If you're buying a vehicle online, you may find it challenging to negotiate for a good price. Since you won't be interacting with dealers face to face, it can be difficult to know what they think of your price offer. However, it's possible to score a great deal on a car online if you know the right way to do it. Check out this comprehensive guide on how to effectively negotiate a car price online.
Pros and Cons of Negotiating a Car Price Online
Image via Flickr by crash71100
The choice to negotiate a car price online or offline usually comes down to personal preference. While some people feel more comfortable haggling face to face, others may prefer to have the time to carefully devise a negotiation strategy by going online. You can decide whether negotiating online is the right option for you by properly weighing its pros and cons.
The main advantage of buying a car online is that it allows you to take your time. You can do research to find out the market price of your desired vehicle and determine whether the dealer is offering you a fair deal. If you feel that the price is too high, you can counter with a lower price.
Additionally, communicating with a dealer online enables you to control the pace of your negotiation. When you're haggling with the dealer in person, the conversation can move at a quick pace and get confusing. In such a situation, you're more likely to make a costly rash decision. If you're communicating with a dealer via email, you can slow down the negotiation process if you ever feel that the situation is beginning to flare up. This allows you to stay calm and have the presence of mind to focus on getting a good deal. Being in the comfort of your home also helps you maintain your composure.
Despite its benefits, negotiating a car price online does also comes with some potential drawbacks. For example, it can make it difficult for you to establish rapport with the dealer. The lack of non-verbal cues can make overall communication more complicated. In addition, email messages can be easily misunderstood because they usually don't convey emotion and tone as accurately as face-to-face interactions. As such, you may have a hard time figuring out how the dealer feels about your offer.
How to Negotiate a Car Deal Online
Since buying a new car is a substantial investment, you should take your time to make sure you get the right vehicle at the right price. Follow these tips to negotiate the best possible price for your new car online.
Do Research
Before you approach any dealership, you have to first decide which specific model you want to buy. Buying the right car is as important as getting a good deal because you'll be using it for at least a few years. You can learn more about your options by visiting the car manufacturer's official website. While you're browsing through the site, you should also look for information about special offers, rebates, and financing promotions that apply to your desired vehicle. These incentives can significantly reduce the total price of your new car.
After you've decided which vehicle to buy, you can go to third-party auto websites to read reviews of the model and gather pricing information. Then, visit the websites of different dealerships in your vicinity and compare the prices they offer. Read reviews of each dealership on websites such as Yelp, Google, and DealerRater so that you'll know what to expect from them during the negotiation process.
Contact the Auto Dealerships
Now that you have a general idea of how much you need to pay for your new vehicle, it's time to contact the dealerships. Send them an email that specifies your desired vehicle. For example, you might contact a dealership to ask about a 2020 Toyota Camry with the Nightshade package and options such as the 8-inch display, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic warning. Then, find out if they have the exact car you want in their inventory and find out when it'll be available if necessary. Tell them you're ready to buy now and want to know their lowest out-the-door price for the car.
To make sure your new car has all the features you're looking for, you should get a copy of its window sticker and vehicle invoice from the dealers. The window sticker will list all the features of the car in detail, including the packages and options. It enables you to distinguish between standard features, optional features, and features that come with packages so that you'll know exactly what you'll be getting and paying for. The vehicle invoice, on the other hand, will show you the retail and dealer costs for the car, the optional features, and possibly the holdback and incentive information.
You should also let the dealerships know that you prefer to interact with them via email. Some dealers may still want to call you and try to get you to come to their lots first. If you feel uncomfortable talking to them on the phone or face to face, you can politely ask them to send you an email. In most cases, dealerships will respect your wishes.
Negotiate for the Best Possible Price
After you've received your quotes, select the car dealership that offers the best deal. Call the dealer and try to negotiate for an even lower price. Tell them that you have been in contact with a few dealerships and you'll buy the car from them if they can give you a better price. In addition, let them know that you're willing to place a deposit if they can provide you with the car's vehicle identification number (VIN) and a copy of its window sticker and vehicle invoice. Avoid making a deposit if the car isn't already on the lot.
If you're looking for a reputable Toyota dealership in the Cincinnati area that offers competitive prices, don't hesitate to get in touch with the helpful staff at Kings Toyota. Contact us today to get a quote for your desired Toyota model.