Dealer Transparency Index Program Rules
Methodology Changelog
Changes to how we grade dealers, in plain language, listed before they take effect. The methodology in use today is Exhibit A.
Changes coming October 31, 2026
Four parts of the grade change. The weights do not: Fee Transparency, Price Accuracy and Add-ons still count 30% each, and Data Quality 10%.
Each change below shows Today, the rule in use now, and From Oct 31, the rule after the update. Certified Dealers were notified by email on September 30, 2026.
The 4 changes at a glance
- 1. Newer quotes count more
TodayEvery quote counts the same
From Oct 31Newest quotes count most; over a year old drop off
- 2. Fee Transparency looks at all your dealer fees
TodayBased on your doc fee
From Oct 31Based on all your dealer fees vs. your state’s typical total
- 3. Price Accuracy checks your website price
TodayAdvertised price vs. quote, 3% gap allowed
From Oct 31Website price must include every required charge, and the quote must give at least the discount the website shows
- 4. Data Quality rewards itemized quotes
TodayEach quote passes or fails
From Oct 31Credit for each part listed on its own line
1. Newer quotes count more
- Today
- Every quote counts the same, no matter how old it is.
- From Oct 31
- Your newest quotes count the most. Quotes older than one year no longer count.
We take your quotes from the past year, newest first, and split them into four equal groups. The newest group counts for 50% of the score, the next 30%, then 15%, and the oldest 5%.
Stores with fewer than four quotes use the split shown below. This replaces the time-weighting in section A.9.1 of the current methodology.
How much each group of quotes counts
If you have fewer than four quotes in the past year
Newest quote on the left.
Example quote · made up, not a real dealer
Four quotes from the past year
- March: a $1,500 add-on on the quote
- June: no add-ons
- September: no add-ons
- October: no add-ons
How much each one counts
- October 50%
- September 30%
- June 15%
- March 5%
Result: The only quote with an add-on is the oldest, so it moves the Add-ons part of the grade by 5%. Today every quote counts the same, so it would move it by 25%.
What it means for you: Your grade shows how your store sells today. When you fix something, it shows up sooner.
2. Fee Transparency looks at all your dealer fees
- Today
- We look at your doc fee and compare it with the typical doc fee in your state.
- From Oct 31
- We add up all your dealer fees and compare the total with the typical total in your state. If your state caps doc fees and yours is above the cap, this part of the grade scores zero.
The doc fee is one dealer fee among others and is not weighted more than the rest.
Manufacturer and government charges are not dealer fees. How you list your fees is graded under Data Quality, not here.
Example quote · made up, not a real dealer
Dealer fees on the quote
- Doc fee $499
- Electronic filing $150
- Dealer prep $350
- Total $999
Typical total in the state
- $600
Result: The total is $399 above the typical total, so this part of the grade drops. Today only the $499 doc fee would be compared. At $600 or less in total, this part scores in full.
What it means for you: What matters is the total a buyer pays you in fees, not how you split it across lines.
3. Price Accuracy checks your website price
- Today
- We compare your advertised price with your out-the-door quote, before taxes and government fees, and allow a 3% gap.
- From Oct 31
- The price on your website should include every charge a buyer has to pay to buy the car. Only government charges and add-ons the buyer can truly decline may be left out. Your quote must also give at least the discount your website shows.
This follows the FTC’s published guidance for auto dealers. For each quote we look at three prices: the starting price and selling price on your quote, and the advertised price on your vehicle page.
Your quote, minus government charges, should match your website price. A gap usually means a required charge is missing from the website price, and this part of the grade drops.
We also compare discounts. If your website shows a discount, your quote must give at least that much off. A markup, addendum or market adjustment on your quote that your website does not show counts as a smaller discount. We do not check the starting price on its own, so one mismatch is never counted twice.
Also lowers this score: calling an optional add-on required, saying an installed option cannot be removed, misstating what an option costs, or charging for options the buyer did not agree to.
