How to Bargain for Buying a Car
Bargain shopping is very important for households on a budget, especially when shopping for a new car. Before you go out car shopping, you need to acquire the bargaining techniques that will help you get a better deal on your new car and avoid those arguments that car salespeople just won't go for. If you do your homework and take some time to learn the best negotiating techniques, your new car will cost less.
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Instructions
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Start bargain hunting early. If you wait until the car you're driving completely breaks down, you won't be in a position to negotiate the price of your next car.
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Decide what type of car you want to buy before visiting car dealerships. Know approximately how much the type of car you want is worth. Research the car online, and use the Kelley Blue Book, located in the Resources section below, to look up its value.
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Avoid being too obvious about your bargaining techniques. Never get outwardly defensive, and don't make statements that may threaten or offend the salesperson. After deciding on the car you want, pretend you're still undecided and thinking about a few of the cars on the lot, or maybe even at a different dealership.
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Understand that you may need to walk away. You can always find another car, but once you sign the paperwork, you're stuck with the deal you made. If the salesperson believes that you're really willing to walk away from the deal, he will bring the price down if he can.
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Remember to factor in any fees that apply to the cost of the car. These fees are typically included by dealerships to pay for things such as advertising costs and paperwork. Always ask the salesperson to waive these fees, and if she can't, ask her to give you something to offset that price, such as free or discounted servicing.
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Be honest with the dealer. Don't keep negatives to yourself. The salesperson is going to be very positive and enthusiastic and that could make it more difficult to seem negative. But if you explain the reasons why you're hesitant about the car, the salesperson will most likely offer you a better deal.
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Avoid giving the salesperson an amount you'd like to pay for monthly payments. The salesperson can usually get you that price, but oftentimes, you'll end up paying off the car for an extra year or more. Keep the conversation focused on the price of the car. Then, once a price is offered, you can talk about monthly payment options.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure you're getting a very good price on a trade-in before you put it into the deal. In many instances, you'll be able to make more money if you sell your old car privately.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Luxury Car sportscar from my luxury car series image by alma_sacra from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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tsaojamescar
Mar 05, 2010
In my experience... it's pretty hard to make sure that I get the lowest price possible because dealers always have more negotiating experience than I do. If you are one of those people who doesn't have the time to waste on visiting dealer after dealer, you should check out Carsala. They have pro negotiators who will do it for you.
