How to Get an Invoice Price

It only takes one new car to experience the feeling of buyer's remorse. The instant you drive your new car from the lot, your car is no longer worth what you paid for it; this can lead to feelings of regret, particularly if you believe you paid too much for the vehicle or if you think that you could have negotiated a lower price with the new car salesperson. Make your next new car buying experience a good one by finding out beforehand what the dealer paid for the car so that you can negotiate a price you know is fair.

Instructions

1

Decide which make and model of car you are most interested in purchasing. Make a list of additional options like sunroof, moonroof, trim, power or heated seats and equipment packages like tow or lift kits that you want added to the car.

2

Research the car of your choice online at consumer sites like Edmunds, Yahoo Autos, Kelly Blue Book and Invoice Dealers. Enter the make, model, trim and additional options as well as your zip code into the appropriate search fields to return pricing information on the vehicle of interest.

3

Compare the manufacturer's suggested retail price, or MSRP to the invoice price, both listed next to a photo of the vehicle above the highlights, reviews and ratings of the vehicle. Understand that the invoice price, or dealer invoice, is the price a dealer pays the auto manufacturer for the vehicle. The invoice price includes destination charges.

4

Write down the fair purchase price, which is included on some consumer research sites and refers to the average price consumers are paying across the country for the vehicle. Understand that your city may have a lower or higher average fair price than the national average. Calculate an offer price, which you feel comfortable making to the new car salesperson, three percent higher than the dealer invoice price.