How to Compare Car Dealers in NW Wisconsin

Buying · Comparing dealers

How to compare car dealers in northwest Wisconsin

Same truck, different dealer: here's what actually differs, how to get it in writing, and what we publish about ourselves.

Ask for an itemized quote Payment explainer

The short answer

Answer

Compare dealers on the itemized out-the-door total for the same VIN or configuration: selling price, add-ons, the service fee, tax, title and registration as separate lines. Then compare what comes after the sale: certified-program coverage, any dealer coverage on used vehicles, service hours and loaners.

Wisconsin doesn't cap dealer service fees, but dealers must disclose them before the sale and can't raise them after (Trans 139.05(8)). Swant Graber's service fee is $127.50.

What to compare

Dealer comparison checklist

9 items

Itemized out-the-door quote on the same VIN or build
Pre-installed or mandatory add-ons
Service fee (Wisconsin's name for what's often called a doc fee)
Trade-in value and payoff as separate numbers
Certified program and its warranty
Any dealer coverage on used vehicles, in writing
Service hours, and whether there's Saturday service
Service loaners or shuttles
Distance for warranty and maintenance visits

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What Swant Graber publishes

Confirmed by Swant Graber, Oct 11, 2026
	Swant Graber
New-vehicle pricing	Invoice, no dealer add-ons
Service fee	$127.50
Certified used	CarBravo dealer (Swant Graber Motors); Ford Blue Advantage dealer (Swant Graber Ford); Stellantis Certified Pre-Owned (Swant Graber Motors)
Used-vehicle coverage	45 days / 5,000 miles powertrain, on used units 10 model years or newer with under 150,000 miles. See dealer for details.
Sales hours	Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Sat 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Service hours	Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; no Saturday service
Service loaners	Available; ask when you book
Alignments	Yes, both stores
Manufacturer commercial programs	Not a BusinessLink, Business Elite or Ford Pro CVC dealer

Published service fees we found (Oct 11, 2026)

Fees change. These are what each source showed on Oct 11, 2026; ask every dealer for its current fee in writing. We list only fees we could find published with a source.
Dealer	Published fee	Where we found it
Swant Graber (Barron)	$127.50	Swant Graber
Eau Claire Ford (Eau Claire)	$399 ('Dealer Doc Fee' on vehicle listings)	eauclaireford.net CPO inventory page
Ken Vance Honda (Eau Claire)	$369 (reported doc fee)	CarEdge, ONE Automotive Group page
Eau Claire Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram; Hyundai of Eau Claire; Chippewa Valley Mazda	$399 each (reported doc fee)	CarEdge, ONE Automotive Group page

Certified programs by brand

Certified programs are run by the manufacturer, so the same program has the same core terms at every participating dealer. Compare CarBravo, Ford Blue Advantage and Stellantis Certified Pre-Owned (Ram, Dodge) in our certified pre-owned explainer.

Questions

What is a dealer service fee in Wisconsin?

An optional fee for sales-related paperwork and compliance that the dealer must disclose before the sale and can't raise afterward. Wisconsin doesn't cap it, but the state can audit whether it's reasonable (Trans 139.05(8); WisDOT).

What is Swant Graber's service fee?

$127.50.

Does Swant Graber offer a warranty on used vehicles?

45 days / 5,000 miles powertrain, on used units 10 model years or newer with under 150,000 miles. See dealer for details.

Is Swant Graber open on Saturdays?

Sales is open Saturday 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Service is weekdays only.

Next steps at Swant Graber

Swant Graber Motors (Chevrolet, Ram, Dodge): 1690 E Division Ave, Barron, WI 54812, 715-537-5657. Swant Graber Ford: 1697 E Division Ave, 715-537-9500. Search new or used inventory, or see shop near you for model-by-model answers.

Sources

Wis. Admin. Code Trans 139.05(8) (dealer service fee: optional, must be disclosed before sale, may not be increased after disclosure, must be reasonable; no dollar cap) — https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/trans/139/05/8
WisDOT, Plain Dealing index (advertising disclosures must call it a 'service fee'; Wisconsin places no cap on the fee) — https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/dlr-agents/tips-tls-dlr/plaindealingindex.aspx
Eau Claire Ford, certified pre-owned inventory page (vehicle listings show 'Dealer Doc Fee +$399'), retrieved Oct 11, 2026 — https://www.eauclaireford.net/inventory/cpo
CarEdge, ONE Automotive Group dealer page (reported doc fees: Ken Vance Honda $369; Hyundai of Eau Claire, Eau Claire Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Chippewa Valley Mazda $399), retrieved Oct 11, 2026 — https://caredge.com/group/one-automotive-group-860
CarBravo, Used Car Warranties (12-month/12,000-mile Bumper-to-Bumper Limited Warranty with no deductible under 10 model years and 100,000 miles; BravoBudget 30-day/1,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty; repairs at any CarBravo dealership; roadside assistance and courtesy transportation during the warranty) — https://www.carbravo.com/ownership/warranties
Swant Graber, Why buy at Swant Graber (invoice pricing on new vehicles, no dealer add-ons, national lenders and local credit unions) — https://www.swantgraber.com/why-at-swant-graber-auto-group

Manufacturer figures are "when properly equipped" and change by model year, configuration and equipment. Confirm the window sticker, the door-jamb labels and the owner's manual for the exact vehicle.

Keep going

Trade & finance

Compare vehicle price and payment together

A monthly payment doesn't describe the whole deal. Compare selling price, fees, trade, tax, APR, term and total of payments on every offer.

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Find a vehicle

What is a dealer trade?

How a dealer trade lets you buy a new vehicle through Swant Graber in Barron even when it's sitting at another dealership, and what to send us to star

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Buying

How to judge a good deal

Price, payment and fees.

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Local

Why buy from a rural dealer

Barron vs. the metro.

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Swant Graber Auto Group · Barron, WI

3 brands. 2 rooftops. 1 Swant Graber.

Chevrolet, Dodge, Ram, and Ford on one Highway 8 campus in Barron, with Swant Graber roots here since 1959. Swant Graber Motors and Swant Graber Ford sit directly across Highway 8 from each other.