How to Negotiate a New Car Price
Follow these 5 steps to save thousands on your next car purchase. No tricks, no gimmicks — just smart negotiating backed by real data.
Focus on the Out-the-Door Price
Never negotiate monthly payments. Always ask for the Out-the-Door (OTD) price — the total amount you'll pay including taxes, registration, and all fees.
Why? Dealers can stretch loans to 84 months to hit your payment target — you'll pay thousands more in interest without realizing it.
- Vehicle price
- Sales tax
- Title & registration fees
- Doc fee
- All dealer fees
Get Quotes from Multiple Dealers
Email 3-4 dealers asking for their best OTD price. This creates competition and gives you leverage. Copy this script:
Hi, I'm interested in purchasing a [Year] [Make] [Model]. I'm comparing offers from several dealerships and will be making a decision this week. Could you please send me your best out-the-door price including all taxes, fees, and charges? I'm not interested in any dealer-installed accessories. Thank you!
Know the Market Price First
Before emailing dealers, check what real buyers are paying for your exact vehicle on CarWhere. Use actual transaction prices as your negotiating baseline.
See What Others PaidNegotiate Using Their Competition
Use one dealer's quote to lower another. Target 5-10% off MSRP for most vehicles. Use the slider to see potential savings:
"I've received a quote of $X from [Other Dealer]. If you can match or beat that out-the-door price, I'll buy from you today."
Be willing to walk away. This is your strongest negotiating tool.
Got a Quote? Let AI Analyze It
Upload your dealer quote to Deal Drive GPT — our AI will instantly break down the fees, identify hidden markups, and tell you if it's a good deal compared to what others paid.
Try Deal Drive GPT FreeSay No to Dealer Add-Ons
Add-ons are pure dealer profit. Tap each one to see how much they're trying to charge you:
"I'm not interested in any dealer-installed accessories. If they're already on the car, I'll need you to remove the cost from the OTD price."
Pro tip: Check CarWhere to see what fees other buyers paid for your vehicle. Our AI can identify which charges are legitimate and which are dealer profit. Upload your quote for a free breakdown.
Handle Financing Strategically
Get pre-approved before visiting. Only discuss financing after you've locked in the OTD price.
Paying Cash?
- Don't mention cash until price is agreed
- Dealers prefer financing — use this as leverage
- Consider financing then paying off early
Financing?
- Get pre-approved from your bank first
- Let dealer try to beat your rate
- Never go beyond 60 months
Quick Checklist
Before you go to the dealership, make sure you've done these:
Join thousands of buyers using CarWhere to negotiate smarter.