You’ve probably seen the signs while driving down Highway 31. Big, bold, and hard to miss. Long-Lewis Ford Alabaster isn’t just another car lot taking up space between Birmingham and Calera. It’s actually part of a massive legacy that stretches back to before the first Ford Model T even hit the pavement in Alabama. Most folks think a dealership is just a place where you get haggled over a monthly payment, but this spot has a weirdly deep history.
Honestly, the automotive world is usually full of "smoke and mirrors" marketing. You know the drill. "Low prices!" followed by $2,000 in hidden doc fees. But this specific Alabaster location—which was formerly Ernest McCarty Ford before the 2022 acquisition—operates under a set of rules that most other dealers find frankly terrifying.
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Why the "No Doc Fee" thing actually matters
If you’ve bought a car in Alabama lately, you’ve likely seen a "Documentation Fee" or "Admin Fee" on the final paperwork. Usually, it's somewhere between $485 and $900. It's basically pure profit for the dealer.
Long-Lewis Ford Alabaster refuses to charge them.
They don't do "bogus" license fees or prep charges either. Basically, you pay the price on the window, the state sales tax, and a $16.50 title fee. That’s it. It’s a simple move, but in an industry that loves to hide the "real" price until you’re in the back office with the finance manager, it’s a breath of fresh air.
You’ve gotta wonder why more places don't do this. The answer is simple: money. By cutting out these fees, they’re leaving hundreds of dollars on the table per car, betting instead that you’ll come back because you weren't ripped off.
The non-commissioned sales catch
Here is the part that catches people off guard. The person selling you a truck at Long-Lewis isn't sweating through their shirt trying to get you into a more expensive model. Why? Because they are non-commissioned.
Most car sales reps make more money if they convince you to pay a higher price. It’s a conflict of interest that’s been around since the horse-and-buggy days. At this Alabaster dealership, the associates make the same amount whether you buy a base-model Maverick or a fully loaded F-150 King Ranch. It changes the vibe. It feels less like a hunt and more like a conversation.
The weird history of the Long-Lewis name
The name isn't just a random brand. It dates back to 1887. It started as a hardware store in Bessemer.
In 1915, William J. Long got one of the first Ford franchises ever granted. Legend has it he became a believer in "horseless carriages" after buying a Model T from a guy who won it in a raffle. Even after a train totaled his first car on a railroad track, he stayed convinced that Ford was the future.
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Fast forward to today. The group is owned by Todd Ouellette. He started as a salesperson back in the 80s and eventually bought out the previous owner, Vaughn Burrell. In 2022, they officially brought the Alabaster location into the fold. It wasn't just a name change; it was a total shift in how that specific 1st Street North location did business.
Buying a car online (and having it show up at your house)
One thing that’s changed recently is how many people never actually set foot in Alabaster. In 2025 and 2026, the dealership has leaned heavily into "Remote Delivery."
- You pick the car online.
- You do the credit app on your couch.
- They drive the vehicle to your driveway.
There are reviews from people as far away as Kentucky and Mississippi who buy from the Alabaster or Hoover locations because the price is transparent enough to justify the shipping. It’s a weird way to buy a vehicle, but for anyone who hates the "waiting room coffee" experience, it’s a win.
Service, Quick Lane, and the "Brakes" Problem
Look, no dealership is perfect. If you check enough reviews, you’ll find people who’ve had a rough time in the service department. It’s the nature of the beast when you’re dealing with backordered parts and complex 2025 hybrid engines.
However, the Alabaster location has a Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center that operates a bit differently. They handle all makes and models, not just Fords.
They also have a "Low Price Tire Guarantee." If you find a better price on a set of four tires elsewhere, they’ll beat it. They're trying to compete with the big-box tire shops, but with the benefit of having factory-trained techs looking at your suspension while they're at it.
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The 3-Day Money-Back Guarantee
This is the safety net. Buying a car is a massive commitment. Long-Lewis offers a 3-day or 300-mile money-back guarantee. If you realize the F-150 is too big for your garage or the color looks different in your driveway than it did under the lot lights, you just take it back. No "store credit" nonsense—a full refund.
Most dealers would laugh you out of the building for asking for that. It’s a gutsy policy because it puts all the risk on the dealership.
Community and the "Eagle" Culture
They talk a lot about "Eagle" performers. It’s part of their CADET core values (Character, Attitude, Drive, Energy, Talent). While it sounds a bit like corporate-speak, it’s reflected in the fact that they’ve been named one of the "Best Dealerships to Work For" by Automotive News multiple times.
Happy employees usually mean a less stressful experience for you.
They also run the Long-Lewis Foundation. A portion of every sale goes into this privately funded pot that supports local non-profits and evangelical causes in the Shelby County area. They even have an employee volunteerism program where the staff gets rewarded for spending their own time at 501(c)3 organizations.
What you should actually do next
If you're in the market for a vehicle or just need an oil change in Shelby County, don't just take the marketing at face value.
- Check the window sticker. Look for the "Long-Lewis Price" and compare it to the MSRP.
- Ask about the doc fee. See if they actually stick to the "zero fee" promise (they do).
- Check your trade-in value. They use a "Real Number" system rather than a "Trade-In Allowance," which is basically a way to hide the real value of your car.
- Visit the Quick Lane. If you need tires, bring a quote from a competitor and see if they’ll beat it.
The Alabaster location at 1471 1st Street North is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Saturday until 7:00 PM. They’re closed on Sundays, which is a bit old-school, but it’s part of that "family-first" culture they’re always talking about.
Drive over, grab a cup of coffee, and see if the "No-Nonsense" thing is real or just a slogan. For most people in Alabaster, it's the lack of that $800 doc fee that makes the biggest difference at the end of the day.