Transparency Verdict
Sterling Kia 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 2 tracked negotiations · Bryan, TX
Collected Sep 30, 2025 – Apr 3, 2026 · Updated May 3, 2026
The full story
Why Sterling Kia earned this grade
Between September 2025 and April 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
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 exceeds the state cap
Their typical doc fee of $425 is above TX's legal cap of $225. This is a red flag — every dealer in the state must stay at or below this number.
TipTell them you expect the doc fee at $225 or lower. It's not optional; it's the law.
Add-ons show up on most deals
50% of quotes include dealer add-ons, averaging $392. 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.
6 verified OTD quotes from Sterling Kia
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 transactions — 6 individual quotes
Most Common Add-ons
At a Glance
Tips for Sterling Kia
- Minor add-ons (~$196) may appear. Ask what's included and if they can be removed.
- Dealer markup is about 2% below listing (excluding taxes). This dealer keeps fees very low.
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 367 vehicles →$32,850
Median Price
26
Median Days Listed
34
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 Lafayette have transparency scores based on verified pricing data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sterling Kia's doc fee?
Sterling Kia charges a typical documentation fee of $425. The TX average is $233. This is based on 6 verified OTD quotes in our database.
Does Sterling Kia add mandatory add-ons?
Sterling Kia adds an average of $196 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 Sterling Kia a good dealer?
Sterling Kia has a transparency score of 83.6/100, 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 Sterling Kia in Bryan, TX, that has meant 6 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 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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