How To Negotiate A Better Price At The Used Car Dealership

More and more motorists are choosing to buy a used car. Used cars can be a better deal, and help drivers get a great car they'll love for a much better price. If you're buying a used car from a dealer, it's a good idea to learn how to negotiate on the price. All dealers will have sales targets to meet, so most of them are willing to negotiate, as long as you know how to go about it. Here are a few tips to help you. 


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  1. Do your research. Before you go anywhere with used cars for sale, research how far your budget is likely to go and decide what kind of car you want. It's a good idea to have a make, model, and year in mind when you start shopping. Learn about the car's pricing, and find as many comparable models as you can, so have a rough idea of the average price. You can do this by looking on used car website, visiting other dealers, checking newspaper ads, and asking friends who owned similar cars. If you know what a fair price is for the make, model, and year of the car you want, it'll be harder for a dealer to convince you to spend more. 

  2. Know your budget. It's smart to go into the dealership with a maximum price already decided. Don't tell the dealer what this price us. If you open discussions by saying your budget is £7,000, the dealer will price the car you're looking into at £7,000, and you'll find it harder to negotiate down, as the dealer will know that you can afford more. 

  3. Start low. Dealers want to maximise the profits they make on car sales, so will often start negotiations by quoting an inflated price. They do this so any price drop sounds like a good deal. Take control by making an offer at the low end of the price range you've found during your research. The dealer can then negotiate up to a price that you're both happy with.

  4. Ask questions. The person who asks most questions during a negotiation is the one with the control. Questions help you to learn more about the car you're considering and also show that you have done your research and know what you're looking at. You could ask if the car has a logbook, how many owners the car has had, whether the car has even been involved in an accident, what work the dealership has done on the car, if the car has a full-service history, and if the car comes with any kind of warranty. 

  5. Take your emotions out of the situation. A good car dealer will know how to make the buyer feel emotionally obligated to make a purchase. Remember that you're there to buy a car, not make friends. Be professional and detached, not warm and friendly, so the dealer has to use logic, not emotion, to sell to you.