Exploring The Gap Between MSRP And New Car Invoice Prices

To get the best deal on a new car, you need to do your homework first. You should know the difference between sticker prices and new car invoice prices. (The sticker price is the same as MSRP; the new car invoice price is supposed to be the dealer’s cost.) And you should know that smart shoppers buy new cars at or below the new car invoice price all the time. The MSRP is the sticker price that you see on the window and it represents the maximum that one should pay for a particular model. Car dealers usually try to get buyers to pay this price. However, when you discover the new car invoice price that the dealer is paying, you may see a large discrepancy. In fact, new car invoice prices are usually at least one or two thousand dollars lower than the retail price. Sometimes you may not be able to negotiate a lower price. For example, high demand and low inventory for a certain model creates ideal conditions for the dealership. They know that they can get the full retail price when there are more buyers than vehicles. In times like these, you may have few options: either pay full retail now, or wait for lower prices. Under most circumstances, you will be able to negotiate price with a dealership. In fact, you are free to make a ridiculously low offer if you wish. However, the dealership does not have to accept the offer. Yet, if you make an offer that is fair, you can usually get a good deal. And if you are aware of the actual dealer cost, you have a good bargaining position.
When you discover the price that a dealership pays for a specific model, you have a good idea what to offer. However, most dealers do not want you to know their cost so they can make more money. If you take some time to search the Internet, it is not hard to find dealer cost on new cars. When you locate a reputable online pricing service, you should see the retail prices (MSRP) as well as the new car invoice prices of all the new models. Yet, this is not always the bottom line because you can often find deals that are below the invoice price. New car dealers enjoy a lot of special incentives from the manufacturer. When they sell you a new vehicle, they usually receive a substantial rebate, which enables them to profit even when selling at the invoice price. Because of this secret rebate, smart car buyers always try to buy at or below the new car invoice price. If you want to get a great deal on a new car, you need to understand the difference between retail and wholesale prices. Most of the time, you will not have to pay anywhere near the higher retail price (MSRP) that is on the window sticker. And remember that dealers usually get rebates and incentives that reduce their cost below the new car invoice price, so your goal should be to buy at or below the invoice price.