- Homework – Get a good idea of the vehicle you want including all options
- Pricing – Check truecar.com, edmunds.com etc…to see what others have paid for the same car in your area.
- Call the dealerships’ internet departments. This is typically where you’ll get the best price up front. Call several different stores and let them know what prices you have gotten from other locations. They want your business and don’t want you to go somewhere else. All dealerships pay the same price for identical cars. If you bluff them with a ridiculous price, they’ll know.
- Check your credit score. Pretty easy to get these days
- Know what the going interest rates are according to your credit score. Call your bank or credit union
- Know the manufacturers’ incentives. Usually available on dealer web sites
- Make an appointment. This can shorten your time. Salesperson can have a vehicle or two ready for you to look at
- Test drive. Always
- Stick to your budget. Have a tight range of where you want to be, payment/term and stick to it. Don’t tell the salesperson the most important thing is payment. They can always get you to the payment you want, just at a longer term or with more money down.
Help from an experienced car salesperson on getting the best deal possible with the purchase of a new or used car