The day has come to buy a new car. The excitement of getting behind the wheel of a new ride hits you the moment you open your eyes. But you could end up crying yourself to sleep that night if you don't bring your a-game to the car dealership. Not every sales guy (or gal) is looking to rip you off, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't come prepared to do battle. A car is a serious investment. So treat it as such. These top insider tips from former car salesman are worth reading, sharing, and keeping in mind before heading to the car lot.
1. Never Negotiate. Come to the showroom with a figure in mind and stick to it. Be polite, firm, and direct. Tell the sales guy your price and instruct them to get the paperwork ready if they can match it. Leave them your phone number, and walk away if they can't. They'll be calling you quite soon if your price was in fact a fair one to begin with.
2. Choose The Timing Of Your Follow-Up Call Wisely. If you haven't received a call, don't assume the deal is dead. Call up the dealer and ask to speak with the sales guy you dealt with before on a weekend an hour before closing time; on the last day of the month; or on days when the weather is terrible. A chance to make one more deal before the end of the day on a bad weekend, or before the end of the month when sales have been slow, or on the day of a major snowstorm when foot traffic has been non-existent can suddenly make your original price look very attractive.
3. Know What The Car is Worth And Offer Up To $1,000 Less. "True Market" estimates can be found on sites like Edmunds.com. Once you have that, be aggressive and tell the dealer you'll drive the car away today if he knocks off $500-1000. If you're patient, call up as many dealers as you can, then you may well find a dealer willing to make one more deal that day and dip into their financial reserve.
4. Always Be Polite and Respectful. It may sound obvious, but a car dealer is more likely to work hard to make a deal happen for you if you treat them with respect instead of like a piece of shit. Plus, customer satisfaction scores matter to dealerships. Dealers know a courteous customer is more likely going to leave a glowing review. That's an extra bit of incentive for them to make a deal happen.
5. Tip Your Sales Guy. This might sound odd, but sometimes commission on a car, especially if it's a loser deal, can be less than a hundred bucks. Offering a tip can really help to incentivize a dealer to find you the best deal possible. 6. Repeat The Process With All Your Local Dealerships. Check which dealers have the car you want, and reach out to all of them. Present your terms and let them fight it out for your business. 7. Secure Your Own Financing. Dealers can make a tidy sum on finance but you can usually secure financing elsewhere with more attractive rates.