Group 1 Automotive, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Group 1 Automotive, Inc 401(k) Savings Plan
Houston, TXRetail Trade12,794 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$1,403Employer $ per active participant
$3,947Employee $ saved per active participant
0.16%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$539.6MNet plan assets, end of year
$66,697Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity41.1 / 5082th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost6.4 / 2526th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving13.7 / 1591th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-23 pts3 issues reported on the filing
Total score41 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Retail Trade plans with 10,000+ active participants (124 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 82th |
| Lower admin cost | 26th |
| Employee saving | 91th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 32% |
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Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($180 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Benefits not paid when due: the plan reported failing to pay some benefits on time.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $3,447 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Group 1 Automotive put in about $1,403 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($689). Contribute at least enough to collect the full match. Skipping it leaves part of your pay on the table.
- The filing shows total dollars, not the match formula. Ask HR for the Summary Plan Description so you know the exact match and vesting schedule.
- Direct plan expenses (0.16% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.09%). Check your annual fee disclosure, choose low-cost index funds if you can, and think about whether savings beyond the match belong in an IRA.
- The plan reported late deposits of employee contributions. Compare your pay stubs with your account statements, and contact the plan administrator if money shows up late.
- Changing jobs? You can usually leave the money in the plan, move it to your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Don't cash out: you'd owe taxes and possibly a 10% penalty.
The raw numbers from the filing
| Employer contributions | $17,946,523 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $50,495,849 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $15,151,716 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $791,458 |
| Contract administrator fees | $2,100 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $313,383 |
| Other admin expenses | $51,500 |
| Benefits paid out | $68,998,814 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $458.2M / $539.6M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 12,062 / 13,527 |
| Participants with account balances | 8,091 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Melton & Melton |
| Employer stock held by plan | $7,375,879 |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $453,075 reported compensation |
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $313,383 reported compensation |
| Willis Towers Watson, LLC | $51,500 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251014094916NAL0005298850001, received 2025-10-14, EIN 76-0506313, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.