Best way to negotiate a second hand car

jumbowindows

Hi there, I’m hoping to get a good deal on a second hand car. Looking at cars that are a year and or two old with approx 20,000 miles. They seem to be around £10k off the price of a car brand new. My question is, does anyone have any tips on getting a good deal?

I’ve bought two used cars before and when I’ve asked for flex on price I’ve been told flatly no both times (different garages). 

This time I will walk away but the my approach seems ineffective...and it’s over too quickly. I walk in, ask if they will give money off, they say no, I walk out...what am I missing? 

Is there something i should do to show them I am serious? 

williamgriffin

You need to get them to invest a bit of time in the deal. Test drive, cup of coffee let them work out some finance arrangement. Price for you current car on part ex, then hit them on your price.

Stubod

It used to be standard practice to get money off the sticker price, but over the last few years, (and with the last couple of 2nd hand cars I have purchased), the dealer has not been willing to move on the sticker price. You may get a set of mats or some fuel, but that's all.

I can only assume that their margins are lower than they used to be particularly with newer cars. (ie 1 - 2 year old).

They may offer a bit more for any part ex. but again most main dealers aren't interested in older cars and just send out the details of your part ex to their contacts and will then only offer you the best price their contacts make.

At least that's been my experience over the last couple of cars I have purchased.

bigadaj

jumbowindows said:

Hi there, I’m hoping to get a good deal on a second hand car. Looking at cars that are a year and or two old with approx 20,000 miles. They seem to be around £10k off the price of a car brand new. My question is, does anyone have any tips on getting a good deal?

I’ve bought two used cars before and when I’ve asked for flex on price I’ve been told flatly no both times (different garages). 

This time I will walk away but the my approach seems ineffective...and it’s over too quickly. I walk in, ask if they will give money off, they say no, I walk out...what am I missing? 

Is there something i should do to show them I am serious? 

You need to do your homework and look at the price they are asking against similar examples, if it's near the bottom you know there is little room for negotiation. The internet and especially autotrader means that people have to price keenly or people simply won't look or contact them. I bought a year old car a couple of months ago, just after lockdown lifted. Test drove it, rang them later with an offer, salesman said he'd speak to his boss. He called back half an hour later to say that they'd priced it too low, I could buy it that day online with a deposit or they'd list from the following day for £500 more. I bought in the end but they were probably right in that case, main dealer as well.

Car_54

The usual line these days is that the car is "priced to sell", and no reduction is possible. However, there's usually some leeway in the trade-in price.

There may be some incentive to take finance: you can then pay it off ASAP if you'd rather use cash.

As williamgriffin has said, keep them talking. Even if you reach an impasse on price, they may be willing to throw in something to sweeten the deal - tank of fuel, free service, even a set of mats. Or a spare wheel, if there isn't one.

Above all, be realistic in your expectations - do your homework, and don't be greedy.

EdGasketTheSecond

If the price is good don't try to get clever. My best cars have been the ones I where I paid the seller what they were asking because it was already a good deal from my perspective.

Grumpy_chap

jumbowindows said:

Hi there, I’m hoping to get a good deal on a second hand car. Looking at cars that are a year and or two old with approx 20,000 miles. They seem to be around £10k off the price of a car brand new. 

If buying this type of car, it is worth looking at the online brokers first to see what the equivalent car is new if you take the best deal that you can find.  Sometimes, a new or pre-reg car can be nearly as cheap as a 'nearly new' car at a year old.  

It also depends whether you want a specific car and specific options, in which case you budget probably needs to flex 'upwards', or if you are willing to be more flexible on the car to "buy the deal".

clive0510

if you see a car you like at a good price, all ways try to find something wrong with it and use that as a bargaining tool. it may need new tyres, it might have large stone chip somewhere, it may have a mark on the interior trim. just something to get that extra few quid.

EdGasketTheSecond

clive0510 said:

if you see a car you like at a good price, all ways try to find something wrong with it and use that as a bargaining tool. it may need new tyres, it might have large stone chip somewhere, it may have a mark on the interior trim. just something to get that extra few quid.

No we can do without this. If the car is already at a good price then pay the seller what is a fair price to them too; it's fair all round then.

Hoof_Hearted

Car Salesman, Ed?

facade

bigadaj said:

You need to do your homework and look at the price they are asking against similar examples, if it's near the bottom you know there is little room for negotiation. The internet and especially autotrader means that people have to price keenly or people simply won't look or contact them.

So how come, when posters complain that their insurer is trying to stitch them up on a total loss claim, by offering way below what autotrader adverts show, they are told that "the advertised price is just a starting point" "no-one ever pays that" etc. ?