How to Buy a Nissan Altima

The Nissan Altima is a midsize sedan that tends to be affordably priced when compared to many other cars in its class. This affordability can be enhanced if you know how to be an effective car buyer. By arming yourself with information on Nissan Altima invoice prices and typical selling prices in your area, you can get the best deal. A few simple steps will also help you avoid Nissan dealer tricks to try to get you to pay more for your Altima.

Instructions

1

Look up the invoice price of a Nissan Altima, including the options that you want on your car. This information is widely available on the Internet from sources like Edmunds and Kelly Blue Book. Get information from at least two or three sites to make sure it is correct, since some may not have the most up-to-date records.

2

Determine prices that consumers are paying for Nissan Altimas in your area. Car prices can vary widely, depending on your region. Run an Edmunds True Market Value (TMV), and visit Nissan owner forums where members frequently report how much they paid and the area of the country in which they made their purchase. The Edmunds TMV tends to run a little high, so the forums will give you real prices for comparison.

3

Visit the official Nissan website to find information on any current rebates and incentives. Using this information, along with the invoice price and current sales price in your area, come up with a fair offer for a Nissan Altima.

4

Find your local Nissan dealers via the Nissan website, and check their inventory online. Make a list of the dealers who have Altimas in stock with the options you are seeking. Although you can order a vehicle that meets your specifications, dealers are often more willing to make a deal on cars on their lot.

5

Visit the closest Nissan dealer, bringing all your paperwork to show that you've done your homework, and make your offer on the suitable Altimas you identified in their inventory. The salesperson may try to get you to negotiate based on payments or ask you to bump up your offer. Hold firm and be prepared to leave. If the salesperson declines your offer, go to the next closest dealer and make your offer there. If you've done your research properly and are offering a fair price for an Altima, it will usually be accepted at the first or second dealer.