A

Hilltop Ford earns an A.

Fees are reasonable, add-ons are rare, and the final price usually matches the listing.

$85
Doc fee

At the CA avg

25%
Dealer add-ons

On 3 of 12 recent quotes

12
Verified quotes →

Price negotiated down on 3 cars

Moderate confidenceRichmond, CAUpdated How we score dealersPart of Stead Automotive Group

Location

Richmond, CA

8 rated dealers within 30 miles · Open full map →

The full story

Why Hilltop Ford earned this grade

Between October 2025 and July 2026, CarEdge negotiated or logged 12 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

4 things

Doc fee is in line with the market

At $85, their doc fee sits at or just under the CA average. Not exceptional, but nothing to fight over.

Quoted add-ons are the exception

Only 25% of quotes include add-ons that aren't marked optional. Across all recent quotes, add-ons average $208. Most shoppers here never see one.

The 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."

Shoppers who negotiated saved real money

Across 3 back-and-forth negotiations we tracked here, buyers saved an average of $628 from first quote to final. That tells you their opening number has room.

TipNever take the first quote. Their floor is lower than what they offer on day one.

! Where to push back:Nothing glaring. That's part of why they scored where they did.

12 verified OTD quotes from Hilltop 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

9 vehicle transactions — 12 individual quotes

2023 Kia Niro Ev

-Used2 quotes
$28,898
$85doc feeNo add-onsSaved $1,094
View 2 Quotes →

2026 Ford F-150

PlatinumNew
$84,501
—doc fee$999mandatory
View Quote →

2026 Ford Maverick

LariatUsed2 quotes
$42,439
—doc fee—Saved $512
View 2 Quotes →

2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E

Premium2 quotes
$46,051
$85doc feeNo add-onsSaved $278
View 2 Quotes →

2025 Kia SORENTO HYBRID

EXNew
$42,120
$85doc feeNo add-ons
View Quote →

2025 Kia SORENTO HYBRID

EXNew
$42,120
$85doc feeNo add-ons
View Quote →

2025 Kia Sportage

X-PRO PRESTIGENew
$39,335
$85doc feeNo add-ons
View Quote →

2025 Kia Telluride

LXNew
$40,750
$85doc feeNo add-ons
View Quote →

2025 Ford Expedition

PlatinumNew
$87,535
$85doc feeNo add-ons
View Quote →

Most Common Add-ons

Quoted Add-ons
theft protectionavg $999
1 quote
accessoriesavg $499
1 quote
recvravg $999
1 quote

At a Glance

Doc fee ($85) is at or below average
Minimal dealer markup above listing price

Tips for Hilltop Ford

  • 3 of 12 quotes included $2,497 in add-ons (Theft Protection, Accessories, RECVR), not marked optional.
  • A-rated dealer! Focus on vehicle price negotiation, since fees are already competitive.
  • Doc fee ($85) is at or below CA average. One less thing to negotiate.
  • Dealer markup is about 9% below listing (excluding taxes). This dealer keeps their fees minimal.
Live inventory

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fees does Hilltop Ford charge?

Based on 12 verified out-the-door quotes collected by CarEdge, Hilltop Ford charges a $85 documentation fee and averages $208 in dealer add-ons when present. Hilltop Ford earns Transparency Grade A (93/100).

What is the doc fee at Hilltop Ford?

Hilltop Ford charges a typical documentation fee of $85. The CA average is $85. This is based on 12 verified OTD quotes in our database.

Does Hilltop Ford add dealer add-ons?

Hilltop Ford adds an average of $208 in dealer add-ons when present. Dealer add-ons appeared on 3 of 12 recent verified quotes. Ask for an itemized breakdown and negotiate to remove non-essential items like paint protection, nitrogen tire fill, or VIN etching.

Is Hilltop Ford a good dealership?

Hilltop Ford has a transparency score of 93/100, earning a Grade A. This score is based on their doc fees, add-on behavior, dealer markup, and data quality from 12 verified OTD quotes. This is a well-above-average score, indicating transparent pricing practices.

What do reviews say about Hilltop Ford?

CarEdge reviews Hilltop Ford on 12 verified out-the-door quotes, not star ratings. It earns transparency grade A (93/100), with a typical doc fee of $85 versus a CA average of $85. Dealer add-ons appeared on 3 of 12 recent quotes.

Is Hilltop Ford a transparent Ford dealer in Richmond?

Yes. Hilltop Ford holds CarEdge Transparency Grade A (93/100), based on 12 verified out-the-door quotes. That is well above average on doc fees, add-ons and pricing accuracy.

How does Hilltop Ford compare to other Ford dealers?

You can compare Hilltop Ford's transparency score, doc fees, and add-on behavior against other Ford dealers using our comparison tool or by browsing Ford dealers in your area. Scores are based on the same methodology for every dealer. CarEdge's market guides Best Ford Dealerships in San Francisco Bay, Best Ford Dealerships in California and Best Ford Dealerships in the US rank Ford dealers on the same data.

Explore Ford and California 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 Hilltop Ford in Richmond, CA, that has meant 12 verified OTD quotes across 3 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 Score

The raw component scores — the math that led to A.

Fee Transparency (30%)
100
Add-on Behavior (30%)
85
Price Accuracy (30%)
100
Data Quality (10%)
75

Doc Fee Comparison

This dealer$85
CA avg$85
National avg$404

Pulled 12 quote records · Grades update as new data comes in · Dealers cannot pay to change their score.

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*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.