Not Good at Negotiating Price for your First Car?

Now technology has reduced hassles and made price negotiation not a problem to those shy, quiet buyers like me. We can do everything through internet now before we step into any dealers. When I decide to buy the 2013 Honda Civic LX after test drive, I start with the Kelley Blue book  (www.kbb.com) and Edmunds (http://www.edmunds.com/) to get an overall picture, then I begin to email to different dealers and see the approximate price.



The internet price through email is always cheaper, and you've already saved some money by doing this; however, this is not the end of the story if you want to negotiate to a lower price. Wait for all emails to come back and compare which dealer can offer the lowest price. Besides going to the dealers, go to other third-party websites like truecar.com, so that you won't miss any dealers who offer low prices.

(Truecar.com)

When you click "Next", they will ask for email addresses and email verification after you enter it. (For truecar.com, the website only asks you for email and you don't need to provide any personal information.)

After log in, you will see the lowest dealer price around your area.

If the price is lower than the price from your nearest/preferred dealers, email back and tell the sales that other dealers (even it's 50 miles further away) are offering a lower price and ask if they can adjust to that price. You don't have to tell them you get this quote from a third-party website, as some dealers consider it as a special deal and don't offer other rebates/APR specials.

If you are doing a financing option, make sure to ask if the price they offer can provide such option. It's hard to predict if the sales would change out the price by adding stuff or decline the APR offer, so it's better to have a black and white email as a back up.

Once the dealer is confirmed with the price, you're ready to go to the dealership. You've already saved a lot of money and time by doing everything through the internet! You don't need to go back and forth with the sales (waste of time) or go to different dealers for a cheaper price (waste of gas).

Be sure to ask your insurance company for the procedures before buying a new vehicle. Try not to go on Sundays as some insurance agency are not opened that you cannot call to add the car to your insurance at once.

Personal Opinion:
*If you are not in a rush, go to the dealer at the end of the month as some sales need to reach the quota.


HAPPY BUYING!