Car dealerships are filled with sales people who want to sell you expensive used vehicles. Many car buyers are taken for a ride when they purchase their new cars as they do not have a clue what they are doing. Do not let yourself be taken advantage of! Here are some of the basic negotiation skills that you will need to know for your next used car purchase.


A dealer may try to say that they only have one vehicle in the exact color and specifications that you want available. They may even say that the factory will take three months to send them another! While this may be true, it is often a high pressure technique to close the sale. Depending on how worried you are about the specifics of your used vehicle, check with other car dealerships. They may have the exact model that you are looking for as well.

It is possible to negotiate above and beyond the discounts that are announced to the general public. Dealers are still making money on the cars, otherwise they would be going out of business. Do not be greedy but asking for an additional amount off from the discounts is possible.

Negotiation Dynamics suggest that users start their new car buying negotiations online. They recommend that buyers receive several online quotes for the car that they are looking for. Then, buyers should call the dealerships back and push them to go even lower. Once the buyer has found the dealership that they are willing to work with, they need to setup a sales appointment.

Ensure that you have a dedicated sales representative before you buy a used car. Showing up at a car dealership without a sales representative may leave you unprepared to negotiate. Having a relationship with a sales representative will help you to establish a better feeling for how much they are willing to negotiate. Do not be afraid to ask for a different sales person to help you, although, it may irritate the sales person who helped you from the beginning.

Calculating the invoice price for the car is extremely important. There are many websites that provide the exact price for a vehicle based on its trim and other optional features. Get the price for the vehicle you are considering and bring it with you. The dealership will not want to sell your the vehicle at invoice price as they make no profit. However, lower the price to within several thousand dollars of the invoice price can make a sale possible. Ensure that you get several quotes for the car you are looking at from other dealers but do not state what they are to the other dealers. Ensuring that you remain confidential will both add respect as well as give you more negotiating room.

Purchasing a used car is a time consuming process. Following the recommended tips on how to negotiate the price on a used car will help you achieve your goals! Good luck in purchasing your next used car.