Transparency Verdict
Cloninger Auto Group 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 9 verified out-the-door quotes and 2 tracked negotiations · NC
Collected Dec 26, 2025 – Jan 9, 2026 · Updated Jul 8, 2026
The full story
Why Cloninger Auto Group earned this grade
Between December 2025 and January 2026, CarEdge negotiated or logged 9 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 slightly padded
$899 is $169 above the NC average of $730. 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 are baked into almost every deal
89% of quotes include dealer add-ons, averaging $874. This is their business model — inflate the OTD, then hope you don't line-item it.
TipDemand an itemized quote before signing anything. Every add-on is optional — refuse them unless you actually want them.
9 verified OTD quotes from Cloninger Auto 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
2 vehicle transactions — 9 individual quotes
2018 Ford F-150
2025 Ford Bronco
Most Common Add-ons
At a Glance
Tips for Cloninger Auto Group
- Doc fee is $499 above national average. Ask if they'll match competitors or reduce it.
- Expect ~$777 in add-ons. Items like "dealer accessories," paint protection, and theft deterrent are typically negotiable.
- Dealer markup is about 4% below listing (excluding taxes). This dealer keeps fees very low.
Keep researching
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Frequently Asked Questions
What fees does Cloninger Auto Group charge?
Based on 9 verified out-the-door quotes collected by CarEdge, Cloninger Auto Group charges a $899 documentation fee and averages $777 in dealer add-ons when present. Cloninger Auto Group earns Transparency Grade C (77.3/100).
What is Cloninger Auto Group's doc fee?
Cloninger Auto Group charges a typical documentation fee of $899. The NC average is $777. This is based on 9 verified OTD quotes in our database.
Does Cloninger Auto Group add mandatory add-ons?
Cloninger Auto Group adds an average of $777 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 Cloninger Auto Group a good dealer?
Cloninger Auto Group has a transparency score of 77.3/100, earning a Grade C. This score is based on their doc fees, add-on behavior, dealer markup, and data quality from 9 verified OTD quotes. This is an average score. Compare with nearby dealers before making a decision.
Explore North Carolina dealer data
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 Cloninger Auto Group in NC, that has meant 9 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 C.
Doc Fee Comparison
Pulled 9 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.
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