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Best Car Dealers in California

As of July 2026, CarEdge grades 1418 of 4774 California car dealers from 6,307 verified out-the-door quotes. California's average doc fee is $97.

696 of 1418 rated California dealers earn an A · 306 earn a D or F

Data updated Jul 9, 2026 · How we score dealers

The Golden State

California's dealer grade: C

76/100 average transparency score

49th highest doc fees in the U.S.

Based on 1418 dealers with verified quotes.

$97
Avg Doc Fee
57%
No Add-ons
76/100
Avg Score
6,307
Verified Quotes

Browse Dealers by Brand in California

ToyotaFordHyundaiHondaChevroletKiaMazdaGMC

Transparency Leaderboard

View all 4774 dealers →
1st place
A
100/100

Toyota Salinas

Salinas, CA

$114doc fee

No mandatory add-ons · 6 verified quotes

See the quotes
2nd place
A
100/100

Simi Valley

Simi Valley, CA

$85doc fee

No mandatory add-ons · 4 verified quotes

See the quotes
3rd place
A
100/100

South Bay Ford

Hawthorne, CA

$85doc fee

No mandatory add-ons · 11 verified quotes

See the quotes
4

Puente Hills Subaru

City Of Industry, CA

A
5

Audi Napa Valley

Fairfield, CA

A
6

Volkswagen Thousand Oaks

Westlake Village, CA

A
7

Simpson Buick GMC

Buena Park, CA

A
8

Simpson Chevrolet Of Irvine

Irvine, CA

A
9

Putnam Kia

Burlingame, CA

A
10

Audi San Francisco

San Francisco, CA

A

Look up any dealer’s transparency grade

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

More Dealers in California

Perry Ford San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Hyundai Of El Cajon

El Cajon, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Automotive Management Agency

La Mesa, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Automec Sales & Services

Rosemead, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Automax Pro

Bell Gardens, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Autolink

San Diego, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Auto Kingz

Modesto, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Van Nuys Alfa Romeo

Los Angeles, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Ie Motors Direct

Montclair, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Impero Cars Inc

Los Angeles, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Auto Depot Of Calexico

Calexico, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Palm Springs Mazda

Cathedral City, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Auto Dealz Of Fresno

Fresno, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Indrive

Riverside, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Palmdale Auto Mall

Palmdale, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Pacific Auto Center

Fontana, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

International Auto Sales And Mobility

Indio, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Ournextcar Inc

Downey, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Otf Motors

West Sacramento, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Ontario Auto Center

Ontario, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →
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Dealers by City in California

CoronaTustinSanta MariaSan Juan CapistranoSanta ClaraLong BeachFolsomChicoDublinSanta BarbaraCity of IndustrySan Francisco

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 1418 rated California dealers is $97, based on 6,307 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?

Toyota Salinas, Simi Valley, South Bay Ford lead the California transparency rankings. 696 of 1418 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
$544 avg doc fee
$447 more than California
Arizona
$529 avg doc fee
$432 more than California
Oregon
$180 avg doc fee
$83 more than California

Tips for Buying a Car in California

  • Know the doc fee: The average doc fee in California is $97. If a dealer charges significantly more, ask them to reduce it or consider other options.
  • Good news on add-ons: 57% 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

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