Best Car Dealerships in San Diego, Ranked by CarEdge Data
Key Takeaways
- The top 15 car dealerships in San Diego across all brands, ranked by CarEdge on verified out-the-door quotes — not star ratings.
- Kearny Mesa Hyundai (Hyundai, San Diego) is the most transparent dealership in the San Diego metro by verified data.
- 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 San Diego metro — every brand, scored on verified out-the-door quotes, not Google star ratings.
We graded 66 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.
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).
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 19 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $85 — well below the CA average of $111
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: 5.9% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 19
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 11 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $85 — well below the CA average of $111
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: Quoted price matches the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 11
See full review & verified quotes →
#3 — Autonation Mazda Carlsbad
Mazda · Grade: A · Score: 100/100 · Carlsbad, CA
Autonation Mazda Carlsbad is an A-grade Mazda dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 100/100 across 9 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $244 — well above the CA average of $111
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: 2.0% above the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 9
See full review & verified quotes →
#4 — Autonation Hyundai Carlsbad
Hyundai · Grade: A · Score: 100/100 · Carlsbad, CA
Autonation Hyundai Carlsbad is an A-grade Hyundai dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 100/100 across 6 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $85 — well below the CA average of $111
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: 4.2% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 6
See full review & verified quotes →
#5 — Mossy Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Chrysler · Grade: A · Score: 100/100 · Chula Vista, CA
Mossy Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram is an A-grade Chrysler dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 100/100 across 5 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $85 — well below the CA average of $111
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: 3.2% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 5
See full review & verified quotes →
#6 — Volvo Cars Carlsbad
Volvo · Grade: A · Score: 100/100 · Carlsbad, CA
Volvo Cars Carlsbad is an A-grade Volvo dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 100/100 across 5 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $85 — well below the CA average of $111
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: 3.1% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 5
See full review & verified quotes →
#7 — Courtesy Chevrolet Center
Chevrolet · Grade: A · Score: 100/100 · San Diego, CA
Courtesy Chevrolet Center is an A-grade Chevrolet dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 100/100 across 4 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $85 — well below the CA average of $111
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: 20.8% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 4
See full review & verified quotes →
#8 — Mossy Volkswagen Escondido
Volkswagen · Grade: A · Score: 100/100 · Escondido, CA
Mossy Volkswagen Escondido is an A-grade Volkswagen dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 100/100 across 4 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $85 — well below the CA average of $111
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: 7.0% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 4
See full review & verified quotes →
#9 — Mossy Toyota
Toyota · Grade: A · Score: 99/100 · San Diego, CA
Mossy Toyota is an A-grade Toyota dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 99/100 across 16 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $74 — well below the CA average of $111
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: 3.4% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 16
See full review & verified quotes →
#10 — Kearny Mesa Kia
Kia · Grade: A · Score: 99/100 · San Diego, CA
Kearny Mesa Kia is an A-grade Kia dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 99/100 across 10 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $21 — well below the CA average of $111
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: 1.7% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 10
See full review & verified quotes →
#11 — 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 29 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $85 — well below the CA average of $111
- Add-ons: 14% of quotes, avg $110
- Listing accuracy: 1.8% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 29
See full review & verified quotes →
#12 — Bmw Of Carlsbad
BMW · Grade: A · Score: 98/100 · Carlsbad, CA
Bmw Of Carlsbad is an A-grade BMW dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 98/100 across 22 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $77 — well below the CA average of $111
- Add-ons: 5% of quotes, avg $68
- Listing accuracy: Quoted price matches the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 22
See full review & verified quotes →
#13 — Honda Of El Cajon Superstore
Honda · Grade: A · Score: 98/100 · El Cajon, CA
Honda Of El Cajon Superstore is an A-grade Honda dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 98/100 across 12 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $73 — well below the CA average of $111
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: 3.2% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 12
See full review & verified quotes →
#14 — Toyota Chula Vista
Toyota · Grade: A · Score: 98/100 · Chula Vista, CA
Toyota Chula Vista is an A-grade Toyota dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 98/100 across 11 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $70 — well below the CA average of $111
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: Quoted price matches the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 11
See full review & verified quotes →
#15 — Team Kia Of El Cajon
Kia · Grade: A · Score: 98/100 · El Cajon, CA
Team Kia Of El Cajon is an A-grade Kia dealer in San Diego on verified out-the-door data — 98/100 across 4 verified quotes.
- Doc fee: $64 — well below the CA average of $111
- Add-ons: None detected in verified quotes
- Listing accuracy: 5.7% below the advertised listing
- Verified quotes: 4
See full review & verified quotes →
San Diego Dealer Rankings by Brand
Shopping a specific brand in San Diego? These rankings drill into each:
- 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 Lexus 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 | Doc Fee | Add-Ons | Quotes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kearny Mesa Hyundai | San Diego | A | 100 | $85 | $0 | 19 |
| 2 | Autonation Subaru Carlsbad | Carlsbad | A | 100 | $85 | $0 | 11 |
| 3 | Autonation Mazda Carlsbad | Carlsbad | A | 100 | $244 | $0 | 9 |
| 4 | Autonation Hyundai Carlsbad | Carlsbad | A | 100 | $85 | $0 | 6 |
| 5 | Mossy Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram | Chula Vista | A | 100 | $85 | $0 | 5 |
| 6 | Volvo Cars Carlsbad | Carlsbad | A | 100 | $85 | $0 | 5 |
| 7 | Courtesy Chevrolet Center | San Diego | A | 100 | $85 | $0 | 4 |
| 8 | Mossy Volkswagen Escondido | Escondido | A | 100 | $85 | $0 | 4 |
| 9 | Mossy Toyota | San Diego | A | 99 | $74 | $0 | 16 |
| 10 | Kearny Mesa Kia | San Diego | A | 99 | $21 | $0 | 10 |
| 11 | Sedano Ford | La Mesa | A | 98 | $85 | $110 | 29 |
| 12 | Bmw Of Carlsbad | Carlsbad | A | 98 | $77 | $68 | 22 |
| 13 | Honda Of El Cajon Superstore | El Cajon | A | 98 | $73 | $0 | 12 |
| 14 | Toyota Chula Vista | Chula Vista | A | 98 | $70 | $0 | 11 |
| 15 | Team Kia Of El Cajon | El Cajon | A | 98 | $64 | $0 | 4 |
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.
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