Negotiating with the Dealer for the Best Auto Quote

Negotiating with a car dealer for an auto quote is not a simple process, and there's no one magic solution for getting the best deal. However, there are some solid guidelines car shoppers can use to avoid getting taken advantage of. Take a look at these general tips for getting a good auto quote at the dealer's lot.

• Start under the sticker price for a new car - The MSRP or sticker price is just a guideline. You want to negotiate based on what the car cost the dealer. Buyers will find that they need to start low to avoid going too high when the dealer factors in taxes, tags and other extras.
• Pay as much as possible up front—or finance outside of the dealer - This is not a hard and fast rule, but generally, avoid financing at the dealership unless you can be sure the dealer is not padding the monthly payments that you will make. Making a deal on a total car value is much better than negotiating payments, as there are many ways for dealers to increase monthly payments in subtle ways.
• Question items on an itemized quote - Ask the dealer's rep what you are paying for, and then tell them you don't want certain extras. Take a look at warranties, etc. and try to negotiate a lower price by dropping some of the dealer offered services. This strategy can sometimes help a buyer get a better deal.

The above are only a few of many general tactics for getting a better bargain at a dealer's lot. Always be observant and spot the "hard sell" and ask as many questions as possible about what goes into sale price.