It’s the holidays and it’s usually the time of the year when things start to slow down, especially when it comes to official news coming out of General Motors. But that doesn’t seem to be the case this year!
We learned last night that GM had instituted a partial price increase on the 2026 Corvettes. I put a message into Chevy Communications immediately asking for confirmation…and which we are still waiting on. However, multiple dealer sources have now confirmed the following price increases on their internal systems:
All 2026 Corvette models will see a $500 price increase on the cost of the mandatory destination charge from the Assembly Plant to dealerships. Previously it was at $1,995 and now it’s going to $2,495. FYI, it was just $1,695 in January 2025.
The MSRP of the 2026 Corvette ZR1 is going up by $1,600. We are assuming that this price increase is for both Coupe and Convertible models and covers both 1LZ and 3LZ trims. Here is the pricing with that increase, not including the destination charge. The previous 2026 MSRP is in parentheses while the final number was the original pricing when the MSRP for the 2025 ZR1 was announced in January 2025:
- ZR1 Coupe 1LZ: $182,000 ($180,400) ($173,300)
- ZR1 Coupe 3LZ: $193,000 ($191,400) ($184,300)
- ZR1 Convertible 1LZ: $192,000 ($190,400) ($183,300)
- ZR1 Convertible 3LZ: $203,000 ($201,400) ($194,300)
Now, here is the real kicker for those with a current order in the system for a 2026 Corvette. There will be no order price protection for these increases, which went into effect on Monday, December 15th.
There is no word yet if the ZR1 price increase will be extended to the ZR1X models. We’ve been told that there is no longer any pricing showing on those internal screens that dealers use.
One of the biggest points of confusion for us right now, which is why we were hoping to hear back from a Chevrolet rep, is that the official Corvette Build and Buy configurators are still showing the previous pricing for ZR1 and the $1,995 destination fee for all C8 Corvette models.
If we hear anything more before the end of the day, we’ll update this post.
UPDATE
I did get a statement from Chevrolet in the last few minutes. Here it is:
The DFC (delivery freight charge) listed on window stickers reflect the costs of shipping vehicles from factories to dealer showrooms. We review these charges periodically and adjust as needed to keep in line with the overall industry average.
Related:
Corvette Prices are Going Up as Chevrolet has Released 2026 Model Year Pricing
Chevrolet Prices the 2025 Corvette ZR1 Starting at $174,995
Pricing for the 2026 Corvette ZR1X is Out and Chevy Reveals the ZR1X Quail Silver Limited Edition
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This sucks! I just submitted my order for a 2026 ERay with Museum Delivery. It’s tough to accept such a charge for a vehicle that’s sent from the factory to the museum “across the street”. HIGHWAY ROBBERY!
Price increase, Mary will get a bigger bonus this year.
As long as someone will pay, the prices will continue upward – how high is up?
What amazes me is that you pay the destination charge even when you do a Museum Delivery. I mean there ought to be some sort of reduction in the Destination Charge.
Maybe GM should make more ZR1s and ZR1Xs so they can enjoy the GM margin rather than giving ADM to dealers.
Hey Everybody, Merry Christmas and what a nice gift from Chevrolet for all of us trying to purchase a new Corvette! More Destination costs at $2,495!
As I have proposed in the past, here is a great solution to this continuation of quarterly MSRP and Options price increases on new Corvettes for nothing added but Greed:
Start selling all new Corvettes through the Internet system on a new Corvette website, with no Chevrolet Dealers involved in any way with Corvettes. Order what you want and get a date of delivery. Pay for the Corvette and fly to Nashville, which I have done twice.
GM will Design/Build a New Corvette Boutique in each Metro Large City, just for service, warranty, repair, crash restoration, and annual recalls – NOT for any sales of New Corvettes.
All ordered Corvettes are driven across the street to the National Corvette Museum for your desired delivery and orientation session – in a new NCM warehouse built for just Corvette deliveries. The cost of this service is now $495 to cover the 2 hours of NCM employee salary and overhead costs for the PDI, car wash, vacuum, etc.
There is NO DESTINATION CHARGE of $2,495 from Chevrolet.
You have a choice of driving your new Corvette home from Bowling Green or have Reliable Car Transport deliver this new Corvette to your home address for a maximum cost of $1,000 or at $1.00 per mile when the Reliable truck has a full load of 8 Corvettes to your area.
With the newest Corvette easily hitting $250,000 MSRP, there has to be a change to eliminate this 100 year old tradition of buying new cars and trucks from Chevrolet – get rid of the dealer greed factor ADM completely – and helping the Museum with a steady income stream by insuring your new ZR1X or Z06 is perfect when you drive (race) it home!
Thanks for listening.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Corvette Year!
Are you saying that a museum delivered Corvette doesn’t have the destination charge? Where can that be verified. I ordered my new Corvette with the R8C Museum Delivery option and the destination charge is still listed in the paperwork.
Hey Joe, if you are referring to my Proposed new version of buying Corvettes, there would be no $2,495 truck destination charge as hopefully a responsible University intern working at the Assembly Plant could drive over the 1.5 miles, without stopping at Wendy’s for a Frosty, to the Museum in new Corvettes with a return escort.
My idea is to do what Porsche offers with two Experience Centers, in Atlanta and LA, as a new Corvette Delivery Center at the Museum, and Chevrolet could not legally cost out Destination at this greedy $2,495. As there would be No Truck Transporter used to cross the street with your perfect Corvette.
But of course, no one at Chevrolet cares about something new and different so all of us buying new Corvettes with a Museum scheduled ceremony will still pay $3,990 until the next quarterly increase pops up at GM. There could be a better way to buy a Corvette!
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