Negotiating for the best price for your car

The art of negotiation is a tricky, possibly long drawn-out matter and sometimes you are never really sure you got the best deal even after you’ve walked away from the bargaining table.

If you are like most buyers, you probably have a good idea of how much you are willing to spend and would like to settle the issue of cost even better you go to the dealer to check out the car. Indeed, since the advent of the Internet, most companies are even willing to quote you the actual retail price sight unseen, over the phone or perhaps through e-mail. This is in sharp contrast to only a few years ago when standard practice was to lay on as many enticements as possible to the customer before the actual bargaining started.

Of course chances are, in your inquiries to several different auto dealers or through scanning of the local ads, you may have already encountered a quoted sale price on one or more cars you are interested in. Most online car dealerships in fact, will readily give you the price knowing that this is a crucial factor in your decision to purchase a car from them. What you have to realize though, is that it may still be possible to knock a few dollars off their asking rate.

You may possibly already have a pre-conceived price point at which you are confident that you have scored a great deal. Most people though, are willing to give a little leeway on this issue as long as they feel that they will get a fair price.

The best way to prepare for the inevitable haggling that will take place at your car dealership is by being as informed as possible about current market rates for your chosen car model. Ask around several different dealerships about the car you’re interested in and ask if they offer any added-on value, like free accessories or free service checkups and towing services for example. Each dealer is different but they all have the common goal of selling as many units as possible and many have come up with some interesting solutions to help you part with your money.

Finally remember that it’s not always all about paying as little as possible; you will want to buy a car that you are totally happy with, at a fair price. Take the time to do your research and you will walk away the winner in the deal.