Best Car Dealerships in San Diego, Ranked by CarEdge Data
This is the CarEdge Dealer Transparency Index ranking for car dealerships in the San Diego metro — every brand, scored on verified out-the-door quotes, not Google star ratings.
We graded 72 dealerships across the San Diego area; below are the 15 most transparent by score. Already know your brand? Jump to the brand-by-brand rankings below.
Last updated November 13, 2026. CarEdge refreshes these rankings daily as new verified out-the-door quotes come in.
What is the best car dealership in San Diego?
The best car dealership in San Diego by verified out-the-door price data is Kearny Mesa Hyundai (Hyundai, San Diego, CA): A grade, 100/100 across 17 quotes from the past year, with no quoted add-ons in its 17 quotes from the past year.
Close behind:
- Autonation Subaru Carlsbad (Subaru, Carlsbad), A grade, 100/100 across 15 quotes from the past year, with no quoted add-ons in its 15 quotes from the past year.
- Team Kia Of El Cajon (Kia, El Cajon), A grade, 100/100 across 12 quotes from the past year, with no quoted add-ons in its 12 quotes from the past year.
Best for:
- Lowest dealer fees: Kearny Mesa Hyundai (Hyundai, San Diego), $85, against the CA median of $117.
- No quoted add-ons: Mossy Toyota (Toyota, San Diego), none in its 22 quotes from the past year.
- Most quotes, past year: Mossy Toyota (Toyota, San Diego), 22 quotes from the past year behind its A.
Among the A and B dealers ranked on this page.
Full ranking, dealer fees and quoted add-ons for every graded dealer are below.
Best Dealer by Brand in San Diego
The top-graded dealer for each brand CarEdge ranks in San Diego. Click a brand for the full ranking.
| Brand | Best Dealer | City | Grade | Score | Quotes, Past Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW | BMW Of Carlsbad | Carlsbad | A | 98 | 13 |
| Chevrolet | Cumming Chevrolet | National City | A | 92 | 9 |
| Chrysler | Mossy Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM | Chula Vista | A | 97 | 4 |
| Dodge | Mossy Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM | Chula Vista | A | 97 | 4 |
| Ford | Ken Grody Ford #1 San Diego Ford Dealer | Carlsbad | A | 100 | 7 |
| Honda | Honda Of El Cajon Superstore | El Cajon | A | 96 | 21 |
| Hyundai | Kearny Mesa Hyundai | San Diego | A | 100 | 17 |
| Jeep | Mossy Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM | Chula Vista | A | 97 | 4 |
| Kia | Team Kia Of El Cajon | El Cajon | A | 100 | 12 |
| RAM | Mossy Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM | Chula Vista | A | 97 | 4 |
| Toyota | Kearny Mesa Toyota | San Diego | A | 100 | 5 |
CarEdge Certified Dealers in San Diego
Lexus Escondido is the only CarEdge Certified dealer in San Diego. CarEdge Certified is a tier above a letter grade. Certified dealers hold an A grade on the CarEdge Dealer Transparency Index and guarantee four things 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.
Lexus Escondido: CarEdge Certified Lexus dealer in Escondido
Lexus Escondido in Escondido, CA is CarEdge Certified. It holds an A grade on the CarEdge Dealer Transparency Index (97/100 across 8 quotes from the past year) and guarantees an all-in out-the-door price up front, no surprise add-ons, fast, real answers, and an honest, no-pressure experience on every deal.
- Dealer fees: $122 — above the CA median of $117
See Lexus Escondido’s grade and verified quotes →
See every CarEdge Certified dealer →
Top 15 Car Dealerships in San Diego
Ranked by CarEdge transparency score across all brands, highest to lowest.
#1 — Kearny Mesa Hyundai
Hyundai · Grade: A · Score: 100/100 · San Diego, CA
Kearny Mesa Hyundai is an A-grade Hyundai dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 100/100 across 17 quotes from the past year.
- Dealer fees: $85 — below the CA median of $117
- Quoted add-ons: None in 17 quotes from the past year
- Quotes, past year: 17
See full review & verified quotes →
#2 — Autonation Subaru Carlsbad
Subaru · Grade: A · Score: 100/100 · Carlsbad, CA
Autonation Subaru Carlsbad is an A-grade Subaru dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 100/100 across 15 quotes from the past year.
