According to Statista data, just under 2 million cars were sold in the UK in 2020 alone. Buying a car is perhaps the single biggest purchase you will make after acquiring a home. Consequently, it is common to worry about making costly mistakes like falling for common car salespeople’s tricks when shopping for a car. However, you can get your car at a fair price and enjoy a hassle-free experience if you have top-notch negotiation skills. Here are some tips worth knowing to negotiate the best price when shopping for your vehicle.
- Avoid expensive extras
Even after settling on a tremendous final price, the dealer’s finance office is the last hurdle to cross. You will be offered a wide range of add-on products for your new car, including roof racks, windshield protection, and nitrogen for your tyres. The salesperson or finance manager may put a lot of pressure on you to include these extras in your purchase. However, you can lose all your savings through tactful negotiations if you are not careful enough. It is vital to note that you can buy many of these extras outside the dealership at lower prices. Therefore, take your time to research the various extras and their prices instead of buying them immediately.
- Learn the best time to purchase used cars
It is prudent to know the best period to purchase a used car to get the best price possible when searching for a vehicle. According to experts, September and March are the best months to acquire used cars due to the launch of new number plates. Several individuals typically rush to exchange their old vehicles for new ones, so dealers will often have a large stock of used cars that they want to get rid of during these months. Therefore, it is easier to negotiate your vehicle’s price within these months, so consider waiting till then. You can readily search “used car dealership near me” online to find the nearest dealer that can offer you the best deals when these favourable months come around. Also, keep in mind that the best time to purchase a used car in the UK depends on the kind of automobile you want to buy. For example, it is harder to negotiate lower prices for convertibles during summer while you might need to pay more than intended for a 4×4 vehicle during winter.
- Keep your cool for a better deal
Car salespeople are typically genuinely nice people who will do everything to put customers at ease during negotiations. However, remember that enjoying a friendly and relaxed atmosphere can cause you to drop your guard quickly. Indeed, many car sales executives are well-trained to exploit laidback and cheerful customers. Therefore, don’t lose sight of the ultimate objective when shopping for a car. Your purpose is to get the best deal possible from a salesperson looking to get as much profit as possible. This tense environment is hardly the best place to make new friends, so keep negotiations as formal as possible. Also, try to control your emotions if the initial deal you get is far above your expectations. As such, keep a cool head throughout instead of making it obvious that you are impressed. Persistent negotiations can secure you further discounts, so it is always a good idea to reject the initial price you receive, however good it is.
- Know the price
It is vital to know your vehicle’s official recommended price before negotiating. Thankfully, you can easily discover this information on the car manufacturer’s website because carmakers typically publish price lists that specify a car’s specific purchase price and any available optional extras. You will undoubtedly be in a better position to negotiate if you know the car’s specifications and the manufacturer’s recommended price. Also, you can immediately identify attempts a dishonest dealer might make to sell you another model. Furthermore, experts advise being wary of the special offers you receive on cars with lower specifications if you have your eyes on a particular model. This is because a dealer will hardly go out of their way to help you trim expenses. Therefore, any alternative models they suggest will likely be more beneficial to them than you. As such, always know the price of your preferred car and avoid settling for alternative special deals to receive the best features you want in your new car.
- Be nice
ALA conducted a study in 2018 asking the British public to rank various professions by trustworthiness. Unsurprisingly, car dealership salespeople featured in the bottom five of the list, alongside politicians, recruiters, social media influencers, and other salespeople. This widespread dislike of car salesmen is undoubtedly due to many people’s previous bad experiences and stereotypes. Therefore, many people enter into negotiations with car salespeople believing that their best bet is to bully their way to an excellent deal. Consequently, these buyers typically act tough and refuse to bend on anything, with some going as far as intimidating the salespeople. However, remember that car dealers are likely to give you more ground for negotiation if they like you. Also, it is easier for these salespeople to justify offering a ripoff deal to rude customers than pleasant clients. Therefore, adopt a polite approach to negotiations since being brusque or impolite will likely backfire. Car dealers will only strengthen their resolve to get the most out of a deal if you are rude, so play nice throughout negotiations to increase your chances of getting an excellent deal.
- Be prepared to walk away
You can simply walk away from negotiations if you hate the deal you are getting or feel uncomfortable with the entire process. Few shoppers play this card because they assume that the dealer controls everything. Also, it is common to not want to leave for fear of embarrassment or to prevent the friendly salesperson from losing a sale. However, your interest should come first when buying a car since you will likely be making payments for years. Nevertheless, it would help to leave the right way instead of storming out. You can leave your contact information and reiterate your willingness to further negotiate if a more acceptable price is offered.
