Transparency Verdict
Russ Darrow Kia Of Wauwatosa earns a B.
Mostly honest. Stay alert.
Fair on the big stuff, but there are small things to watch. Read the out-the-door carefully before you sign.
Developing confidence — based on 8 verified out-the-door quotes and 2 tracked negotiations · Wauwatosa, WI
Collected Oct 23, 2025 – May 8, 2026 · Updated Aug 10, 2026
The full story
Why Russ Darrow Kia Of Wauwatosa earned this grade
Between October 2025 and May 2026, CarEdge negotiated or logged 8 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.
! Where to push back
3 thingsDoc fee is slightly padded
$499 is $102 above the WI average of $397. Not outrageous, but worth questioning.
TipAsk them to match the average. If they won't, factor it into your overall price — every dollar here is negotiable.
Add-ons show up on most deals
38% of quotes include dealer add-ons, averaging $499. 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.
The listing isn't quite the price
Quoted prices run about 4.7% above the advertised listing. On a $35,000 vehicle that's roughly $1,645 in extra fees or markup.
TipGet an OTD quote in writing before you visit. Compare it to the listing — if there's a gap, ask them to account for every line.
8 verified OTD quotes from Russ Darrow Kia Of Wauwatosa
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
5 vehicle transactions — 8 individual quotes
2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid
Most Common Add-ons
Tips for Russ Darrow Kia Of Wauwatosa
- Minor add-ons (~$187) may appear. Ask what's included and if they can be removed.
- Dealer markup is only +5% 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 338 vehicles →$29,319
Median Price
33
Median Days Listed
32
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 Wauwatosa have transparency scores based on verified pricing data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fees does Russ Darrow Kia Of Wauwatosa charge?
Based on 8 verified out-the-door quotes collected by CarEdge, Russ Darrow Kia Of Wauwatosa charges a $499 documentation fee and averages $187 in dealer add-ons when present. Russ Darrow Kia Of Wauwatosa earns Transparency Grade B (86/100).
What is Russ Darrow Kia Of Wauwatosa's doc fee?
Russ Darrow Kia Of Wauwatosa charges a typical documentation fee of $499. The WI average is $397. This is based on 8 verified OTD quotes in our database.
Does Russ Darrow Kia Of Wauwatosa add mandatory add-ons?
Russ Darrow Kia Of Wauwatosa adds an average of $187 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 Russ Darrow Kia Of Wauwatosa a good dealer?
Russ Darrow Kia Of Wauwatosa has a transparency score of 86/100, earning a Grade B. This score is based on their doc fees, add-on behavior, dealer markup, and data quality from 8 verified OTD quotes. This is a well-above-average score, indicating transparent pricing practices.
Explore Kia and Wisconsin 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 Russ Darrow Kia Of Wauwatosa in Wauwatosa, WI, that has meant 8 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 B.
Doc Fee Comparison
Pulled 8 quote records · Grades update as new data comes in · Dealers cannot pay to change their score.
Let CarEdge handle this dealer
Our AI Buying Agent contacts the dealer for you, pushes for a real out-the-door price, and brings offers back for you to approve. Prefer a person? A Concierge runs the whole deal end to end.
Let CarEdge negotiate*Information provided for general informational purposes only. Scores are independently calculated and do not imply endorsement of or affiliation with any dealer. Verify all information independently before making a purchase decision. See our Terms of Service.