North Carolina Dealer Fee Report
How transparent are car dealers in North Carolina? We analyzed 3,281 verified OTD quotes from 824 dealers to reveal what buyers actually pay in doc fees, add-ons, and markup.
As of November 2026, the average doc fee at 687 rated North Carolina dealers is $753, $349 above the national average, based on 3,281 verified out-the-door quotes collected by CarEdge.
Data updated Nov 7, 2026 · How we score dealers
The Tar Heel State
North Carolina's dealer grade: B
83/100 average transparency score
7th highest doc fees in the U.S.
Key Findings
- North Carolina has the 7th-highest average doc fee of the 52 states we track, at $753.
- 489 of 824 rated North Carolina dealers earned an A for transparency; 158 earned a D or F.
- Jim Cook Chevrolet in Marion is the state's most transparent dealer at 100/100 from 3 verified quotes.
- Verified doc fees in North Carolina range from $99 to $2,835 — Discovery Nissan charges the most.
- The most common dealer add-on in North Carolina is protection plan, appearing on 28% of itemized quotes at an average of $1,090.
North Carolina Dealer Grade Distribution
Top 10 Most Transparent Dealers in North Carolina
The most transparent dealers in North Carolina, from verified pricing data (3+ quotes each).
Jim Cook Chevrolet
Marion, NC
$254 below the North Carolina average
No mandatory add-ons · 3 verified quotes
See the quotesAsheboro Ford
Asheboro, NC
$54 below the North Carolina average
No mandatory add-ons · 3 verified quotes
See the quotesAuto Park Kia
Knightdale, NC
$55 below the North Carolina average
No mandatory add-ons · 21 verified quotes
See the quotesTri-City Ford Inc
Eden, NCEden, NC
Toyota of Roanoke Rapids
Roanoke Rapids, NCRoanoke Rapids, NC
Sunshine Chevrolet, LLC
Arden, NCArden, NC
Southern States Mazda
Raleigh, NCRaleigh, NC
Salinas Honda Gastonia
Gastonia, NCGastonia, NC
CarsNC Inc.
Wake Forest, NCWake Forest, NC
Phelps Chevrolet
Greenville, NCGreenville, NC
Look up any dealer’s transparency grade
Search any dealer in North Carolina or nationwide by name, brand, city, or zip.
Highest Doc Fees in North Carolina
These North Carolina dealers charge the most in documentation fees. The state average is $753.
| # | Dealer | Doc Fee | Quotes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Discovery Nissan | $999 | 10 |
| 2 | Nissan of Boone | $999 | 3 |
| 3 | Ourisman Toyota 95 | $999 | 5 |
| 4 | Randy Marion Lake Norman | $999 | 3 |
| 5 | Hyundai of Union County | $999 | 15 |
| 6 | Sanford Honda | $999 | 6 |
| 7 | Shelby Honda | $999 | 3 |
| 8 | Autostar Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Hendersonville | $999 | 3 |
| 9 | Greenville Nissan | $999 | 3 |
| 10 | Randy Marion Kia | $999 | 6 |
Lowest-Rated Dealers in North Carolina
These North Carolina dealers have the lowest transparency scores based on fees, add-ons, and markup.
| Dealer | Grade | Doc Fee | Quotes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flow Buick GMC | F 36/100 | — | 6 |
| Cox Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM | F 39/100 | — | 4 |
| Flow Mazda of Fayetteville | F 39/100 | — | 3 |
| Capital Ford of Raleigh | F 50/100 | $799 | 6 |
| Coastal Kia | F 50/100 | $869 | 3 |
| Deacon Jones Gm of Smithfield | F 51/100 | — | 4 |
| Flow BMW | F 55/100 | — | 10 |
| Trent Cadillac Buick GMC | F 57/100 | — | 7 |
| Infiniti of Charlotte | F 57/100 | $999 | 6 |
| Clark Chevrolet Cadillac Inc | D 60/100 | — | 5 |
Most Common Add-ons in North Carolina
The most frequently seen dealer add-ons in North Carolina, based on itemized OTD quotes.
Dealers by Brand in North Carolina
Which brands have the most transparent dealers in North Carolina?
Ford
91 dealers · Avg score: 83/100
Chevrolet
71 dealers · Avg score: 82/100
Ram
49 dealers · Avg score: 82/100
Jeep
44 dealers · Avg score: 80/100
Chrysler
43 dealers · Avg score: 80/100
Dodge
42 dealers · Avg score: 80/100
GMC
38 dealers · Avg score: 80/100
Toyota
36 dealers · Avg score: 86/100
Nissan
35 dealers · Avg score: 92/100
Hyundai
32 dealers · Avg score: 91/100
Kia
31 dealers · Avg score: 86/100
Honda
28 dealers · Avg score: 88/100
Buick
22 dealers · Avg score: 78/100
Mazda
19 dealers · Avg score: 83/100
Subaru
15 dealers · Avg score: 89/100
Ready to buy a car in North Carolina? Bring the real numbers.
CarEdge Pro unlocks real dealer invoice data, target prices, and out-the-door estimates on every listing in North Carolina — so you walk into a dealership already knowing what you should pay.
Try CarEdge ProFind the Best Dealer in North Carolina
Use our dealer search to find and compare dealers in North Carolina by location. See transparency scores, doc fees, and real pricing data before you visit.
How North Carolina compares to its neighbors
Average doc fees next door. Crossing a state line can change what the dealer charges.
North Carolina Dealer Fee FAQ
What is the average dealer doc fee in North Carolina?
As of November 2026, the average documentation fee in North Carolina is $753, based on 3,281 verified out-the-door quotes from 687 dealers collected by CarEdge. That is $349 above the $404 national average.
Which North Carolina dealers charge the highest doc fees?
Discovery Nissan charges the highest verified doc fee in North Carolina at $999. Doc fees across the state range from $99 to $2,835.
Who is the most transparent car dealer in North Carolina?
Jim Cook Chevrolet in Marion is the highest-rated dealer in North Carolina with a transparency score of 100/100 (Grade A) from 3 verified quotes.
Are dealer doc fees negotiable in North Carolina?
Doc fees themselves are often presented as non-negotiable, but the out-the-door price always is: if a North Carolina dealer charges a high doc fee, ask for an equivalent discount on the vehicle price. 489 of 824 rated North Carolina dealers earned an A for transparent, low-fee pricing.