Industry · Form 5500 business code 441110
New Car Dealers: retirement plans
Plans whose sponsor entered this principal business activity code on Form 5500.
Form 5500 information is as filed by the plan administrator with the Department of Labor and may be amended. Figures reflect the plan year shown, not current balances. The business code is chosen by the filer from the list in the Form 5500 instructions.
For plan year 2024, 1,263 retirement plans in new car dealers with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500: 1,259 defined contribution and 4 defined benefit. They reported 863,109 participant records and $33.3B in net assets, counting every plan on the form.
The median defined contribution plan held $39,710 per participant, well below the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $811 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $155 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $644M and participants $2.63B during the year, and the plans paid out $3.72B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 1,469 plans with $8.91B; by 2024 it was 1,263 plans (down 14%) and $33.3B (up 274%). From plan year 2023 the 100-participant line counts participants with account balances, which moved many plans to the short form.
Medians compared with all US plans
| Median plan, plan year 2024 | Industry: DC | US: DC | Industry: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $39,710 | $53,031 | $22,839 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $811 | $2,174 | $2,686 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $155 | $123 | $165 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.41% | 0.26% | 0.71% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $149 | $116 | $227 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (1,199 DC and 4 DB plans with a Schedule H here). Fee medians cover plans reporting an amount. DC: defined contribution, such as 401(k) and 403(b). DB: defined benefit pension.
Distribution of DC plans
| Measure | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $26,798 | $39,710 | $57,668 | 1,199 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $422 | $811 | $1,411 | 1,101 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $83.77 | $155 | $236 | 1,157 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $75.49 | $149 | $235 | 1,190 |
Trend by plan year
| Plan year | Plans 100+ | Participants | Net assets | Employer contributions | Participant contributions | Median DC assets / participant | Median DC Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025partial | 155 | 140,654 | $6.72B | $128M | $456M | $51,337 | $163 |
| 2024 | 1,263 | 863,109 | $33.3B | $644M | $2.63B | $39,710 | $155 |
| 2023 | 1,286 | 822,270 | $29.5B | $656M | $2.57B | $37,133 | $134 |
| 2022 | 1,626 | 841,115 | $26.3B | $600M | $2.60B | $30,740 | $126 |
| 2021 | 1,637 | 807,395 | $30.5B | $484M | $2.29B | $37,178 | $130 |
| 2020 | 1,641 | 778,068 | $26.5B | $370M | $1.82B | $33,246 | $113 |
| 2019 | 1,641 | 788,328 | $23.4B | $380M | $1.75B | $29,300 | $102 |
| 2018 | 1,617 | 747,908 | $18.9B | $345M | $1.58B | $24,925 | $91.70 |
| 2017 | 1,613 | 734,017 | $19.9B | $311M | $1.46B | $26,780 | $77.23 |
| 2016 | 1,558 | 685,553 | $16.5B | $286M | $1.32B | $23,942 | $62.82 |
| 2015 | 1,494 | 647,170 | $14.8B | $262M | $1.21B | $23,076 | $53.80 |
| 2014 | 1,434 | 596,580 | $14.4B | $228M | $1.04B | $24,635 | $52.46 |
| 2013 | 1,405 | 561,197 | $13.5B | $203M | $930M | $24,363 | $51.08 |
| 2012 | 1,364 | 537,140 | $11.1B | $175M | $825M | $21,679 | $50.03 |
| 2011 | 1,337 | 515,373 | $9.69B | $146M | $744M | $19,834 | $51.19 |
| 2010 | 1,414 | 565,076 | $9.66B | $116M | $662M | $20,887 | $55.62 |
| 2009 | 1,469 | 611,608 | $8.91B | $102M | $652M | $18,268 | $48.52 |
Plan year is the year in which the plan year began. The drop in large plans from 2023 follows a rule change: the 100-participant line now counts participants with account balances, so many plans moved to the short form.
