Kentucky Dealer Fee Report
How transparent are car dealers in Kentucky? We analyzed 743 verified OTD quotes from 241 dealers to reveal what buyers actually pay in doc fees, add-ons, and markup.
As of September 2026, the average doc fee at 177 rated Kentucky dealers is $596, $192 above the national average, based on 743 verified out-the-door quotes collected by CarEdge.
Data updated Sep 7, 2026 · How we score dealers
The Bluegrass State
Kentucky's dealer grade: B
85/100 average transparency score
13th highest doc fees in the U.S.
Key Findings
- Kentucky has the 13th-highest average doc fee of the 52 states we track, at $596.
- 172 of 241 rated Kentucky dealers earned an A for transparency; 26 earned a D or F.
- Jack Burford Chevrolet Inc in Richmond is the state's most transparent dealer at 100/100 from 3 verified quotes.
- Verified doc fees in Kentucky range from $22 to $1,270 — Morehead Auto Group charges the most.
- The most common dealer add-on in Kentucky is accessories, appearing on 52% of itemized quotes at an average of $603.
Kentucky Dealer Grade Distribution
Top 10 Most Transparent Dealers in Kentucky
The most transparent dealers in Kentucky, from verified pricing data (3+ quotes each).
Jack Burford Chevrolet Inc
Richmond, KY
No mandatory add-ons · 3 verified quotes
See the quotesBachman Subaru
Louisville, KY
$96 below the Kentucky average
No mandatory add-ons · 3 verified quotes
See the quotesToyota Of Louisville
Louisville, KY
$97 below the Kentucky average
No mandatory add-ons · 7 verified quotes
See the quotesTom Gill Chevrolet
Florence, KYFlorence, KY
Pogue Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat
Greenville, KYGreenville, KY
O'Brien Ford
Shelbyville, KYShelbyville, KY
Coad Toyota Paducah
Paducah, KYPaducah, KY
Wildcat Chevrolet
Cadiz, KYCadiz, KY
Kia Store East
Louisville, KYLouisville, KY
Swope Toyota
Elizabethtown, KYElizabethtown, KY
Look up any dealer’s transparency grade
Search any dealer in Kentucky or nationwide by name, brand, city, or zip.
Highest Doc Fees in Kentucky
These Kentucky dealers charge the most in documentation fees. The state average is $596.
| # | Dealer | Doc Fee | Quotes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morehead Auto Group | $899 | 5 |
| 2 | Tim Short Chevrolet | $899 | 4 |
| 3 | Toyota Of Madisonville | $899 | 4 |
| 4 | Perkins Motor Plex | $899 | 6 |
| 5 | Volvo Cars Of Louisville | $899 | 3 |
| 6 | Toyota On Nicholasville | $799 | 4 |
| 7 | Freedom Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Of Lexington | $799 | 19 |
| 8 | BMW Of Bowling Green | $799 | 3 |
| 9 | Lexus Of Lexington | $799 | 11 |
| 10 | Louisville Infiniti | $799 | 13 |
Lowest-Rated Dealers in Kentucky
These Kentucky dealers have the lowest transparency scores based on fees, add-ons, and markup.
| Dealer | Grade | Doc Fee | Quotes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town & Country Ford Of Louisville | F 54/100 | $799 | 13 |
| Toyota Of Ashland | D 66/100 | $699 | 3 |
| Bill Collins Ford Lincoln Of Louisville | C 76/100 | $0 | 7 |
| Craig And Landreth Cars - Shepherdsville | C 78/100 | $0 | 4 |
| Hardin County Honda | C 79/100 | $499 | 4 |
| Kerry Mazda Of Florence | C 79/100 | $399 | 4 |
| Don Franklin Nissan | C 79/100 | $706 | 4 |
| Volvo Cars Of Louisville | C 79/100 | $899 | 3 |
| Jake Sweeney Kia | C 79/100 | $495 | 3 |
| Lexus Of Louisville | C 79/100 | $598 | 7 |
Most Common Add-ons in Kentucky
The most frequently seen dealer add-ons in Kentucky, based on itemized OTD quotes.
Dealers by Brand in Kentucky
Which brands have the most transparent dealers in Kentucky?
Ford
28 dealers · Avg score: 87/100
Chevrolet
24 dealers · Avg score: 90/100
Chrysler
19 dealers · Avg score: 83/100
Jeep
19 dealers · Avg score: 82/100
Toyota
19 dealers · Avg score: 82/100
Dodge
18 dealers · Avg score: 82/100
Ram
18 dealers · Avg score: 82/100
GMC
17 dealers · Avg score: 86/100
Hyundai
13 dealers · Avg score: 78/100
Nissan
12 dealers · Avg score: 83/100
Honda
11 dealers · Avg score: 93/100
Buick
7 dealers · Avg score: 94/100
Volkswagen
7 dealers · Avg score: 86/100
Kia
6 dealers · Avg score: 63/100
Mazda
6 dealers · Avg score: 75/100
Ready to buy a car in Kentucky? Bring the real numbers.
CarEdge Pro unlocks real dealer invoice data, target prices, and out-the-door estimates on every listing in Kentucky — so you walk into a dealership already knowing what you should pay.
Try CarEdge ProFind the Best Dealer in Kentucky
Use our dealer search to find and compare dealers in Kentucky by location. See transparency scores, doc fees, and real pricing data before you visit.
How Kentucky compares to its neighbors
Average doc fees next door. Crossing a state line can change what the dealer charges.
Kentucky Dealer Fee FAQ
What is the average dealer doc fee in Kentucky?
As of September 2026, the average documentation fee in Kentucky is $596, based on 743 verified out-the-door quotes from 177 dealers collected by CarEdge. That is $192 above the $404 national average.
Which Kentucky dealers charge the highest doc fees?
Morehead Auto Group charges the highest verified doc fee in Kentucky at $899. Doc fees across the state range from $22 to $1,270.
Who is the most transparent car dealer in Kentucky?
Jack Burford Chevrolet Inc in Richmond is the highest-rated dealer in Kentucky with a transparency score of 100/100 (Grade A) from 3 verified quotes.
Are dealer doc fees negotiable in Kentucky?
Doc fees themselves are often presented as non-negotiable, but the out-the-door price always is: if a Kentucky dealer charges a high doc fee, ask for an equivalent discount on the vehicle price. 172 of 241 rated Kentucky dealers earned an A for transparent, low-fee pricing.