How to Haggle For a Car

Getting a new car from the dealer and having to deal with the car salesman can be tedious, frustrating, and sometimes outright ridiculous. They're there to make money, however you are the consumer and you will have to haggle the price to get the car at a reasonable price, and for what it's for what it's actually worth. This is what you need to do to get the best price possible.

Instructions

1

The Golden Rule

The first and foremost rule of buying and haggling for a car is NEVER PAY THE STICKER PRICE! Dealerships will always mark up the price of a vehicle in order to maximize profit, it's business and you will almost never get a good deal paying the sticker price.

2

Know the Numbers

Gather up all the prices of the vehicle, trim levels, packages, options, accessories, the invoice price, dealer fees, and last but limited the price you think you should pay for the vehicle. Have all these numbers in memory or on paper and ready to refer to.

3

Timing is Leverage

Go to the Dealership at the very last day of the month, the year, or the fiscal quarter. Why? Because chances are they may be short on their quota of vehicles they need to sell, which gives you some leverage for a more flexible price on the car.

4

Play Indecisive

Even if you know what exact vehicle you want, always be discreet and don't let the seller know your fixed on the car. If the seller knows you want say a Camaro for example, he will figure you are willing to pay more for what you want. However if the salesperson isn't sure of what you want, he will be willing to make the offer of the Camaro more attractive than a competing dealership selling Mustangs.

5

Skip the Freebies

If a salesperson isn't budging on the price, and is offering freebies such as free car mats, or free car washes, then use this as leverage. Express that if they are willing to give these items for free, that you'd rather pass on the deals and use the money they would have spent otherwise to lower the price on the car.

6

Let your Disapproval be Known

If express negative feelings to the salesperson you may see a change in attitude for them if they believe they are about to lose the deal. Don't be afraid to.

7

Walk Away

If the deal is not falling into place, don't be afraid to walk away. They will know they lost a potential sale and may rethink a different plan later if you come back.

8

Save the Trade-in for the End

Once you have established a price you are willing to pay for with the dealer, then introduce you are also doing a trade-in. If you tell them you have a trade-in first, they'll give you a good price for the car to make the deal seem attractive then give you next to nothing for the trade-in to claim profit.

9

Negotiate the Terms

If the price is not happening, but you are sold on the vehicle see what you can get out of the dealer for free before you say yes, such as an extension on your factory warranty or free servicing for "x" number of years. Use all these as your bargaining chips.

10

How to Measure Success

Cars depreciate 10-15% once driven off the lot, if you can bargain off that amount from the dealers price then you have done a sufficient job. Beyond 15% and you have done an excellent job.