Provider share
Service provider organisations named most often on the Schedule C of the 1,259 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 40 largest by participants of 1,259 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lithia Motors, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Lithia Motors, Inc. | OR | DC | 30,021 | $1.03B | $34,159 | $1,631 | $57.18 |
| Autonation 401(k) Plan | Autonation, Inc. | FL | DC | 28,688 | $1.27B | $44,209 | $1,090 | $65.68 |
| Asbury Automotive Retirement Savings Plan | Asbury Automotive Group LLC | GA | DC | 17,529 | $741M | $42,283 | $1,197 | $6.16 |
| Penske Automotive Group Employee Stock Ownership 401(k) Plan | Penske Automotive Group, Inc. | MI | DC | 16,156 | $1.25B | $77,067 | $2,199 | $47.13 |
| Group 1 Automotive, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan | Group 1 Automotive, Inc. | TX | DC | 15,163 | $540M | $35,589 | $1,327 | $55.49 |
| The 401(k) Savings Plan | Berkshire Hathaway Automotive Inc. | TX | DC | 14,272 | $472M | $33,091 | $374 | $4.52 |
| Amsi 401(k) Plan | Amsi | FL | DC | 13,186 | $442M | $33,557 | $903 | $67.25 |
| Hendrick Automotive Group 401(k) Plan | Hendrick Automotive Group, LLC | NC | DC | 12,158 | $757M | $62,233 | $1,475 | $68.57 |
| Sonic Automotive, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Sonic Automotive, Inc. | NC | DC | 9,986 | $548M | $54,909 | $977 | $48.42 |
| LCM Investments Holdings II, LLC 401(k) Plan | LCM Investments Holdings II, LLC | FL | DC | 8,095 | $119M | $14,641 | $537 | $148 |
| The Luther Holding Company Savings Plus Retirement Plan | The Luther Holding Company | MN | DC | 6,240 | $359M | $57,569 | $1,986 | $51.15 |
| Garff Companies 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Garff Enterprises, Inc. | UT | DC | 6,180 | $213M | $34,414 | $607 | $124 |
| Larry H. Miller Associates Retirement Plan | LHM Adm Ben, Inc. | UT | DC | 4,825 | $128M | $26,571 | $593 | $72.79 |
| Sewell Automotive Companies 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Sewell Village Cadillac Company, Inc. | TX | DC | 4,686 | $371M | $79,086 | $1,238 | $11.70 |
| The Local 259 Pension Fund | Board of Trustees of the Local 259 Pensi Pension Fund | NJ | DB | 4,481 | $142M | $31,616 | $3,639 | $166 |
| HG 401(k) Plan | Hankey Investment Company LP | CA | DC | 4,292 | $124M | $28,788 | $553 | $40.03 |
| West Herr Employees' Retirement Plan | West Herr Ford, Inc. | NY | DC | 3,567 | $176M | $49,477 | $579 | $56.86 |
| The Durant Auto Group 401(k) Plan | Classic Chevrolet Buick GMC, Inc. | TX | DC | 3,550 | $72.0M | $20,273 | $910 | $79.79 |
| Atlantic Coast Automotive, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Atlantic Coast Automotive, Inc. | FL | DC | 3,513 | $38.6M | $10,978 | $59 | $53.46 |
| Morse Operations, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Morse Operations Inc. | FL | DC | 3,447 | $98.5M | $28,570 | $691 | $75.43 |
| Mileone Autogroup, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Mileone Autogroup, Inc. | MD | DC | 3,369 | $191M | $56,558 | $534 | $56.67 |
| Carolina Dealerships Inc. 401(k) Plan | Carolina Dealerships Inc. | NC | DC | 3,364 | $112M | $33,366 | $3,626 | $221 |
| Hudson Automotive Group 401(k) Retirement Plan | Hudson Automotive Group | SC | DC | 3,354 | $92.3M | $27,515 | $1,481 | $230 |
| Fletcher Jones Automotive Group Employee 401(k) Retirement Plan | Fletcher Jones Management Group, LLC | NV | DC | 3,316 | $170M | $51,264 | $1,072 | $79.32 |
