How to Find Cars at Invoice Pricing

Obtaining the invoice for a vehicle can be done in a couple of different ways. When you obtain the invoice from a dealership you have an upper leg on the negotiation process. Most dealerships now are more willing to show customers invoices because the information is readily available on the Internet anyway. Using invoice pricing can save you a nice amount of money especially if there are rebates that you can apply to subtract additional money off the invoice price of the vehicle you are negotiating.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Go to the website Edmunds.com (listed in References). You can build the vehicle you are looking for with all the options that are important to you: leather seats, navigation system, automatic everything, etc. Once you have a built a vehicle Edmunds will provide you an MSRP price and invoice price. The invoice may have a small margin of error (a couple hundred dollars) but if the MSRP price matches the vehicle price at the dealership the invoice should be spot on.

2. Email multiple dealerships about the vehicle you are interested in. Let them know you have already test-driven the vehicle so there is no reason to visit the dealership yet (even if you have not test-driven the vehicle), because the dealership will want you to shop in person. Most Internet managers are more than willing to give you the Internet price via email because their pay plan is usually based on volume of vehicles sold instead of selling a vehicle for the highest price possible. Email dealerships in a 100- to 200-mile radius; sometimes dealerships will deliver the vehicle to you or the price will be worth the drive.

3. Go to the Consumer Reports website to do additional research on the vehicle. You can read reviews on vehicles you are interested in and also visit the bottom line price section. There is also a section that will inform you of any rebates, incentives or financing that is offered.

4. You can also just walk into the dealership. This will be a longer process and not be from the comfort of your home but some people prefer this method. Test-drive the vehicle, let the dealer know you want to talk price, bring any research you have obtained from the Internet, and tell the salesperson you want to see the vehicle's invoice. Stick to your guns because some salespeople will say they just cannot do that. You may end up having to speak with a "manager" or "closer." Research the rebates to make sure that the dealer isn't getting you to invoice by using rebates. You want the invoice price, then the rebates subtracted off of that price. This process will be longer; set aside time to be at the dealership for a good three to five hours.

References

• Edmunds
• Consumer Reports