Transparency Verdict
Lakeland Automotive earns a C.
Negotiate. Hard.
Average transparency — expect pushback on fees and add-ons. Shoppers who hold the line here consistently save money.
Moderate confidence — based on 16 verified out-the-door quotes and 1 tracked negotiation
Collected Oct 13, 2025 – Jan 16, 2026 · Updated May 14, 2026
The full story
Why Lakeland Automotive earned this grade
Between October 2025 and January 2026, CarEdge negotiated or logged 16 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
1 thingThe price you see is the price you get
Their quoted selling price almost exactly matches the advertised listing price. No mystery markup, no surprise "market adjustment."
! Where to push back
2 thingsDoc fee is significantly inflated
$998 is $598 above the national average of $400. That's pure margin for the dealer, not cost of service.
TipThis fee is mostly not "standard paperwork" — it's profit. Push back, or get the equivalent off the vehicle price.
Add-ons show up on most deals
38% of quotes include dealer add-ons, averaging $298. 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.
16 verified OTD quotes from Lakeland Automotive
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
5 vehicle transactions — 16 individual quotes
2021 Toyota Highlander
2025 Chrysler Pacifica
Most Common Add-ons
At a Glance
Tips for Lakeland Automotive
- Doc fee is $598 above national average. Ask if they'll match competitors or reduce it.
- This dealer often adds $1,956 in dealer add-ons. Request a quote WITHOUT any add-ons upfront. These are almost always removable.
- Dealer markup is about 3% below listing (excluding taxes). This dealer keeps fees very low.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lakeland Automotive's doc fee?
Lakeland Automotive charges a typical documentation fee of $998. The state average is $526. This is based on 16 verified OTD quotes in our database.
Does Lakeland Automotive add mandatory add-ons?
Lakeland Automotive adds an average of $1,956 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 Lakeland Automotive a good dealer?
Lakeland Automotive has a transparency score of 73.1/100, earning a Grade C. This score is based on their doc fees, add-on behavior, dealer markup, and data quality from 16 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 Lakeland Automotive, that has meant 16 verified OTD quotes across 1 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 C.
Doc Fee Comparison
Pulled 16 quote records · Grades update as new data comes in · Dealers cannot pay to change their score.
Bring real numbers to this dealership
CarEdge Pro unlocks real dealer invoice data, target discounts, and out-the-door estimates — so you can push back on fees and add-ons with the actual numbers.
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.