Transparency Verdict
Dick Smith Ford earns an A.
Promising early read.
The verified deals we have so far look reasonable on fees and pricing. We'll firm up the verdict as more data comes in.
Developing confidence — based on 3 verified out-the-door quotes and 1 tracked negotiation · Columbia, SC
Collected Jun 22, 2026 – Sep 16, 2026 · Updated Sep 27, 2026
One of the dealers buyers can trust.
Dick Smith Ford qualifies for the CarEdge Certified license — an A-grade transparency score of 94/100 from 3 verified out-the-door quotes.
The full story
Why Dick Smith Ford earned this grade
Between June 2026 and September 2026, CarEdge negotiated or logged 3 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.
✓ What they do well
1 thingThe price you see is the price you get
Their quoted selling price almost exactly matches the advertised listing price. No mystery markup, no surprise "market adjustment."
! Where to push back
2 thingsDoc fee exceeds the state cap
Their typical doc fee of $499 is above SC's legal cap of $225. This is a red flag — every dealer in the state must stay at or below this number.
TipTell them you expect the doc fee at $225 or lower. It's not optional; it's the law.
Mandatory add-ons show up on most deals
33% of quotes include add-ons presented as non-negotiable. Across all recent quotes, add-ons average $365. Expect them to try to include something — paint protection, nitrogen-filled tires, VIN etching.
TipAsk which items are genuinely required and which are dealer-added. Anything not required by the manufacturer or the state is worth pushing on.
3 verified OTD quotes from Dick Smith Ford
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
2 vehicle transactions — 3 individual quotes
Most Common Add-ons
At a Glance
Tips for Dick Smith Ford
- Minor add-ons (~$365) may appear. Ask what's included and if they can be removed.
- A-rated dealer! Focus on vehicle price negotiation—fees are already competitive.
- Doc fee ($499) is at or below SC average. One less thing to negotiate.
- Dealer markup is effectively 0% 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 299 vehicles →$53,089
Median Price
55
Median Days Listed
29
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 Columbia have transparency scores based on verified pricing data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fees does Dick Smith Ford charge?
Based on 3 verified out-the-door quotes collected by CarEdge, Dick Smith Ford charges a $499 documentation fee and averages $365 in dealer add-ons when present. Dick Smith Ford earns Transparency Grade A (94/100).
What is Dick Smith Ford's doc fee?
Dick Smith Ford charges a typical documentation fee of $499. The SC average is $528. This is based on 3 verified OTD quotes in our database.
Does Dick Smith Ford add mandatory add-ons?
Dick Smith Ford adds an average of $365 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 Dick Smith Ford a good dealer?
Dick Smith Ford has a transparency score of 94/100, earning a Grade A. This score is based on their doc fees, add-on behavior, dealer markup, and data quality from 3 verified OTD quotes. This is a well-above-average score, indicating transparent pricing practices.
Explore Ford and South Carolina 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 Dick Smith Ford in Columbia, SC, that has meant 3 verified OTD quotes across 1 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 stick you with mandatory add-ons like paint protection or theft deterrent — the kind you can't say no to? Add-ons the dealer discloses as optional don't count against them.
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 A.
Doc Fee Comparison
Pulled 3 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.