- Dealer fees: $126 — above the CA median of $117
- Quoted add-ons: None in 15 quotes from the past year
- Quotes, past year: 15
See full review & verified quotes →
#3 — Team Kia Of El Cajon
Kia · Grade: A · Score: 100/100 · El Cajon, CA
Team Kia Of El Cajon is an A-grade Kia dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 100/100 across 12 quotes from the past year.
- Dealer fees: $104 — below the CA median of $117
- Quoted add-ons: None in 12 quotes from the past year
- Quotes, past year: 12
See full review & verified quotes →
#4 — Ken Grody Ford #1 San Diego Ford Dealer
Ford · Grade: A · Score: 100/100 · Carlsbad, CA
Ken Grody Ford #1 San Diego Ford Dealer is an A-grade Ford dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 100/100 across 7 quotes from the past year.
- Dealer fees: $85 — below the CA median of $117
- Quoted add-ons: None in 7 quotes from the past year
- Quotes, past year: 7
See full review & verified quotes →
#5 — Kearny Mesa Toyota
Toyota · Grade: A · Score: 100/100 · San Diego, CA
Kearny Mesa Toyota is an A-grade Toyota dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 100/100 across 5 quotes from the past year.
- Dealer fees: $85 — below the CA median of $117
- Quoted add-ons: None in 5 quotes from the past year
- Quotes, past year: 5
See full review & verified quotes →
#6 — Team Mazda Of El Cajon
Mazda · Grade: A · Score: 100/100 · El Cajon, CA
Team Mazda Of El Cajon is an A-grade Mazda dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 100/100 across 5 quotes from the past year.
- Dealer fees: $122 — above the CA median of $117
- Quoted add-ons: None in 5 quotes from the past year
- Quotes, past year: 5
See full review & verified quotes →
#7 — Toyota Of El Cajon
Toyota · Grade: A · Score: 99/100 · El Cajon, CA
Toyota Of El Cajon is an A-grade Toyota dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 99/100 across 15 quotes from the past year.
- Dealer fees: $122 — above the CA median of $117
- Quoted add-ons: None in 15 quotes from the past year
- Quotes, past year: 15
See full review & verified quotes →
#8 — Sedano Ford Commercial
Ford · Grade: A · Score: 99/100 · La Mesa, CA
Sedano Ford Commercial is an A-grade Ford dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 99/100 across 9 quotes from the past year.
- Dealer fees: $122 — above the CA median of $117
- Quoted add-ons: None in 9 quotes from the past year
- Quotes, past year: 9
See full review & verified quotes →
#9 — Mossy Volkswagen
Volkswagen · Grade: A · Score: 99/100 · Escondido, CA
Mossy Volkswagen is an A-grade Volkswagen dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 99/100 across 8 quotes from the past year.
- Dealer fees: $138 — above the CA median of $117
- Quoted add-ons: None in 8 quotes from the past year
- Quotes, past year: 8
See full review & verified quotes →
#10 — Autonation Hyundai Carlsbad
Hyundai · Grade: A · Score: 99/100 · Carlsbad, CA
Autonation Hyundai Carlsbad is an A-grade Hyundai dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 99/100 across 6 quotes from the past year.
- Dealer fees: $122 — above the CA median of $117
- Quoted add-ons: On 1 of 6 quotes from the past year (17%)
- Quotes, past year: 6
See full review & verified quotes →
#11 — Chula Vista Ford
Ford · Grade: A · Score: 99/100 · Chula Vista, CA
Chula Vista Ford is an A-grade Ford dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 99/100 across 5 quotes from the past year.
- Dealer fees: $118 — above the CA median of $117
- Quoted add-ons: On 1 of 5 quotes from the past year (20%)
- Quotes, past year: 5
See full review & verified quotes →
#12 — Premier Cadillac Of Carlsbad
Cadillac · Grade: A · Score: 99/100 · Carlsbad, CA
Premier Cadillac Of Carlsbad is an A-grade Cadillac dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 99/100 across 5 quotes from the past year.
- Dealer fees: $122 — above the CA median of $117
- Quoted add-ons: On 1 of 5 quotes from the past year (20%)
- Quotes, past year: 5
See full review & verified quotes →
#13 — Mossy Toyota
Toyota · Grade: A · Score: 98/100 · San Diego, CA
Mossy Toyota is an A-grade Toyota dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 98/100 across 22 quotes from the past year.
