C
70–79 · Average

Transparency Verdict

Star Motor Cars 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 10 verified out-the-door quotes and 1 tracked negotiation · Houston, TX
Collected Aug 22, 2025Feb 9, 2026 · Updated Apr 28, 2026

Location

Houston, TX

2 rated dealers within 30 miles · Open full map →

The full story

Why Star Motor Cars earned this grade

Between August 2025 and February 2026, CarEdge negotiated or logged 10 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 things

Doc fee is in line with the market

At $150, their doc fee sits at or just under the TX average. Not exceptional, but nothing to fight over.

Add-ons are the exception, not the rule

Only 10% of quotes include dealer-installed add-ons, averaging $9,435 when present. Most shoppers here never see them.

! Where to push back

1 thing

Listing price and real price disagree

Quoted prices run 8.3% above the advertised listing — roughly $2,905 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.

10 verified OTD quotes from Star Motor Cars

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

4 vehicle transactions10 individual quotes

2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE450

New3 quotes
$68,316
$150doc feeNo add-onsSaved $17,254
View 3 Quotes →

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE

GLE350WNew5 quotes
$72,520
$150doc feeNo add-ons
View 5 Quotes →

2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE450 4MATIC

$83,104
doc feeNo add-ons
View Quote →

2018 Mercedes-Benz S550V4

Used
$99,347
$150doc feeNo add-ons
View Quote →

Most Common Add-ons

1
protection planavg $1,488
4 quotes
2
exclusive trimavg $1,300
1 quote
3
panorama sunroofavg $1,000
1 quote
4
mbux multimedia systemavg $600
1 quote
5
heated washer systemavg $160
1 quote
6
20" amg twin 5-spoke wheels w/ black accentsavg $220
1 quote
7
load sill protectoravg $170
1 quote
8
all-season front/rear floormats, black rubberavg $35
1 quote

At a Glance

Doc fee ($150) is at or below average
High dealer markup (+8.3% above listing)

Tips for Star Motor Cars

  • Expect ~$944 in add-ons. Items like "dealer accessories," paint protection, and theft deterrent are typically negotiable.
  • Dealer markup is 8% above listing (excluding taxes). Ask for an itemized breakdown — doc fees and add-ons may be negotiable.
  • Doc fee ($150) is at or below national average. One less thing to negotiate.
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 Houston have transparency scores based on verified pricing data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Star Motor Cars's doc fee?

Star Motor Cars charges a typical documentation fee of $150. The TX average is $173. This is based on 10 verified OTD quotes in our database.

Does Star Motor Cars add mandatory add-ons?

Star Motor Cars adds an average of $944 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 Star Motor Cars a good dealer?

Star Motor Cars has a transparency score of 77.9/100, earning a Grade C. This score is based on their doc fees, add-on behavior, dealer markup, and data quality from 10 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 Star Motor Cars in Houston, TX, that has meant 10 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 Score

The raw component scores — the math that led to C.

Fee Transparency (30%)
100
Add-on Behavior (30%)
84
Price Accuracy (30%)
56
Data Quality (10%)
60

Doc Fee Comparison

This dealer$150
TX avg$232
National avg$400

Pulled 10 quote records · Grades update as new data comes in · Dealers cannot pay to change their score.

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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.