13 Car Dealer Tricks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner
Get a leg up on fast-talking wheeler-dealers, so you can leave the new car lot with the ride of your dreams—and some cash left in your pocket.
Start with emails and phone calls
“Email several dealers to ask for their best price for new and used cars. If they say you need to come in, tell them you will—only if they give you a great price in writing. Even if you think you’ve found ‘the one,’ you can save money by comparing the price for similar vehicles offered by other dealers. If a dealership doesn’t respond, take your business elsewhere.”—Sonia Steinway, President, Outside Financial
Keep your trade-in to yourself
“Dealers like to move money around to confuse car buyers about how much they are really getting in the deal. If you mention you want to trade in a car up front, you are opening the door to a shell game. The salesperson will focus on what you want to get for your trade and may artificially inflate the ‘trade allowance’ to get you to say yes. This leaves no room to negotiate on the price of the new car. Furthermore, the salesperson may ask to appraise your trade, taking your keys and literally holding your car hostage until you agree to a deal.”—LeeAnn Shattuck, The Car Chick
Find out the trick that will get you a better price on your trade-in.
Don’t try to haggle
“Salespeople spend their days selling. Chances are you won’t be as good at getting them to give you a great deal as they are at getting you to buy. So focus on what you can do: Force dealers to compete against each other by sending you their best offers.” —Sonia Steinway
Be wary of “fun” advertisements
“If you received a mailer with a ‘scratch off to win’ game on it—avoid it at all costs! These dealers prey on the desperate, offering lower payments but dragging the terms out. This ensures the value of the car will always be less than you know.” —Travis Johnson, author of The Comprehensive Car Buying Guide
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Talk sale price before mentioning leasing
“If you say ‘I’m thinking about leasing,’ it is the same as telling the dealer that you are a monthly payment buyer. The salesperson will focus on the lease terms to get you to the monthly payment you want instead of negotiating the price of the car. Negotiate the price of the car first, then negotiate the lease terms.” —LeeAnn Shattuck
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Time your shopping
“If possible, wait until the end of summer. With the holidays coming up, dealerships need to make room for new vehicles and lower prices on older models accordingly. You can also expect more competitive financing offers like zero per cent interest for qualified buyers. Such deals will trickle through the following months, so keep looking out for discounts through October to December. Just don’t get talked into buying the latest model for more.” Andrea Woroch, consumer and money-saving expert
Here’s the best time to buy a new car.
…Or wait until the end of any month
“Most dealers need to meet monthly sales quotas, so they may be willing to give you a better deal if you shop at the end of the month. You’ll also get more personalized attention if you shop on weekdays when there aren’t as many other shoppers in the store. And no matter when you go, make sure you’re well-fed and well-rested to avoid making impulsive decisions.” —Sonia Steinway
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Know the difference between price and payments
“The most common trick dealers employ to attempt to charge a higher selling price is to negotiate based on payment rather than price. First, the payment is the primary budgetary concern for most buyers, so it is normally easy to shift the buyer’s focus to it. Raising the monthly payment by only $20 typically raises the purchase price by about $1,000. Also, inflating the assumed interest rate in calculating the payments at the beginning of negotiation allows wiggle room to either maximize the purchase price or sell warranties or accessories. None of these practices is necessarily a bad thing, but they open the door for potential abuse if the buyer is unaware.” —Rob Drury, Executive Director, Association of Christian Financial Advisors
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Don’t shop at only one place
“Shop around at a variety of dealerships, whether it is the same brand or a totally different one. This will allow you to look at different cars and check out their different rebates/offers. You can also have your car appraised at different dealerships to see who offers you the most for your trade-in.” —Natasha Rachel Smith, personal finance expert
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Know what you can afford before you walk in the door
“The generally accepted rule is that you spend no more than 15 per cent of your pre-tax income on your monthly car note.” —Valerie Coleman, National Sales Director, 5miles
Here’s how to calculate the real cost of buying a new car.
Know the value of extras
“Buy your protection products outside the dealership for the highest quality, maximum flexibility and lowest pricing. And don’t waste money on products like fabric protection or VIN etching—a can of stain repellent and a $30 DIY etching kit work just as well, and don’t cost hundreds of dollars.” —Sonia Steinway
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Beware of extended warranties
“Dealers purchase these from the manufacturer and then jack up the price when selling to you. Anything over $300 is just straight cash in their pockets. Negotiate their price or buy directly from the manufacturer.” —Travis Johnson
Discover the 10 things that kill your car’s resale value.
Don’t go it alone
“If you’re buying a car from an online marketplace, make sure to meet the seller in a public place and bring along a friend or family member to always be safe.” —Valerie Coleman
Now that you know these common car dealer tricks, find out how much dealers really make on the sale of a new car.