- Dealer fees: $122 — above the CA median of $117
- Quoted add-ons: None in 22 quotes from the past year
- Quotes, past year: 22
See full review & verified quotes →
#14 — Sedano Ford
Ford · Grade: A · Score: 98/100 · La Mesa, CA
Sedano Ford is an A-grade Ford dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 98/100 across 22 quotes from the past year.
- Dealer fees: $120 — above the CA median of $117
- Quoted add-ons: On 1 of 22 quotes from the past year (5%)
- Quotes, past year: 22
See full review & verified quotes →
#15 — Norm Reeves Toyota San Diego
Toyota · Grade: A · Score: 98/100 · San Diego, CA
Norm Reeves Toyota San Diego is an A-grade Toyota dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 98/100 across 17 quotes from the past year.
- Dealer fees: $102 — below the CA median of $117
- Quoted add-ons: None in 17 quotes from the past year
- Quotes, past year: 17
See full review & verified quotes →
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.
Only quotes from the past year count. We split them into four groups, newest first: the newest counts 50%, then 30%, 15% and 5%.
Each dealer’s transparency score (out of 100) is weighted across four dimensions:
- Fee Transparency (30%) — Are the dealer’s fees reasonable? We add up every dealer fee and compare the total with the state median.
- Add-on Behavior (30%) — How often does the dealer include quoted add-ons like paint protection or theft deterrent, the kind you can’t say no to? Add-ons the dealer marks as optional don’t count against them.
- Price Accuracy (30%) — Does the advertised price include every charge you have to pay? We check each quote against the vehicle page: dealer fees, add-ons, the advertised price and the discount.
- Data Quality (10%) — Does the quote list taxes, dealer fees, add-ons and government fees each on its own line? Each one is worth a quarter.
Grades: A (90–100), B (80–89), C (70–79), D (60–69), F (below 60). Read the methodology →
San Diego Dealer Rankings by Brand
Shopping a specific brand in San Diego? These rankings drill into each:
- Best BMW Dealerships in San Diego
- Best Chevrolet Dealerships in San Diego
- Best Chrysler Dealerships in San Diego
- Best Dodge Dealerships in San Diego
- Best Ford Dealerships in San Diego
- Best Honda Dealerships in San Diego
- Best Hyundai Dealerships in San Diego
- Best Jeep Dealerships in San Diego
- Best Kia Dealerships in San Diego
- Best RAM Dealerships in San Diego
- Best Toyota Dealerships in San Diego
San Diego Car Dealer Rankings at a Glance
| # | Dealer | City | Grade | Score | Dealer Fees | Quoted Add-ons | Quotes, Past Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kearny Mesa Hyundai | San Diego | A | 100 | $85 | None | 17 |
| 2 | Autonation Subaru Carlsbad | Carlsbad | A | 100 | $126 | None | 15 |
| 3 | Team Kia Of El Cajon | El Cajon | A | 100 | $104 | None | 12 |
| 4 | Ken Grody Ford #1 San Diego Ford Dealer | Carlsbad | A | 100 | $85 | None | 7 |
| 5 | Kearny Mesa Toyota | San Diego | A | 100 | $85 | None | 5 |
| 6 | Team Mazda Of El Cajon | El Cajon | A | 100 | $122 | None | 5 |
| 7 | Toyota Of El Cajon | El Cajon | A | 99 | $122 | None | 15 |
| 8 | Sedano Ford Commercial | La Mesa | A | 99 | $122 | None | 9 |
| 9 | Mossy Volkswagen | Escondido | A | 99 | $138 | None | 8 |
| 10 | Autonation Hyundai Carlsbad | Carlsbad | A | 99 | $122 | 17% | 6 |
| 11 | Chula Vista Ford | Chula Vista | A | 99 | $118 | 20% | 5 |
| 12 | Premier Cadillac Of Carlsbad | Carlsbad | A | 99 | $122 | 20% | 5 |
| 13 | Mossy Toyota | San Diego | A | 98 | $122 | None | 22 |
| 14 | Sedano Ford | La Mesa | A | 98 | $120 | 5% | 22 |
| 15 | Norm Reeves Toyota San Diego | San Diego | A | 98 | $102 | None | 17 |
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 advertised price. Dealers with a gap between advertised price and final OTD aren’t being straight with you. Don’t negotiate off the advertised number.
- Compare three dealers minimum. Even within the same metro, dealer fees, quoted add-ons and advertised price 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. CarEdge refreshes the rankings daily as new verified quotes come in.
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