What are some tips to negotiate the best price on a used vehicle?

Question

with a private seller

Answer 1

Kelly Blue book values mean nothing to dealerships. Retail value and private sale value are completely different. Car dealerships make all there money on used cars, anywhere from $ 500 to $5000 if YOUR not careful. They don't make much money at all on new cars. So here is the deal from a former car salesman. Make an offer $1500 below the sticker on the used vehicle. They'll say no, then get up and start to walk out of the dealership. Don't worry they'll stop you from leaving, they want the sale. Then make another offer $2000 below the sticker price. They'll say no, and once again get up to walk out. They won't let you leave, they'll bring you back in to negotiate some more. Sense a pattern? Keep making offers in your favor then getting up to walk out until they don't stop you. When they finally let you leave you have a good idea what they own the car for. Add $500 bucks to the last price negotiated, go back inside and make that your offer. They are in business to sell cars, they know not every deal is going to be a huge money maker, so they settle for what is known as a "nothing deal". A deal which makes no real profit, but frees up a space in the used lot for another used car. So now you have gotten your new used car for the best price around. Bottom line, don't go in and lay down and get screwed. Walk out as many times as you have to.

Answer 2

i own a shop,and you can usually find something wrong with any vehicle and this is a good bargaining tool to work with,anything you can find wrong with it will help knock a few bucks off the price of it.you can also use mileage and age as a knock down also,never offer to pay the price there asking,offer them a lower amount,and see what happens,it they give a little you know you have some room on the car if not you,ll have to use good judgment and common sense,to bargain with,some car dealers are eager to get rid of certain cars ,so if they give a whole lot be a little cautious,they may be playing you ,instead of you playing them,it works sometimes,kind of strike up a conversation with a salesman,this helps to break the ice a little and go from there with it,good luck,i hope this help,s

Answer 3

Shop around and do not rush the purchase. Be armed with price data from Kelly blue book or Edmund's. Prior to final purchase check VIN number to be sure vehicle is not involved in a recall or was in a accident.

Answer 4

What works for me is... Take a note pad with you when you look at a car. Write down every issue with it on your pad. Nit picking isn't necessary. But important issues. Now while he is standing there wanting to talk turkey you call the local auto parts store on how much will all these things cost to buy the parts for.

I tell them its going to cost X amount of dollars to fix not including labour. Then lets deduct a percentage of those figures you have on the piece of paper, those notes don't lie. And you baffled him with logic. Especially if his price is considerably too high.

Answer 5

show him the money(cash)and tell him that's all you have in cash.Take it or leave it.IF he said's no,walk away and take your business to someone else. GOOD LUCK!