When you’re buying a car, negotiating with your car dealer can be intimidating – but it is important! If you don’t negotiate, you can end up paying more for your car! Negotiating can actually be easy provided you know a few simple tricks. Use these tips the next time you are negotiating car prices and make sure you don’t pay more than you have to for your car.
Do Your Research Before You Negotiate Your Car Price
The best way to negotiate a good car price is to arrive at the dealer with research in your hand. If you can show the dealer the car is being sold for a better price somewhere else, it will be hard for them to turn down your offer. Your research doesn’t have to be time-consuming; just looking around online for a few minutes will make a big difference when you negotiate your car price. Check out the value of the car you’re interested in – whether new or used – in the Kelley Blue Book as well as at other local dealers. The dealer won’t want you going somewhere else to buy the car, so they’ll probably try to work with you if they see the car going for less at another location.
Know Exactly What You Want When You Negotiate Your Car Price
Be sure to arrive at the dealer with a clear idea in mind of exactly what make and model car you’d like to buy and how much you want to pay. If you aren’t sure exactly what you want, this makes it hard for you to negotiate a good car price. This also makes it difficult for the dealer to work with you, since cars come in all different makes and models with varying add-ons, so you’ll want to be as specific as possible to provide the salesperson with a starting point for negotiating car prices. The more specific you are, especially in terms of add-ons like heated seats or Bluetooth connectivity, the better you’ll be able to handle any curveballs they try to throw at you. Add-ons usually cost more money, so you’ll want to know exactly how much they will cost so you won’t end up paying more for a car that is customized to your specifications.
Walk Away if You Can’t Negotiate a Good Car Price
If the car dealer isn’t willing to negotiate a car price with you, it may be necessary to find another dealer. It would be better for you to find a dealer who will work with you to find a price that better meets your needs and budget, rather than spend time arguing with one who will not. Just because you’ve found a car you like, if the price isn’t right (and you can’t negotiate a car price that is) try looking at other dealers. It can certainly be frustrating to walk away when you’ve found a car you really like, but the money you’ll save somewhere else will make leaving worth it.
Of course, when you negotiate your car price with a reputable car dealer you are more likely to get a better deal. Be sure to research around your area to find a new and used car dealership that has good reviews and will work with you to come up with a good price. If you use these tips, you can get the car of your dreams without emptying your bank account!