Negotiate The Best Deal With a Car Dealer For a 2025 Model

Negotiating with a car dealer for the best deal you can get is not as difficult as you may have been led to believe…or experienced in the past.

Yes, in a sense the cards are stacked against you and dealers know that by making the process last as long as possible, it is the surest way to get a car shopper to cave in and take what they offer.

Related article: Tricks Some Car Dealerships Use to Con Customers

But it doesn't have to be that way.

The Basics of Car Price Negotiating

In previous articles, we have learned that when negotiating with a new car dealer, it's essential to approach the process strategically to get the best deal. Important points to follow include:

Do your research―Start by knowing the value of the car you are interested in. Find out if there are any manufacturer rebates, dealer incentives, or special financing offers.

Separate price negotiation from financing―Do not get roped into discussing how you plan to pay for the vehicle before a purchase price is agreed upon.

Watch out for add-ons and fees―This is one of the biggest "gotcha's" a car dealer uses to get the price they want. You will want to decline items like extended warranties, fabric protection, rustproofing, etc. Also, check the sales sheet for questionable documentation and service fees.

Do not talk about your potential trade-in until after a purchase price is agreed upon― Negotiate your trade-in separately from the new car purchase. Know the value of your trade-in beforehand; It is a fact that owners tend to undersell their trade-ins.

Get everything in writing…always! ―Before signing any paperwork, be sure all verbal agreements and promises are included in the written contract. Promises that aren't documented don't count.

Be willing to walk away―The most important thing to keep in mind is that the one thing the car dealer has no control over is that you can always walk away. Letting the dealer know you're not in a rush or emotionally tied to a particular model gives you the advantage over their attempts to wear you down.

Following these steps will increase your chances of getting a fair deal when buying a new car.

Related article: Cheap Cars That New Car Shoppers Are Buying Today Recommended by Consumer Reports

New Car Price Updated Refresher for Car Shoppers

As an updated refresher on those important points, here is some sage guidance with extra advice from a car expert who has made a study of cars and car dealerships. By following his advice, you too can learn fairly easily that it really is not that complicated once you have learned in a step-by-step manner how to buy a car, negotiate the best price, and buy or order the car the proper way to save time and money.

Follow along with the host as he discusses the "Buying Phase" of negotiations once you've decided on the model you want. For example:

• Why you should go to the manufacturer's website to "build" your model to get the real value of the model, including any rebates offered.
• A look at a real sales sheet from a dealer with add-ins and markups you want to identify and refuse.
• The benefit of getting a Dealer Invoice Report and find out what the actual cost of the model was for the dealer with a real example shown and how you should use it in your favor.
• The importance of contacting multiple dealers remotely by email before going to any car dealership.
• What is reasonable and is not reasonable regarding your expectations of a particular model.
• Negotiate the price separately and before talking about financing or leasing.
• When you should go to your own bank or credit union rather than the car dealership's financing department.
• Protect your credit score during the financing arrangements.
• Ways to negotiate a fair price for your trade-in to lower your new car costs.
• After the seller agrees upon the final out-the-door price with you, the decisions you need to make regarding paying for the vehicle to avoid long-term debt.

"If you follow the strategies in this video, chances are you will save yourself a lot of money and you will avoid having buyers' remorse," promises the host of the Car Help Corner YouTube channel.

How To Negotiate The Best Deal With The Car Dealer (Step By Step) In 2025

For additional articles related to new car negotiating, here are three useful ones with car shopping advice for consumers:

• The Biggest Car Buying Mistakes You Can Make with a Dealership
• Car Dealers Caught Overcharging Buyers
• Truck Dealership Predatory Practices You Need to Be Aware Of

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

COMING UP NEXT: The Secret Motor Oil Companies Don't Want You To Know

Image source: Deposit Photos