Transparency Verdict
Zt Automotive earns a D.
Proceed with caution.
High fees or frequent add-ons are a pattern here. Get every number in writing, line by line, before you give them your deposit.
Moderate confidence — based on 10 verified out-the-door quotes and 2 tracked negotiations · Houston, TX
Collected Aug 6, 2025 – Apr 25, 2026 · Updated Jul 25, 2026
The full story
Why Zt Automotive earned this grade
Between August 2025 and April 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
1 thingAdvertised pricing is largely honest
On average, the quoted price is only 1.7% above the listing — small enough to be fees, not markup games.
! Where to push back
2 thingsDoc fee exceeds the state cap
Their typical doc fee of $899 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
40% of quotes include dealer add-ons, averaging $1,621. 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.
10 verified OTD quotes from Zt Automotive
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
6 vehicle transactions — 10 individual quotes
2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG G 63
2024 Honda Civic
Most Common Add-ons
At a Glance
Tips for Zt Automotive
- Doc fee is $499 above national average. Ask if they'll match competitors or reduce it.
- Expect ~$648 in add-ons. Items like "dealer accessories," paint protection, and theft deterrent are typically negotiable.
- Dealer markup is only +2% above listing (excluding taxes). This dealer keeps their fees minimal.
Keep researching
Look up another dealer by name, brand, city, or zip.
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 60 vehicles →$50,818
Median Price
231
Median Days Listed
4
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 Houston have transparency scores based on verified pricing data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fees does Zt Automotive charge?
Based on 10 verified out-the-door quotes collected by CarEdge, Zt Automotive charges a $899 documentation fee and averages $648 in dealer add-ons when present. Zt Automotive earns Transparency Grade D (65.6/100).
What is Zt Automotive's doc fee?
Zt Automotive charges a typical documentation fee of $899. The TX average is $227. This is based on 10 verified OTD quotes in our database.
Does Zt Automotive add mandatory add-ons?
Zt Automotive adds an average of $648 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 Zt Automotive a good dealer?
Zt Automotive has a transparency score of 65.6/100, earning a Grade D. This score is based on their doc fees, add-on behavior, dealer markup, and data quality from 10 verified OTD quotes. This is below average. Consider getting quotes from other dealers in the area for comparison.
Explore Texas 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 Zt Automotive in Houston, TX, that has meant 10 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 D.
Doc Fee Comparison
Pulled 10 quote records · Grades update as new data comes in · Dealers cannot pay to change their score.
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