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.

Moderate confidence — based on 11 verified out-the-door quotes and 3 tracked negotiations · Clermont, FL
Collected Aug 7, 2025May 13, 2026 · Updated May 14, 2026

Location

Clermont, FL

3 rated dealers within 30 miles · Open full map →

The full story

Why Don Mealey Chevrolet earned this grade

Between August 2025 and May 2026, CarEdge negotiated or logged 11 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 thing

Shoppers who negotiated saved real money

Across 3 back-and-forth negotiations we tracked here, buyers saved an average of $1,857 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

3 things

Doc fee is slightly padded

$985 is $19 above the FL average of $966. 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

45% 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 7.9% above the advertised listing — roughly $2,765 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.

11 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

5 vehicle transactions11 individual quotes

2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer

RSNew2 quotes
$32,519
$995doc feeNo add-onsSaved $1,380
View 2 Quotes →

2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

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

2018 Mazda CX-5

GRAND TOURINGUsed2 quotes
$19,960
$985doc feeNo add-ons
View 2 Quotes →

2022 Ram 2500

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

2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV

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

Most Common Add-ons

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

Tips for Don Mealey Chevrolet

  • Doc fee is $585 above national average. Ask if they'll match competitors or reduce it.
  • Expect ~$590 in add-ons. Items like "dealer accessories," paint protection, and theft deterrent are typically negotiable.
  • Dealer markup is only +8% above listing (excluding taxes). This dealer keeps their fees minimal.
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.

Nearby Rated Dealers

These dealers near Clermont have transparency scores based on verified pricing data.

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 $966. This is based on 11 verified OTD quotes in our database.

Does Don Mealey Chevrolet add mandatory add-ons?

Don Mealey Chevrolet adds an average of $590 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 75.9/100, earning a Grade C. This score is based on their doc fees, add-on behavior, dealer markup, and data quality from 11 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 11 verified OTD quotes across 3 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%)
98
Add-on Behavior (30%)
63
Price Accuracy (30%)
59
Data Quality (10%)
100

Doc Fee Comparison

This dealer$985
FL avg$966
National avg$400

Pulled 11 quote records · Grades update as new data comes in · Dealers cannot pay to change their score.

CarEdge

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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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*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.