How to Find a Dealer Invoice

Dealer invoices used to be a closely guarded secret. Now the Internet has made this information widely available to virtually anyone with a computer. It's easy to find a dealer invoice on your own and to compare this information to a car dealer's invoice document. If you're considering a new car purchase, finding the dealer invoice can put you into a good negotiating position because you can use that cost as a basis for your offer.

Instructions

1

Choose the type of car for which you want to find a dealer invoice, and make a list of any options or equipment packages it will contain.

2

Visit a new car research website like Edmunds or Kelly Blue Book, and select the type of car for which you want to get a dealer invoice. Go through your list and add the options and equipment packages so that their cost will be included in the displayed invoice price.

3

Print out a copy of the dealer invoice from the research website, then visit another website and plug in the same information for comparison. Manufacturers occasionally raise the dealer invoice price, and some websites may take a while to update this information. You can make sure you have the most current dealer invoice by comparing websites.

4

Go to a car dealer, bringing your printouts and ask to see his invoice. Because dealer invoice information is so readily available online, most dealers will show their invoice to potential buyers on request. If the dealer is reluctant to show you an invoice so you can compare it to your online research, go to a different dealer.

5

Ask about any discrepancies between your dealer invoice printout and the invoice document provided by the dealer. The two documents should match exactly unless there has been a manufacturer's price increase or some other legitimate reason for a difference.