Best Car Dealers in Iowa
As of July 2026, CarEdge grades 152 of 747 Iowa car dealers from 410 verified out-the-door quotes. Iowa's average doc fee is $198.
100 of 152 rated Iowa dealers earn an A · 23 earn a D or F
Data updated Jul 27, 2026 · How we score dealers
The Hawkeye State
Iowa's dealer grade: B
82/100 average transparency score
48th highest doc fees in the U.S.
Based on 152 dealers with verified quotes.
Transparency Leaderboard
View all 747 dealers →Vaughn Automotive
Ottumwa, IA
No mandatory add-ons · 11 verified quotes
See the quotesMotor Inn Of Carroll
Carroll, IA
No mandatory add-ons · 4 verified quotes
See the quotesKia Of Des Moines
Des Moines, IA
No mandatory add-ons · 4 verified quotes
See the quotesKimberly Chrysler Plymouth Inc
Davenport, IADavenport, IA
Mcgrath Hyundai Of Cedar Rapids
Hiawatha, IAHiawatha, IA
Lindquist Ford
Bettendorf, IABettendorf, IA
Pritchard's Lake Chevrolet
Clear Lake, IAClear Lake, IA
Mercedes-Benz Of Des Moines
Des Moines, IADes Moines, IA
Stivers Ford Lincoln
Waukee, IAWaukee, IA
Keast Auto Center
Harlan, IAHarlan, IA
Look up any dealer’s transparency grade
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More Dealers in Iowa
Smart Honda
Des Moines, IA · 3 verified quotes
C & S Car Company
Waterloo, IA · 4 verified quotes
Edwards Kia
Council Bluffs, IA · 3 verified quotes
Deery Brothers
West Burlington, IA · 5 verified quotes
Jim Baier Inc.
Fort Madison, IA · 3 verified quotes
Finnin Kia
Dubuque, IA · 3 verified quotes
Granger Motors
Granger, IA · 3 verified quotes
Toyota Of Muscatine
Muscatine, IA · 12 verified quotes
Deery Brothers Nissan Of Dubuque
Dubuque, IA · 8 verified quotes
Deery Brothers Chevrolet Inc
Pleasant Hill, IA · 3 verified quotes
Vaughn Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram
Ottumwa, IA · 7 verified quotes
Fort Dodge Ford Toyota
Fort Dodge, IA · 4 verified quotes
Toyota Of Des Moines
Grimes, IA · 3 verified quotes
Stew Hansen Hyundai
Clive, IA · 11 verified quotes
Stew Hansen Buick GMC
Clive, IA · 4 verified quotes
Dan Deery Toyota
Cedar Falls, IA · 26 verified quotes
Mcgrath Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram
Cedar Rapids, IA · 5 verified quotes
Mcgrath Toyota Of Iowa City
Iowa City, IA · 11 verified quotes
Deery Iowa City
North Liberty, IA · 5 verified quotes
Kimberly Car City CDJR
Davenport, IA · 9 verified quotes
Dealers by City in Iowa
Iowa doc fee law
Iowa caps documentation fees at $180. Iowa dealers rarely deviate from the cap.
Iowa Dealer FAQ
What is the average dealer doc fee in Iowa?
As of July 2026, the average documentation fee at 104 rated Iowa dealers is $198, based on 410 verified out-the-door quotes collected by CarEdge. State law caps Iowa doc fees at approximately $180.
Who are the best car dealers in Iowa?
Vaughn Automotive, Motor Inn Of Carroll, Kia Of Des Moines lead the Iowa transparency rankings. 100 of 152 rated Iowa dealers earned an A grade for fair fees, minimal add-ons, and honest pricing.
How are Iowa 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 Iowa quotes are verified.
How Iowa compares to its neighbors
Average doc fees next door. Crossing a state line can change what the dealer charges.
Tips for Buying a Car in Iowa
- Know the doc fee: The average doc fee in Iowa is $198. If a dealer charges significantly more, ask them to reduce it or consider other options.
- Good news on add-ons: 76% of dealers in Iowa 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.