Transparency Verdict
Barkau Automotive 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.
Developing confidence — based on 6 verified out-the-door quotes and 1 tracked negotiation · Stockton, IL
Collected Nov 19, 2025 – Jun 8, 2026 · Updated Jun 11, 2026
Location
Stockton, IL
The full story
Why Barkau Automotive earned this grade
Between November 2025 and June 2026, CarEdge negotiated or logged 6 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
2 thingsDoc fee is in line with the market
At $373, their doc fee sits at or just under the IL average. Not exceptional, but nothing to fight over.
Add-ons are the exception, not the rule
Only 17% of quotes include dealer-installed add-ons, averaging $10,455 when present. Most shoppers here never see them.
! Where to push back
1 thingThe listing isn't quite the price
Quoted prices run about 4.2% above the advertised listing. On a $35,000 vehicle that's roughly $1,470 in extra fees or markup.
TipGet an OTD quote in writing before you visit. Compare it to the listing — if there's a gap, ask them to account for every line.
6 verified OTD quotes from Barkau 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
3 vehicle transactions — 6 individual quotes
Most Common Add-ons
At a Glance
Tips for Barkau Automotive
- This dealer often adds $1,743 in dealer add-ons. Request a quote WITHOUT any add-ons upfront. These are almost always removable.
- Doc fee ($373) is at or below national average. One less thing to negotiate.
- Dealer markup is only +4% above listing (excluding taxes). This dealer keeps their fees minimal.
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 142 vehicles →$47,950
Median Price
46
Median Days Listed
39
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 Stockton have transparency scores based on verified pricing data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Barkau Automotive's doc fee?
Barkau Automotive charges a typical documentation fee of $373. The IL average is $382. This is based on 6 verified OTD quotes in our database.
Does Barkau Automotive add mandatory add-ons?
Barkau Automotive adds an average of $1,743 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 Barkau Automotive a good dealer?
Barkau Automotive has a transparency score of 88.1/100, earning a Grade B. This score is based on their doc fees, add-on behavior, dealer markup, and data quality from 6 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 Barkau Automotive in Stockton, IL, that has meant 6 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 B.
Doc Fee Comparison
Pulled 6 quote records · Grades update as new data comes in · Dealers cannot pay to change their score.
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