C
70–79 · Average

Transparency Verdict

Don Mealey Chevrolet earns a C.

Negotiate. Hard.

Average transparency — expect pushback on fees and add-ons. Shoppers who hold the line here consistently save money.

Developing confidence — based on 7 verified out-the-door quotes and 2 tracked negotiations · Clermont, FL
Collected Aug 7, 2025Apr 23, 2026 · Updated Jun 10, 2026

Location

Clermont, FL

4 rated dealers within 30 miles · Open full map →

The full story

Why Don Mealey Chevrolet earned this grade

Between August 2025 and April 2026, CarEdge negotiated or logged 7 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.

! Where to push back

3 things

Doc fee is slightly padded

$985 is $58 above the FL average of $927. Not outrageous, but worth questioning.

TipAsk them to match the average. If they won't, factor it into your overall price — every dollar here is negotiable.

Add-ons show up on most deals

57% of quotes include dealer add-ons, averaging $1,299. Expect them to try to include something — paint protection, nitrogen-filled tires, VIN etching.

TipNearly all aftermarket add-ons are optional and removable. Say "please take those off the quote" and watch the OTD drop.

Listing price and real price disagree

Quoted prices run 8.8% above the advertised listing — roughly $3,080 extra on a $35k vehicle. That's a pattern, not a rounding error.

TipThis dealer's listing price is a marketing number, not a real one. Don't anchor to it — anchor to an out-the-door target.

What they do well:Nothing stands out as a strength in this data. That's the finding.

7 verified OTD quotes from Don Mealey Chevrolet

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

3 vehicle transactions7 individual quotes

2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

DOUBLE CAB LT 2WD (1LT)Used
$23,302
$985doc feeNo add-ons
View Quote →

2022 Ram 2500

CREW CAB TRADESMANUsed2 quotes
$41,951
$985doc feeNo add-onsSaved $1,512
View 2Quotes →

2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV

New4 quotes
$28,711
$985doc feeNo add-onsSaved $2,679
View 4Quotes →

Most Common Add-ons

1
protection planavg $1,299
3 quotes
2
paint protectionavg $1,299
1 quote

At a Glance

High dealer markup (+8.8% above listing)

Tips for Don Mealey Chevrolet

  • Doc fee is $585 above national average. Ask if they'll match competitors or reduce it.
  • Expect ~$742 in add-ons. Items like "dealer accessories," paint protection, and theft deterrent are typically negotiable.
  • Dealer markup is 9% above listing (excluding taxes). Ask for an itemized breakdown — doc fees and add-ons may be negotiable.
Live inventory

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Don Mealey Chevrolet's doc fee?

Don Mealey Chevrolet charges a typical documentation fee of $985. The FL average is $927. This is based on 7 verified OTD quotes in our database.

Does Don Mealey Chevrolet add mandatory add-ons?

Don Mealey Chevrolet adds an average of $742 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 Don Mealey Chevrolet a good dealer?

Don Mealey Chevrolet has a transparency score of 70.4/100, earning a Grade C. This score is based on their doc fees, add-on behavior, dealer markup, and data quality from 7 verified OTD quotes. This is an average score. Compare with nearby dealers before making a decision.

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 Don Mealey Chevrolet in Clermont, FL, that has meant 7 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 Score

The raw component scores — the math that led to C.

Fee Transparency (30%)
94
Add-on Behavior (30%)
56
Price Accuracy (30%)
51
Data Quality (10%)
100

Doc Fee Comparison

This dealer$985
FL avg$927
National avg$400

Pulled 7 quote records · Grades update as new data comes in · Dealers cannot pay to change their score.

CarEdge

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*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.