| Doherty Auto Group 401(k) Plan | Memorial Motors, Inc. | FL | DC | 3,313 | $25.1M | $7,591 | $183 | $61.43 |
| Leith, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Leith, Inc. | NC | DC | 3,116 | $146M | $46,934 | $985 | $108 |
| Kendall Automotive Group Employees' Retirement Plan | Kendall Dealership Holdings, LLC | ID | DC | 3,039 | $80.2M | $26,389 | $206 | $53.03 |
| Findlay Management Group 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust | Findlay Management Group | NV | DC | 3,037 | $77.4M | $25,501 | $579 | $121 |
| Swickard Auto Group Retirement Plan | Swickard Corporation | NV | DC | 3,003 | $45.9M | $15,271 | — | $99.27 |
| Zeigler Auto Group, Inc. Employee's 401(k) Plan | Zeigler Auto Group, Inc. | MI | DC | 2,998 | $72.9M | $24,332 | $233 | $162 |
| Braman Dealerships 401(k) Plan | Braman Motors, Inc. | FL | DC | 2,985 | $66.6M | $22,314 | $65 | $127 |
| GMG Employees Savings Plan | Garber Management Group, Inc. | MI | DC | 2,971 | $126M | $42,562 | $1,714 | $111 |
| Victory Automotive Group 401(k) Plan | Victory Automotive Group | MI | DC | 2,956 | $111M | $37,523 | $2,022 | $238 |
| Lafontaine Motors 401(k) Plan | Lafontaine Motors, Inc. | MI | DC | 2,814 | $58.2M | $20,680 | $136 | $80.63 |
| Fred Beans Automotive Group 401(k) Plan | Fred Beans Ford, Inc. | PA | DC | 2,813 | $117M | $41,468 | $716 | $54.64 |
| Gee Automotive Companies 401(k) Retirement Plan | Gee Automotive Holdings, LLC | WA | DC | 2,786 | $110M | $39,469 | $1,166 | $145 |
| Walser Automotive Group, LLC Savings and Investment Plan | Walser Automotive Group, LLC | MN | DC | 2,716 | $106M | $39,201 | $533 | $124 |
| Mac Haik Employees' Retirement Plan | Mac Haik Management LLC | TX | DC | 2,716 | $61.2M | $22,526 | $2,436 | $84.35 |
| Bergstrom Corporation 401(k) Plan | Bergstrom Corporation, Inc. | WI | DC | 2,653 | $119M | $44,899 | $581 | $114 |
| Rlj-McLarty-Landers Automotive Holdings, LLC 401(k) Plan | RLJ McLarty Landers Automotive, LLC | TX | DC | 2,611 | $47.7M | $18,280 | $389 | $105 |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in new car dealers?
1,263 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 1,418 pension plans on the full form. Smaller plans file Form 5500-SF and are counted separately where shown.
What is the typical 401(k) balance in new car dealers?
The median defined contribution plan reported $39,710 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $26,798 to $57,668); nationally it was $53,031. This is a plan-level average that includes former employees, not a typical person's balance.
What do employers contribute in new car dealers?
The median defined contribution plan received $811 in employer contributions per active participant, against $2,174 nationally. Plans with no employer contribution are included at zero.
What are average 401(k) fees in new car dealers?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $155 per participant and 0.41% of net assets (nationally $123 and 0.26%). Schedule C leaves out fund expense ratios and fees the employer pays, so it understates total cost.
Where does this come from?
Form 5500 annual reports in the EBSA research files, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Medians are computed by this site across plans with 100 or more participants.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Form 5500 research files, public domain, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Totals count every pension plan on the full form; medians and the plan list cover plans with 100 or more participants. See the methodology.