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Best Car Dealers in California

As of July 2026, CarEdge grades 1438 of 4776 California car dealers from 6,379 verified out-the-door quotes. California's average doc fee is $114.

708 of 1438 rated California dealers earn an A · 308 earn a D or F

Data updated Jul 11, 2026 · How we score dealers

The Golden State

California's dealer grade: C

76/100 average transparency score

50th highest doc fees in the U.S.

Based on 1438 dealers with verified quotes.

$114
Avg Doc Fee
57%
No Add-ons
76/100
Avg Score
6,379
Verified Quotes

Browse Dealers by Brand in California

ToyotaFordHyundaiHondaChevroletKiaMazdaGMC

Transparency Leaderboard

View all 4776 dealers →
1st place
A
100/100

Cadillac Of South San Francisco

Colma, CA

$85doc fee

$29 below the California average

No mandatory add-ons · 6 verified quotes

See the quotes
2nd place
A
100/100

Fairview Ford

San Bernardino, CA

$85doc fee

$29 below the California average

No mandatory add-ons · 3 verified quotes

See the quotes
3rd place
A
100/100

Hoblit Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

Woodland, CA

$85doc fee

$29 below the California average

No mandatory add-ons · 3 verified quotes

See the quotes
4

Chico Mazda

Chico, CA

A
5

H & K Auto

San Jose, CA

A
6

Chavez Jessup GMC

Indio, CA

A
7

Heritage Ford

Modesto, CA

A
8

Bob Smith BMW

Calabasas, CA

A
9

Century West BMW

Los Angeles, CA

A
10

Ford Fairfield

Fairfield, CA

A

Look up any dealer’s transparency grade

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

More Dealers in California

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 →

The Car Lot Gv

Grass Valley, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Car Trade La

Los Angeles, 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 →

Topline Automotive Inc.

Monterey Park, 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 →

Car City

Glendale, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Capitol GMC

San Jose, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Cal Auto Outlet 4 Cars

Rio Linda, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Buick GMC Sherman Oaks

Los Angeles, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Budget Auto Wholesale

Riverside, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

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

ChicoSanta MariaSan Juan CapistranoCoronaFolsomTustinCity of IndustrySan Luis ObispoDublinSan FranciscoLivermoreSanta Barbara

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 1061 rated California dealers is $114, based on 6,379 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?

Cadillac Of South San Francisco, Fairview Ford, Hoblit Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram lead the California transparency rankings. 708 of 1438 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
$597 avg doc fee
$483 more than California
Arizona
$585 avg doc fee
$471 more than California
Oregon
$225 avg doc fee
$111 more than California

Tips for Buying a Car in California

  • Know the doc fee: The average doc fee in California is $114. 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

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