Make a Down Payment or Bring a Trade-In
The first way to rattle the salesman is by bringing in a trade-in. This is going to give you some leverage because it automatically is going to bring down the cost of the vehicle. Dealership salespeople are clever though. There are times when they will try to convince you that your trade-in is not worth much. It is wise to get a Kelly Blue Book value to verify that the dealership trade-in estimate is legit.
The down payment is also helpful too because this can lower your monthly payments. Don’t offer to make a down payment upfront though. You should let the dealer work the numbers first. Find out the best offer that a dealer can make without a down payment. Once you see what this is you can prepare to offer a down payment to lower this cost even further.
Consider All The Models
In the art of negotiating it is never a good idea to be consumed with one particular model. It is always a better idea to consider all the models that are available. The ability to be flexible is going to heighten your ability to effectively negotiate a better price.
Pay In Full
This may not be an option for everyone, but some people can afford to bring cash and pay for a vehicle with cash. It is a completely different ball park when cash is taken into consideration. The dealership has to throw a different price into the mix when a person is not going to be taking out a loan. Interest rates are eliminated. The original markup sticker price has to be reconsidered. Thousands of dollars should be dropped off the original price when a person is willing to pay cash. With this the key is to never start with the lower price you would like to pay. You may have more cash, but you should never opt to pay with the exact amount you have. There has to be some room for bargaining.
Be Prepared to Leave
If things are not working with the dealers you should be prepared to leave. There is also more than one way to get the car you want. Don’t become obsessed with one dealership. A dealer wants to sell the car more than the buyer wants to buy it. The buyer must remember this.