Transparency Verdict
Castle Automotive Group earns an A.
One of the good ones.
You can walk in here with confidence. Fees are reasonable, add-ons are rare, and the final number usually matches the listing.
Moderate confidence — based on 19 verified out-the-door quotes and 4 tracked negotiations · Downers Grove, IL
Collected Dec 29, 2025 – Apr 22, 2026 · Updated May 2, 2026
The full story
Why Castle Automotive Group earned this grade
Between December 2025 and April 2026, CarEdge negotiated or logged 19 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 thingsAdd-ons are the exception, not the rule
Only 21% of quotes include dealer-installed add-ons, averaging $1,371 when present. Most shoppers here never see them.
Advertised pricing is largely honest
On average, the quoted price is only 1.9% above the listing — small enough to be fees, not markup games.
Shoppers who negotiated saved real money
Across 4 back-and-forth negotiations we tracked here, buyers saved an average of $962 from first quote to final. That tells you their opening number has room.
TipNever take the first quote. Their floor is lower than what they offer on day one.
! Where to push back
1 thingDoc fee is slightly padded
$378 is $3 above the IL average of $375. 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.
19 verified OTD quotes from Castle Automotive Group
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
9 vehicle transactions — 19 individual quotes
Most Common Add-ons
At a Glance
Tips for Castle Automotive Group
- Minor add-ons (~$289) may appear. Ask what's included and if they can be removed.
- A-rated dealer! Focus on vehicle price negotiation—fees are already competitive.
- Doc fee ($378) is at or below national average. One less thing to negotiate.
- Dealer markup is only +2% above listing (excluding taxes). This dealer keeps their fees minimal.
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These dealers near Downers Grove have transparency scores based on verified pricing data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Castle Automotive Group's doc fee?
Castle Automotive Group charges a typical documentation fee of $378. The IL average is $375. This is based on 19 verified OTD quotes in our database.
Does Castle Automotive Group add mandatory add-ons?
Castle Automotive Group adds an average of $289 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 Castle Automotive Group a good dealer?
Castle Automotive Group has a transparency score of 96.1/100, earning a Grade A. This score is based on their doc fees, add-on behavior, dealer markup, and data quality from 19 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 Castle Automotive Group in Downers Grove, IL, that has meant 19 verified OTD quotes across 4 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 A.
Doc Fee Comparison
Pulled 19 quote records · Grades update as new data comes in · Dealers cannot pay to change their score.
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