Best Car Dealers in Iowa
As of August 2026, CarEdge grades 170 of 760 Iowa car dealers from 462 verified out-the-door quotes. Iowa's average doc fee is $199.
115 of 170 rated Iowa dealers earn an A · 22 earn a D or F
Data updated Aug 7, 2026 · How we score dealers
The Hawkeye State
Iowa's dealer grade: B
83/100 average transparency score
49th highest doc fees in the U.S.
Based on 170 dealers with verified quotes.
Transparency Leaderboard
View all 760 dealers →Keast Auto Center
Harlan, IA
$50 below the Iowa average
No mandatory add-ons · 3 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 quotesMcgrath Volkswagen Of Marion
Marion, IAMarion, IA
Kimberly Chrysler Plymouth Inc
Davenport, IADavenport, IA
Stivers Ford Lincoln
Waukee, IAWaukee, IA
Pritchard's Lake Chevrolet
Clear Lake, IAClear Lake, IA
Mercedes-Benz Of Des Moines
Des Moines, IADes Moines, IA
Lindquist Ford
Bettendorf, IABettendorf, IA
Vaughn Automotive
Ottumwa, IAOttumwa, IA
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More Dealers in Iowa
Bo's Autos
Bloomfield, IA
Bob Brown Auto
Urbandale, IA
Bob Brown Chevrolet, Inc.
Urbandale, IA
Bob Brown Pre-owned On Merle Hay
Des Moines, IA
Bob Stephen Motors
Manchester, IA
Bodhi Motors Llc
Tama, IA
Bolt Motors Inc
Davenport, IA
Bones Body Shop Llc
West Burlington, IA
Boosted Diesel Performance
Muscatine, IA
Brad Deery Ford
Maquoketa, IA
Brads Used Cars
Des Moines, IA
Brass Highway 57 Ford
Parkersburg, IA
Brett Spaulding Sales
Onawa, IA
Bridgeport Auto Sales
Maquoketa, IA
Brothers Auto Sales
Hampton, IA
Brothers Used Cars Inc
Sioux City, IA
Brown's Elkader Buick
Elkader, IA
Brown's Elkader CDJR
Elkader, IA
Brown's Elkader Chevrolet
Elkader, IA
Brown's Family Of Dealerships
Guttenberg, IA
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 August 2026, the average documentation fee at 120 rated Iowa dealers is $199, based on 462 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?
Keast Auto Center, Motor Inn Of Carroll, Kia Of Des Moines lead the Iowa transparency rankings. 115 of 170 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 $199. If a dealer charges significantly more, ask them to reduce it or consider other options.
- Good news on add-ons: 75% 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.