CarEdge
Free consult

Best Car Dealers in California

As of July 2026, CarEdge grades 1389 of 4771 California car dealers from 6,203 verified out-the-door quotes. California's average doc fee is $98.

682 of 1389 rated California dealers earn an A · 303 earn a D or F

Data updated Jul 7, 2026 · How we score dealers

The Golden State

California's dealer grade: C

76/100 average transparency score

52nd highest doc fees in the U.S.

Based on 1389 dealers with verified quotes.

$98
Avg Doc Fee
56%
No Add-ons
76/100
Avg Score
6,203
Verified Quotes

Browse Dealers by Brand in California

ToyotaFordHyundaiHondaChevroletKiaMazdaGMC

Transparency Leaderboard

View all 4771 dealers →
1st place
A
100/100

Walnut Creek Ford

Walnut Creek, CA

$85doc fee

No mandatory add-ons · 24 verified quotes

See the quotes
2nd place
A
100/100

Autonation Hyundai Carlsbad

Carlsbad, CA

$85doc fee

No mandatory add-ons · 3 verified quotes

See the quotes
3rd place
A
100/100

Mckenna BMW

Norwalk, CA

$85doc fee

No mandatory add-ons · 6 verified quotes

See the quotes
4

Honda Of El Cajon Superstore

El Cajon, CA

A
5

Fairview Ford

San Bernardino, CA

A
6

BMW Of Murrieta

Murrieta, CA

A
7

Jaguar Land Rover Volvo Cars Monterey

Sand City, CA

A
8

Kia Santa Monica

Santa Monica, CA

A
9

Roseville Hyundai

Roseville, CA

A
10

Serramonte Kia

Colma, CA

A

Look up any dealer’s transparency grade

Search 13,000+ dealers by name, brand, city, or zip.

More Dealers in California

Chula Vista Auto

Chula Vista, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Chuck Patterson Toyota

Chico, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Chevrolet Of Puente Hills

City of Industry, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Cerritos Auto Square

Cerritos, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Century Motors

Los Angeles, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Cathedral City Auto Center

Cathedral City, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Castillo Auto Group Inc

San Leandro, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Carvilla

Fresno, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Carvan Tracy

Tracy, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Carvana Rocklin

Rocklin, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Carvana Riverside

Riverside, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Cars For All

Burbank, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Carnest

Bell, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Carmotive Sm

Santa Maria, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Car Guys Auto Company

Los Angeles, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Car Finder Marin

San Rafael, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Car Dl

Irvine, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Volkswagen Of Clovis

Clovis, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Volkswagen Of Downtown L.a.

Los Angeles, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Car City

Glendale, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →
PreviousPage 63 of 239Next

Dealers by City in California

FolsomCoronaOrangeSan Juan CapistranoSanta MariaLong BeachSanta ClaraTustinCity of IndustrySan Luis ObispoDublinOxnard

California doc fee law

California caps dealer documentation fees at $85, one of the lowest limits in the country. If a California quote shows a higher "doc" or "processing" line item, question it — dealers there make their margin elsewhere, typically on add-ons and financing.

California Dealer FAQ

What is the average dealer doc fee in California?

As of July 2026, the average documentation fee at 1389 rated California dealers is $98, based on 6,203 verified out-the-door quotes collected by CarEdge. State law caps California doc fees at approximately $85.

Who are the best car dealers in California?

Walnut Creek Ford, Autonation Hyundai Carlsbad, Mckenna BMW lead the California transparency rankings. 682 of 1389 rated California dealers earned an A grade for fair fees, minimal add-ons, and honest pricing.

How are California dealers graded?

Each dealer is scored 0-100 from verified out-the-door price quotes: fee transparency (30%), add-on behavior (30%), price accuracy (30%), and data quality (10%). Grades update as new California quotes are verified.

More California dealer data

California Dealer Fee Report 2026 →

Doc fees, add-ons, and the most and least transparent dealers

California doc fees by dealer →

Compare documentation fees across California dealerships

How California compares to its neighbors

Average doc fees next door. Crossing a state line can change what the dealer charges.

Nevada
$550 avg doc fee
$452 more than California
Arizona
$536 avg doc fee
$438 more than California
Oregon
$186 avg doc fee
$88 more than California

Tips for Buying a Car in California

  • Know the doc fee: The average doc fee in California is $98. If a dealer charges significantly more, ask them to reduce it or consider other options.
  • Good news on add-ons: 56% of dealers in California charge no mandatory add-ons.
  • Get multiple quotes: Request OTD quotes from at least 3 dealers to compare total prices, not just sticker prices.
  • Check transparency scores: Dealers with scores above 80 typically have fair doc fees and minimal add-ons.

Dealer Ratings by State

Dealer Ratings by Brand

Fee Reports & Data

Dealer Tools