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Best Car Dealers in California

As of July 2026, CarEdge grades 1462 of 4784 California car dealers from 6,415 verified out-the-door quotes. California's average doc fee is $116.

713 of 1462 rated California dealers earn an A · 324 earn a D or F

Data updated Jul 12, 2026 · How we score dealers

The Golden State

California's dealer grade: C

75/100 average transparency score

50th highest doc fees in the U.S.

Based on 1462 dealers with verified quotes.

$116
Avg Doc Fee
57%
No Add-ons
75/100
Avg Score
6,415
Verified Quotes

Browse Dealers by Brand in California

ToyotaFordHyundaiHondaChevroletKiaMazdaGMC

Transparency Leaderboard

View all 4784 dealers →
1st place
A
100/100

Heritage Ford

Modesto, CA

$85doc fee

$31 below the California average

No mandatory add-ons · 3 verified quotes

See the quotes
2nd place
A
100/100

Lancaster Honda

Lancaster, CA

$85doc fee

$31 below the California average

No mandatory add-ons · 6 verified quotes

See the quotes
3rd place
A
100/100

Autonation Chevrolet Valencia

Santa Clarita, CA

$85doc fee

$31 below the California average

No mandatory add-ons · 7 verified quotes

See the quotes
4

Bob Smith BMW

Calabasas, CA

A
5

Harbor Chevrolet

Long Beach, CA

A
6

Penske Buick GMC

Cerritos, CA

A
7

Carfam

Bloomington, CA

A
8

H & K Auto

San Jose, CA

A
9

El Cerrito Honda

El Cerrito, CA

A
10

Chico Mazda

Chico, CA

A

Look up any dealer’s transparency grade

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

More Dealers in California

Fast N Ez Car Care

La Verne, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Best Quality Auto Sales

Los Angeles, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Berkeley Honda Autocenter

Berkeley, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Land Rover Redwood City

Redwood City, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Bay Auto Sport Llc

Santa Clara, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

New Century Honda

Glendale, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Ba Imports

Long Beach, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

GMC Of Chico

Chico, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Autostop Group

Los Angeles, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Auto Republic Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Nash Auto

Costa Mesa, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Ran Cars Llc

Santa Fe Springs, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Up Motors

Richmond, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Givi Auto Sales

Irvine, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Usa Car Planet Llc

Roseville, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Usaveautocenter Inc

Sacramento, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Us Car

Los Angeles, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Autonation Honda Roseville

Roseville, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Mv Automotive Llc

San Leandro, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →

Autonation Ford Valencia

Santa Clarita, CA · 0 verified quotesLimited data

F
0/100
Buyer beware
See 0 verified quotes →
PreviousPage 66 of 239Next

Dealers by City in California

San Luis ObispoTustinFolsomSanta MariaChicoCoronaSan LeandroSan Juan CapistranoWest CovinaCity of IndustrySanta BarbaraDublin

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 1070 rated California dealers is $116, based on 6,415 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?

Heritage Ford, Lancaster Honda, Autonation Chevrolet Valencia lead the California transparency rankings. 713 of 1462 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
$481 more than California
Arizona
$590 avg doc fee
$474 more than California
Oregon
$225 avg doc fee
$109 more than California

Tips for Buying a Car in California

  • Know the doc fee: The average doc fee in California is $116. 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.

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