A
90–100 · Exceptional

Transparency Verdict

Pearson Mazda earns an A.

One of the good ones.

You can walk in here with confidence. Fees are reasonable, add-ons are rare, and the final number usually matches the listing.

Moderate confidence — based on 11 verified out-the-door quotes and 1 tracked negotiation · Richmond, VA
Collected Sep 8, 2025Dec 27, 2025 · Updated Apr 29, 2026

Location

Richmond, VA

5 rated dealers within 30 miles · Open full map →

The full story

Why Pearson Mazda earned this grade

Between September 2025 and December 2025, CarEdge negotiated or logged 11 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

3 things

Doc fee is genuinely reasonable

$749 is $140 below the VA average of $889. That's money you keep — most dealers in their market charge more.

Add-ons are the exception, not the rule

Only 9% of quotes include dealer-installed add-ons, averaging $560 when present. Most shoppers here never see them.

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."

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

11 verified OTD quotes from Pearson Mazda

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

7 vehicle transactions11 individual quotes

2022 Mazda CX-30

2.5 Turbo Premium Package (A6) 4drUsed
$22,876
$749doc feeNo add-ons
View Quote →

2025 Mazda CX-5

2.5 Turbo Signature (A6) 4dr i-ACTICX5SGTXANew
$43,381
$749doc feeNo add-ons
View Quote →

2025 Mazda CX-50

Hybrid Premium Plus AWDNew
$42,105
doc fee$560add-ons
View Quote →

2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid

Premium Plus Package 4dr All-Wheel 50HPPXANew4 quotes
$42,079
$749doc feeNo add-ons
View 4 Quotes →

2025 Mazda CX-5

2.5 Turbo Signature (A6) 4dr i-ACTICX5SGTXANew
$40,650
$749doc feeNo add-ons
View Quote →

2025 Mazda CX-5

2.5 Turbo Premium Package (A6) 4dr CX5PRTXANew
$41,282
$749doc feeNo add-ons
View Quote →

2025 Mazda CX-5

2.5 S Premium Plus Package (A6) 4drUsed2 quotes
$36,301
$749doc feeNo add-onsSaved $329
View 2 Quotes →

Most Common Add-ons

1
polymetal gray metallic paint chargeavg $450
1 quote
2
protection planavg $110
1 quote

At a Glance

Doc fee ($749) is at or below average
Minimal dealer markup above listing price

Tips for Pearson Mazda

  • Doc fee is $349 above national average. Ask if they'll match competitors or reduce it.
  • Minor add-ons (~$51) may appear. Ask what's included and if they can be removed.
  • A-rated dealer! Focus on vehicle price negotiation—fees are already competitive.
  • Dealer markup is about 5% below listing (excluding taxes). This dealer keeps fees very low.
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 is Pearson Mazda's doc fee?

Pearson Mazda charges a typical documentation fee of $749. The VA average is $757. This is based on 11 verified OTD quotes in our database.

Does Pearson Mazda add mandatory add-ons?

Pearson Mazda adds an average of $51 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 Pearson Mazda a good dealer?

Pearson Mazda has a transparency score of 97.5/100, earning a Grade A. This score is based on their doc fees, add-on behavior, dealer markup, and data quality from 11 verified OTD quotes. This is a well-above-average score, indicating transparent pricing practices.

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 Pearson Mazda in Richmond, VA, that has meant 11 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 try to stick on paint protection, theft deterrent, or nitrogen tires? And when they do, how much do they cost you?

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%)
95
Price Accuracy (30%)
100
Data Quality (10%)
91

Doc Fee Comparison

This dealer$749
VA avg$889
National avg$400

Pulled 11 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.