Transparency Verdict
Autonation earns a B.
Mostly honest. Stay alert.
Fair on the big stuff, but there are small things to watch. Read the out-the-door carefully before you sign.
Strong confidence — based on 46 verified out-the-door quotes and 2 tracked negotiations · Des Plaines, IL
Collected Aug 21, 2025 – Jun 2, 2026 · Updated Jun 10, 2026
The full story
Why Autonation earned this grade
Between August 2025 and June 2026, CarEdge negotiated or logged 46 verified deals with this dealership. We pulled the doc fee, the add-ons, and the gap between advertised and out-the-door price from each one. Then we graded them the way a friend in the business would: on the things that actually cost you money.
✓ What they do well
3 thingsDoc fee is genuinely reasonable
$225 is $158 below the IL average of $383. That's money you keep — most dealers in their market charge more.
Add-ons are the exception, not the rule
Only 30% of quotes include dealer-installed add-ons, averaging $1,987 when present. Most shoppers here never see them.
Advertised pricing is largely honest
On average, the quoted price is only 1.0% above the listing — small enough to be fees, not markup games.
46 verified OTD quotes from Autonation
Real out-the-door worksheets, not reviews. Click “View Quote” on any row to see the price breakdown.
Recent Quotes
Verified out-the-door prices from real transactions
37 vehicle transactions — 46 individual quotes
Most Common Add-ons
At a Glance
Tips for Autonation
- Expect ~$605 in add-ons. Items like "dealer accessories," paint protection, and theft deterrent are typically negotiable.
- Doc fee ($225) is at or below national average. One less thing to negotiate.
- Dealer markup is only +1% above listing (excluding taxes). This dealer keeps their fees minimal.
- 46 quotes analyzed. This score is based on solid data.
On the lot right now
Separate from the grade above — this is what's currently listed. Useful for spotting aging stock with room to negotiate.
Current Inventory
View all 6044 vehicles →$48,927
Median Price
34
Median Days Listed
1263
Added This Week
Days on Market
How long vehicles have been listed. Older stock means more room to negotiate.
Nearby Rated Dealers
These dealers near Des Plaines have transparency scores based on verified pricing data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Autonation's doc fee?
Autonation charges a typical documentation fee of $225. The IL average is $383. This is based on 46 verified OTD quotes in our database.
Does Autonation add mandatory add-ons?
Autonation adds an average of $605 in dealer add-ons when present. Ask for an itemized breakdown and negotiate to remove non-essential items like paint protection, nitrogen tire fill, or VIN etching.
Is Autonation a good dealer?
Autonation has a transparency score of 89.8/100, earning a Grade B. This score is based on their doc fees, add-on behavior, dealer markup, and data quality from 46 verified OTD quotes. This is a well-above-average score, indicating transparent pricing practices.
How we know this
Every number on this page came from a real deal.
Most dealer review sites scrape star ratings and count angry posts. We do the opposite. CarEdge shops for cars alongside thousands of real buyers every week — and when we negotiate on their behalf, we capture the full out-the-door breakdown the dealer sends back.
For Autonation in Des Plaines, IL, that has meant 46 verified OTD quotes across 2 negotiated deals logged into our database. Each one is a PDF, an email, or a screenshot showing the actual doc fee, the actual add-ons, and the actual final price — not a salesperson's promise.
Fee Transparency
30%Is the doc fee reasonable, or is it just profit? We compare it against the state average — and the legal cap, where one exists.
Add-on Behavior
30%How often does the dealer try to stick on paint protection, theft deterrent, or nitrogen tires? And when they do, how much do they cost you?
Price Accuracy
30%Does the advertised listing price match what you'd actually sign for? We flag dealers whose out-the-door diverges from the listing.
Data Quality
10%More data = more trustworthy grade. Dealers with lots of recent, complete quotes score higher for consistency.
The four numbers behind the grade
Weighted ScoreThe raw component scores — the math that led to B.
Doc Fee Comparison
Pulled 46 quote records · Grades update as new data comes in · Dealers cannot pay to change their score.
Shop this dealer with confidence
CarEdge Pro unlocks real dealer invoice data, target prices, and out-the-door estimates so you walk in already knowing the right number.
Try CarEdge Pro*Information provided for general informational purposes only. Scores are independently calculated and do not imply endorsement of or affiliation with any dealer. Verify all information independently before making a purchase decision. See our Terms of Service.