Transparency Verdict
Russ Darrow Madison Kia earns a B.
Mostly honest. Stay alert.
Fair on the big stuff, but there are small things to watch. Read the out-the-door carefully before you sign.
Developing confidence — based on 6 verified out-the-door quotes and 1 tracked negotiation · Madison, WI
Collected Dec 8, 2025 – Aug 6, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026
The full story
Why Russ Darrow Madison Kia earned this grade
Between December 2025 and August 2026, CarEdge negotiated or logged 6 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.
! Where to push back
3 thingsDoc fee is slightly padded
$499 is $101 above the WI average of $398. Not outrageous, but worth questioning.
TipAsk them to match the average. If they won't, factor it into your overall price — every dollar here is negotiable.
Add-ons are baked into almost every deal
67% of quotes include add-ons the buyer couldn't remove, averaging $1,748. This is their business model — inflate the OTD, then hope you don't line-item it.
TipDemand an itemized quote before signing anything, and ask them to justify every "required" charge in writing.
The listing isn't quite the price
Quoted prices run about 3.2% above the advertised listing. On a $35,000 vehicle that's roughly $1,120 in extra fees or markup.
TipGet an OTD quote in writing before you visit. Compare it to the listing — if there's a gap, ask them to account for every line.
6 verified OTD quotes from Russ Darrow Madison Kia
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
3 vehicle transactions — 6 individual quotes
Most Common Add-ons
Tips for Russ Darrow Madison Kia
- This dealer often adds $1,166 in dealer add-ons. Request a quote WITHOUT any add-ons upfront. These are almost always removable.
- Dealer markup is only +3% above listing (excluding taxes). This dealer keeps their fees minimal.
Keep researching
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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 233 vehicles →$33,559
Median Price
26
Median Days Listed
36
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 Madison have transparency scores based on verified pricing data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fees does Russ Darrow Madison Kia charge?
Based on 6 verified out-the-door quotes collected by CarEdge, Russ Darrow Madison Kia charges a $499 documentation fee and averages $1,166 in dealer add-ons when present. Russ Darrow Madison Kia earns Transparency Grade B (81/100).
What is Russ Darrow Madison Kia's doc fee?
Russ Darrow Madison Kia charges a typical documentation fee of $499. The WI average is $398. This is based on 6 verified OTD quotes in our database.
Does Russ Darrow Madison Kia add mandatory add-ons?
Russ Darrow Madison Kia adds an average of $1,166 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 Russ Darrow Madison Kia a good dealer?
Russ Darrow Madison Kia has a transparency score of 81/100, earning a Grade B. This score is based on their doc fees, add-on behavior, dealer markup, and data quality from 6 verified OTD quotes. This is a well-above-average score, indicating transparent pricing practices.
Explore Kia and Wisconsin 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 Russ Darrow Madison Kia in Madison, WI, that has meant 6 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 B.
Doc Fee Comparison
Pulled 6 quote records · Grades update as new data comes in · Dealers cannot pay to change their score.
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