How to Figure Out Car Invoice Price

A car's invoice price is the price that the dealer pays to the vehicle manufacturer. This price also typically includes a destination charge for transportation and delivery to the dealer. Lease Guide says the car invoice price doesn't necessarily represent the actual cost of the vehicle, which might be offset by factory to dealer incentives or other money passed along by the manufacturer. It's still good to figure out the invoice price, as you can use it as a negotiation starting point when buying a new car.

Instructions

1

Make a list of details about the car and its options. List the year, make and model of the vehicle. Some cars come in multiple trim lines, so specify that as well. Include any options on your list, such as an automatic transmission, air conditioning or an upgraded radio. Some options may be individual, while others will come as part of a package.

2

Visit a car research website like Kelley Blue Book, Invoice Dealers or Edmunds. These sites allow you to search for a variety of information, including both invoice and manufacturer's suggestion retail price (MSRP) for any new car.

3

Use your list to look up the invoice price of the vehicle in which you are interested. Make sure to choose the correct year, make, model and trim line. Select the individual options and any packages you included on your list. All of this information must be accurate to calculate the right invoice price.

4

Visit another car research site and look up the invoice price again. Compare the two prices; they should both be the same as long as you entered the information correctly. If they are not, review the information to see if you made an error. If your entries are accurate, one of the websites might have more up-to-date information as manufacturers may raise the invoice price.