Best Car Dealerships in Charleston SC, Ranked by CarEdge Data
Key Takeaways
- The top 14 car dealerships in Charleston SC across all brands, ranked by CarEdge on verified out-the-door quotes — not star ratings.
- Walterboro Ford (Ford, Walterboro) is the most transparent dealership in the Charleston SC metro by verified data.
- Walterboro Ford is the only CarEdge Certified dealer in Charleston SC. Certified dealers hold an A grade and guarantee an all-in out-the-door price up front, no surprise add-ons, fast, real answers, and an honest, no-pressure experience, verified by ongoing CarEdge AI mystery shops.
- Brand-by-brand rankings are linked below if you already know what you're shopping.
- Get an OTD quote in writing before you visit any dealer. CarEdge tracks real prices, not advertised ones.
This is the CarEdge Dealer Transparency Index ranking for car dealerships in the Charleston SC metro — every brand, scored on verified out-the-door quotes, not Google star ratings.
We graded 14 dealerships across the Charleston SC area; below are the 14 most transparent by score. One of them, Walterboro Ford, is CarEdge Certified. Already know your brand? Jump to the brand-by-brand rankings below.
About the CarEdge Dealer Transparency Index
Most dealer rankings come from Google star ratings and Yelp reviews — easy to game, impossible to verify. The CarEdge Dealer Transparency Index is different. We score every dealer using verified out-the-door quotes: real PDFs, emails, and screenshots from actual transactions.
Each dealer’s transparency score (out of 100) is weighted across four dimensions:
- Fee Transparency (30%) — Is the doc fee reasonable compared to the state average?
- Add-on Behavior (30%) — How often does the dealer bundle add-ons, and at what cost?
- Price Accuracy (30%) — Does the listing price match the actual OTD price?
- Data Quality (10%) — More verified quotes mean higher confidence in the grade.
Grades: A (90–100), B (80–89), C (70–79), D (60–69), F (below 60).
CarEdge Certified Dealers in Charleston SC
Walterboro Ford is the only CarEdge Certified dealer in Charleston SC. Certified dealers hold an A grade on the CarEdge Dealer Transparency Index and commit to four promises on every deal:
- All-in out-the-door price up front
- No surprise add-ons
- Fast, real answers
- An honest, no-pressure experience
CarEdge verifies the guarantee with ongoing AI mystery shops, and a dealer that slips below an A grade loses the badge. Certification is earned from data, never bought.
- Walterboro Ford (Ford, Walterboro, SC), A grade, 100/100 across 20 verified quotes
See every CarEdge Certified dealer →
Top 14 Car Dealerships in Charleston SC
Ranked by CarEdge transparency score across all brands, highest to lowest.
#1 — Walterboro Ford
Ford · Grade: A · Score: 100/100 · CarEdge Certified · Walterboro, SC
Walterboro Ford is the top-graded Ford dealer in Charleston SC by verified data (A grade, 100/100, 20 verified OTD quotes) and the only CarEdge Certified dealer in Charleston SC (Ford). It guarantees an all-in out-the-door price up front, no surprise add-ons, fast, real answers, and an honest, no-pressure experience, verified by ongoing CarEdge AI mystery shops.
- Doc fee: $472 — below the SC average of $528
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: 3.2% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 20
- CarEdge Certified: Yes. Guarantee verified by ongoing CarEdge AI mystery shops. What CarEdge Certified means
See full review & verified quotes →
#2 — Mount Pleasant Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Chrysler · Grade: A · Score: 100/100 · Mount Pleasant, SC
Mount Pleasant Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram is an A-grade Chrysler dealer in Charleston SC on verified out-the-door data — 100/100 across 10 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $331 — well below the SC average of $528
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: 4.7% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 10
See full review & verified quotes →
#3 — Crews Chevrolet
Chevrolet · Grade: A · Score: 98/100 · North Charleston, SC
Crews Chevrolet is an A-grade Chevrolet dealer in Charleston SC on verified out-the-door data — 98/100 across 4 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $587 — above the SC average of $528
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: 3.6% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 4
See full review & verified quotes →
#4 — Berkeley Ford
Ford · Grade: A · Score: 97/100 · Moncks Corner, SC
Berkeley Ford is an A-grade Ford dealer in Charleston SC on verified out-the-door data — 97/100 across 8 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $489 — below the SC average of $528
- Add-ons: 13% of quotes, avg $125
- Listing accuracy: 0.5% above the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 8
See full review & verified quotes →
#5 — Kia Country Of Charleston
Kia · Grade: A · Score: 97/100 · Charleston, SC
Kia Country Of Charleston is an A-grade Kia dealer in Charleston SC on verified out-the-door data — 97/100 across 6 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $511 — below the SC average of $528
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: 1.0% above the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 6
See full review & verified quotes →
#6 — Stokes Kia
Kia · Grade: A · Score: 96/100 · Goose Creek, SC
Stokes Kia is an A-grade Kia dealer in Charleston SC on verified out-the-door data — 96/100 across 5 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $640 — well above the SC average of $528
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: Quoted price matches the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 5
See full review & verified quotes →
#7 — Summerville Ford
Ford · Grade: A · Score: 92/100 · Summerville, SC