Must be in your website price
- Doc fee
- Other dealer fees
- Add-ons the car is not sold without (protection packages, nitrogen, etch)
Can be left out
- Tax, title and registration
- Add-ons the buyer can truly say no to
Dealer questions
- My website shows the same selling price as my quote but leaves out my dealer fees. What happens?
- That quote has a gap, so Price Accuracy drops for it. Dealer fees are a required charge, so they belong in the website price.
- My website price is lower than the selling price on my quote, but my website lists every fee and add-on. What happens?
- That is also a gap. Your quote, minus government charges, comes out higher than your website price, so Price Accuracy drops for that quote.
- My website price is higher than my quote. Does that hurt me?
- No. Quoting a buyer less than your website price is not a gap.
- My website shows $5,000 off, but my quote starts at the discounted price with no discount line. What happens?
- That quote has a gap. The discount on the quote has to be at least the discount on the website, and a quote that starts at the discounted price shows no discount at all.
- I gave the buyer a bigger discount than my website shows. Does that hurt me?
- No. More off on the quote than on the website is fine.
- Does one gap give me zero points?
- No. Each quote is scored on its own, then combined with your other quotes from the past year, with the newest counting most. Price Accuracy is 30% of your grade.
Example quote · made up, not a real dealer
Your website
- 2026 SUV, $38,000
- No market adjustment shown
Your quote
- Starting price $38,000
- Market adjustment +$4,000
- Doc fee $499
- Selling price $42,000
Result: The quote adds $4,000 the website never showed, so this part of the grade drops for that quote. The same happens when the website shows $5,000 off and the quote starts at the discounted price with no discount: the quote must give at least the discount the website shows.
What it means for you: Show the full price a buyer must pay, before government charges, on your website, and give at least the discount your website shows.
4. Data Quality rewards itemized quotes
- Today
- A quote passes or fails. It passes only if it shows the out-the-door price, the vehicle price and the doc fee.
- From Oct 31
- Each quote earns credit for each part it lists on its own line: taxes, dealer fees, add-ons and government fees. Each part is worth a quarter.
One line that lumps fees together does not count as itemized. The doc fee counts as one of the dealer fees.
A quote with no out-the-door price is not graded.
Four parts, a quarter each
Example: everything on its own line except the add-ons scores 75%.
Example quote · made up, not a real dealer
Lines on the quote
- Sales tax $2,310
- Dealer fees $848, one line
- Protection package $695
- Nitrogen fill $199
- Title and registration $312
Result: Taxes, add-ons and government fees are each on their own line, so three parts earn credit. The dealer fees are lumped into one line, so that part does not. This quote scores 75%.
What it means for you: List everything on its own line and this part of the grade goes up. Itemize everything except add-ons and you score 75%.
What is not changing
- The weights: Fee Transparency 30%, Price Accuracy 30%, Add-ons 30%, Data Quality 10%.
- How add-ons are measured.
- Each store is graded on its own.
How to get ready
- 1Put each fee and add-on on its own line in your quotes.
- 2Make sure your website price includes every charge a buyer must pay.
- 3Give at least the discount your website shows, and show any market adjustment on the website too.
- 4Keep your total dealer fees close to the typical total in your state, and your doc fee under your state’s cap.
Update history
Every methodology update, newest first. New updates are added here before they take effect.
- Upcoming
Changes coming October 31, 2026
Four parts of the grade change. The weights do not: Fee Transparency, Price Accuracy and Add-ons still count 30% each, and Data Quality 10%.
What changed → - In effect
Exhibit A Version 3.1 published
The methodology in effect until the October 31, 2026 update, published with Program Rules Version 2.0.
Read Exhibit A →Archived copy (PDF) → The methodology page as published, kept here after the October 31, 2026 update replaces it.
Material updates to the methodology are published here and, for Certified Dealers, sent by email at least thirty days before they take effect (Program Rules §3.2). Unless otherwise stated, updates apply going forward. Corrections of data errors, the invalidation or reattribution of individual quotes, and administrative overrides are not methodology updates and are not listed here. DTI grades are CarEdge’s own assessment, not a legal determination or legal advice. Each dealer remains responsible for complying with applicable law.