How to Haggle for the Best Price on a New Car
Car dealerships and commissioned salespeople can prove intimidating or too eager to profit from your sale. Rather than walk into a dealership to haggle, consider haggling for the best price online rather than in person. Many new car dealerships employ an Internet sales department to work with buyers through email and on the phone. Unlike the salespeople you'll find on a dealership lot, Internet salespeople provide straightforward pricing and aim to beat any other offers you've received to hopefully earn your business.
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Instructions
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Determine a Purchase Price
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Go online to the manufacturer's website to virtually build your new car. This way, you can view all levels and features of the vehicle you want. Once you've completed building the vehicle, print out the information so you have a list of the options you want and the car's sticker price.
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Go to the offers section of the manufacturer's website and check the offers for the vehicle you plan to purchase. Rebates are automatic price discounts provided by the manufacturer, not the dealer. The manufacturer reimburses the dealer for the discount.
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Search online for the car's invoice price. Edmunds.com offers a tool called True Market Value, which calculates new car invoice prices. Enter all the options that you chose when you virtually built your car and ensure the manufacturer's suggested retail price is correct so that you receive the proper invoice price.
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Decide a fair price offer after you've determined the invoice price. Aim to pay the dealer a reasonable profit, such as $600 to $1200 over invoice before applying any rebates.
Haggle Pricing
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Locate new car dealers in your area -- or as far away as you would drive if the price is right -- from the manufacturer's website. Starting with the dealer farthest from you, email a description of the vehicle you want to buy and the price you want to pay before rebates.
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State that you're ready to buy once you find a dealer to agree to your price. Leave your phone number so a sales representative can contact you if necessary. If you come to an agreement by phone, ask to have the price offer emailed to you for your consideration.
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Email another dealer and state that you're ready to purchase your desired vehicle but want the best price. State that you already have an offer but want to determine if another dealership can beat the price you've been offered.
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Email additional dealers asking them to beat your best price. Make sure any offers are stated in an email so you have proof of the price offer from the dealer you eventually visit for your purchase.
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Tips & Warnings
Be prepared to purchase a vehicle quickly. You may find that a dealer can sell you a car at invoice but require you to purchase the car that day or week.
Try this haggle method seven days prior to the end of the month. This is when the dealer's month ends and the salesperson tries harder to meet sales goals.