Summerville Ford is an A-grade Ford dealer in Charleston SC on verified out-the-door data — 92/100 across 10 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $799 — well above the SC average of $528
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: 1.8% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 10
See full review & verified quotes →
#8 — Low Country Volkswagen
Volkswagen · Grade: A · Score: 92/100 · Mount Pleasant, SC
Low Country Volkswagen is an A-grade Volkswagen dealer in Charleston SC on verified out-the-door data — 92/100 across 4 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $632 — above the SC average of $528
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: 1.2% above the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 4
See full review & verified quotes →
#9 — Hudson Nissan Of Summerville
Nissan · Grade: A · Score: 91/100 · Summerville, SC
Hudson Nissan Of Summerville is an A-grade Nissan dealer in Charleston SC on verified out-the-door data — 91/100 across 16 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $769 — well above the SC average of $528
- Add-ons: 13% of quotes, avg $162
- Listing accuracy: 1.2% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 16
See full review & verified quotes →
#10 — Stokes Honda North
Honda · Grade: B · Score: 85/100 · North Charleston, SC
Stokes Honda North is a B-grade Honda dealer in Charleston SC on verified out-the-door data — 85/100 across 8 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $608 — above the SC average of $528
- Add-ons: 38% of quotes, avg $607
- Listing accuracy: 4.2% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 8
See full review & verified quotes →
#11 — Baker Cadillac Of Charleston
Cadillac · Grade: B · Score: 84/100 · Charleston, SC
Baker Cadillac Of Charleston is a B-grade Cadillac dealer in Charleston SC on verified out-the-door data — 84/100 across 4 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $799 — well above the SC average of $528
- Add-ons: 25% of quotes, avg $849
- Listing accuracy: 1.9% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 4
See full review & verified quotes →
#12 — Starling Chevrolet
Chevrolet · Grade: B · Score: 82/100 · Mount Pleasant, SC
Starling Chevrolet is a B-grade Chevrolet dealer in Charleston SC on verified out-the-door data — 82/100 across 9 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $995 — well above the SC average of $528
- Add-ons: 22% of quotes, avg $332
- Listing accuracy: 2.0% above the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 9
See full review & verified quotes →
#13 — Hyundai Of North Charleston
Hyundai · Grade: C · Score: 70/100 · North Charleston, SC
Hyundai Of North Charleston is a C-grade Hyundai dealer in Charleston SC on verified out-the-door data — 70/100 across 5 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $719 — well above the SC average of $528
- Add-ons: 100% of quotes, avg $1,827
- Listing accuracy: 2.7% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 5
See full review & verified quotes →
#14 — Starling Chevrolet Mp Llc
Chevrolet · Grade: F · Score: 50/100 · Mount Pleasant, SC
Starling Chevrolet Mp Llc is an F-grade Chevrolet dealer in Charleston SC on verified out-the-door data — 50/100 across 5 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: Not available
- Add-ons: 40% of quotes, avg $598
- Listing accuracy: 1.4% above the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 5
See full review & verified quotes →
Charleston SC Car Dealer Rankings at a Glance
| # | Dealer | City | Grade | Score | Doc Fee | Add-Ons | Quotes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walterboro Ford (CarEdge Certified) | Walterboro | A | 100 | $472 | $0 | 20 |
| 2 | Mount Pleasant Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram | Mount Pleasant | A | 100 | $331 | $0 | 10 |
| 3 | Crews Chevrolet | North Charleston | A | 98 | $587 | $0 | 4 |
| 4 | Berkeley Ford | Moncks Corner | A | 97 | $489 | $125 | 8 |
| 5 | Kia Country Of Charleston | Charleston | A | 97 | $511 | $0 | 6 |
| 6 | Stokes Kia | Goose Creek | A | 96 | $640 | $0 | 5 |
| 7 | Summerville Ford | Summerville | A | 92 | $799 | $0 | 10 |
| 8 | Low Country Volkswagen | Mount Pleasant | A | 92 | $632 | $0 | 4 |
| 9 | Hudson Nissan Of Summerville | Summerville | A | 91 | $769 | $162 | 16 |
| 10 | Stokes Honda North | North Charleston | B | 85 | $608 | $607 | 8 |
| 11 | Baker Cadillac Of Charleston | Charleston | B | 84 | $799 | $849 | 4 |
| 12 | Starling Chevrolet | Mount Pleasant | B | 82 | $995 | $332 | 9 |
| 13 | Hyundai Of North Charleston | North Charleston | C | 70 | $719 | $1,827 | 5 |
| 14 | Starling Chevrolet Mp Llc | Mount Pleasant | F | 50 | — | $598 | 5 |
How to Use This Data When You Shop
- Get an OTD quote in writing before you visit. Any dealer can send a worksheet by email — if they won’t, that’s a red flag.
- Ask for a quote with zero add-ons. Everything in the F&I office is optional. Say “please remove all dealer add-ons” and see what the price does.
- Anchor to the OTD, not the listing. Dealers with a gap between advertised price and final OTD aren’t being straight with you. Don’t negotiate off the listing number.
- Compare three dealers minimum. Even within the same metro, doc fees, add-on policies, and listing accuracy vary widely. Use this ranking as your shortlist.
Rankings are generated from the CarEdge Dealer Transparency Index, a public methodology that scores dealers on verified out-the-door quotes — not Google star ratings or paid placements. Data updated quarterly. Last updated: Q3 2026.
Sponsored by Insurify
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare rates from top carriers in under 5 minutes. CarEdge users save an average of $996/year on auto insurance.
*Disclosure: CarEdge may earn a commission when you compare insurance quotes through our partner, Insurify. This does not influence our editorial content.*
