's price for each one. Destination charges (the cost to ship the car from the factory to a regional distribution center) are included automatically and vary by region.
What the configurator does not include is dealer markup, which is money the dealer adds on top of MSRP. It also does not show taxes, registration fees, or financing costs — those depend on your location and your loan terms, not on the manufacturer's pricing. If you see a price in the configurator and then a higher price at the dealer, the difference is usually dealer markup, dealer-added packages (like paint protection or wheel locks), or local taxes and fees.
Prices in configurators are current as of the date you view them, but they can change when manufacturers adjust MSRP or when model years roll over. Incentives and rebates are sometimes shown separately in the configurator or on the manufacturer's website, but not always — you may need to ask a dealer whether current rebates explore to your configuration.
What options and packages mean
Most configurators organize choices into categories: exterior (paint, wheels, trim details), interior (seat material, dashboard finishes, floor mats), technology (infotainment systems, driver information features), and packages (bundled sets of options sold together at a discount). A "package" typically costs less than buying each option separately, so the configurator will show you the savings.
Some options are mutually exclusive — you cannot choose both a manual and automatic transmission, or both a standard and premium interior. The configurator prevents you from selecting incompatible combinations by graying out options that do not work with your current choices. This saves time and prevents confusion.
Availability varies by model year, region, and current production. A configurator for the current model year shows what is available now. If you are looking at a previous model year, some options may no longer be offered. Dealers can tell you whether a specific configuration is in stock or can be ordered.
Saving and sharing your configuration
Most manufacturer configurators have a "Save" or "Share" button that generates a summary of your choices. You can usually email this summary to yourself, print it, or send it directly to a dealer. Some configurators create a unique link you can share with others or revisit later without rebuilding the car from scratch.
When you send a configuration to a dealer, include a note asking whether that exact combination is in stock or how long a factory order would take. Dealers can also tell you about current incentives or rebates that might explore to your configuration, which the configurator may not show. The configuration itself is not a quote or an order — it is a starting point for a conversation with a salesperson.
Differences between configurators and actual dealer inventory
A configurator shows you what is theoretically possible to build and what it would cost. A dealer's inventory shows you what cars are actually on the lot right now. A car you build in a configurator may not exist anywhere — you may need to order it from the factory, which takes weeks or months depending on the manufacturer's current production schedule.
Dealers sometimes add their own charges on top of MSRP, such as documentation fees, dealer preparation fees, or packages like paint protection or wheel locks. These do not appear in the configurator because they are set by individual dealers, not by the manufacturer. When you visit a dealer with your configuration, ask what additional charges they add and whether they are negotiable.
Incentives and rebates also vary by dealer and by time period. A configurator may show the base MSRP but not current manufacturer rebates, dealer discounts, or financing offers. Check the manufacturer's website or ask a dealer what incentives are running on your configuration.
Using a configurator to compare models and costs
Configurators are most useful when you are deciding between models or trying to understand how much each option costs. Build the same configuration across two different models to see the price difference. Build one model with different option packages to see which combination gives you the features you want at the price you want to pay.
You can also use a configurator to see what features come standard on each trim level. Some manufacturers bundle safety or technology features into higher trims, so you may not be able to get a specific feature on a lower-priced trim. The configurator shows you these constraints before you waste time with a dealer.
What happens after you build a car
After you finish configuring, you have a few options. You can print or save the summary and use it as a reference when you visit dealers. You can email the configuration to a dealer and ask them to check inventory or provide a quote. You can use it to compare prices across multiple dealers in your area. Or you can straightforward close the page — there is no obligation to do anything with your configuration.
If you decide to order the car you configured, you will work with a dealer, not directly with the manufacturer. The dealer will take your configuration, check whether it can be ordered, and provide you with a formal quote that includes all dealer charges, taxes, and fees. The price in the configurator is a starting point, not a final price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the price in the configurator the price I will actually pay?
No. The configurator shows the manufacturer's MSRP plus destination charges, but not dealer markup, taxes, registration, or financing costs. Dealers may also add their own fees. Use the configurator price as a baseline and ask dealers what their total price is, including all charges.
Can I order a car directly from the configurator?
No. Configurators are shopping tools only. To order a car, you work with a dealer. You can send your configuration to a dealer and ask them to order it, but the order happens through the dealer, not through the website.
Why is an option grayed out when I try to select it?
The configurator prevents incompatible combinations. For example, some engines may not be available on certain trim levels, or some interior packages may not work with specific exterior colors. Deselect the conflicting option and try again, or choose a different trim level.
Will my configuration be available in stock?
Probably not. Most configurations you build in a configurator do not exist on a dealer's lot. You would need to order it from the factory, which takes several weeks to months. Ask a dealer how long a factory order takes and whether they can provide a firm delivery date.
Do configurators show current rebates and incentives?
Sometimes, but not always. Configurators typically show base MSRP and option prices, but manufacturer rebates and dealer incentives change frequently and may not be displayed. Check the manufacturer's website or contact a dealer to learn what rebates or financing offers are running on your configuration.