How To Haggle On
Car Price And Win

Never Be The First Person To Start The Car Price Negotiation

Buyer Wins:

Buyer: You're asking 10 000 for the car. What's your best price?
Seller: Well, how much were you thinking to pay?
Buyer: Silence. I don't really know, give me your best price.
Seller: My best price is 9900.
Buyer: Given the condition of the car I was thinking of offering you 9600.
At this point the seller knows that he will have to move towards the 9600 mark in order to make the sale. Buyer wins.

Buyer Loses:

Buyer: You're asking 10 000 for the car. What's your best price?
Seller: Well, how much were you thinking to pay?
Buyer: I only really want to pay 9600.
Seller: No. The lowest price I could go to would be 9950.
At this point the buyer knows that he will have to up his offer towards the 9950 mark. Buyer loses.

Other Car Negotiation Points To Keep In Mind

• Always have a maximum car price in mind that you are willing to pay and stick to this price (do not tell the seller what your maximum price is).
• Successful car price negotiations can take days. Don't be pressurized by a seller who claims that buyers are lining up to pay the full asking price for the car, because they are not.
• Be prepared to point out any negatives on the car, such as worn discs and brake pads that will soon need replacing.
• Most sellers expect to negotiate on car price and often inflate the price of the car to cover the cost of haggling.
• Stay calm, look disinterested. Don't appear desperate to buy.
• Car salesmen want your business - most will be prepared to negotiate to get it.
• Don't be distracted by the offer of extras designed to deflect you from getting the discount you want e.g. reduced finance deals or cheaper warranty insurance instead of a reduction in the forecourt price. Always haggle for a discount first, then go for any of the extras you might want.
• The most important thing that any seller considers is not if, but when they will sell their car. A private seller will often be quite keen get rid of their motor and will be open to car price negotiation. Similarly all car dealerships seek to have a high stock turnover - consequently car salesmen will be under pressure to meet their sales targets. Any car salesman who refuses to negotiate is not taking you seriously. In this case you will need to restate how much you are willing to pay and why. If this fails then be prepared to walk away.

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