when buying a used car, how much on average can you usually talk a salesman off the price?
By Cars & Motorcycles on Apr 09, 2009 with Comments 9
Bostonian asked: My girlfriend and I are about to have a newborn baby and we are really tight on cash because we are trying to put some money away for emergency expenses. We are looking to buy a used car and I know that most dealerships mark their cars way up. I would just like a basic outline of how far I can push my negotiations without being unreasonable. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Filed Under: Buying Used Car
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If they wont come down 10% off the sticker price, tell them you are walking. Meaning if they are asking $5000, they should come down at LEAST to $4500.
if the car is like 5000 you can probably take 500 off if you tell them the situation you are in
When I was searching for a car, I would always check the Kelley Blue Book value of it and then compare to what the dealership was asking. I would try to talk them down to be close to the KBB but most won’t go that low so they can make enough profit. I bought a car that was priced at $7k and I ended up getting it for around $5500. Just keep going lower and lower until they won’t budge any more.
There is no avg discount when buying a used car. Some dealers may markup 50%, others 100%. The only way to find out is to find out its blue book value and also how much similar cars are going for in your area .
Then make an offer comparable to what you find. If they won’t come down on price, then buy privately. But always spend the extra $100 and have it thorougly inspected by a competent mechanic (such as AAA). You wouldn’t want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere with a baby.
I was a used car salesman for a while and we didn’t have a set percentage. I would get online and look at dealerships around you, their websites usually list the cars for less then the sticker on the lot. try and talk them down 1k off the internet price when you are on the lot.
Sticker 5000
online 4200
you ask 3200
they probably wont give you that price but they will come closser.
Be assured they mark up at least $5,000 more than they paid for it on a 3 or 4 year old car. And negotiate like a Lebanese rug trader. With arm’s up in the air I can’t go that price I must leave for dealership X because they will talk price…Then turn around “what is that your final offer” Never buy an used car with out knowing it’s history. And get a professional mechanic of the brand of car you want to buy look it over.Before finalizing any paper work get Car Fax and mechanical inspection.
There is no set percent of the cost price that you can figure on lowering every car and dealer is different.Do your research on line find a price that you can live with and stick with that .If it is a fair offer an close to what the car is worth I don’t know of any dealers that won’t accept a fair offer.They do not want to lose a sale so if your happy with the price then have the car checked out by a mechanic
You did not mention price range your looking at.
A current vehicle in dealer inventory retailing above $ 10.000 will be marked up $ 3 to 4000. if vehicle has been in stock more than 90 days it could be marked at close to cost or about $1000. to $ 2000. above cost, the dealer in all fairness has to make a profit – half way is fair.
Buying a vehicle is learning the steps, if you got the time go to my website and study 2 links – how you negotiate – and how dealer negotiate
Now the question is, have you got the time to study – or are you like many consumers that will end up getting a raw deal and blame their own mistakes on the seller.
If you are really tight on cash, you may consider to buy a cheap used car from seized and government car auctions, which can save up to 95% of retail price (like under $1000). Most of them sold at such auction are in good condition. By the way, you also can resell it to make profit quickly. To get more “buy used car cheap information”, pls visit