Car dealerships in Canandaigua, NY: 4 tips to get the best price
**A contributed post as written for The Safe Driver.
A new car is a major investment, so you have to ensure that you get the best price for it. You don’t want to buy a new car impulsively, so thorough research should be carried out. It’s fun and exciting to shop around, check the best car models, and start negotiating. However, although you want to pay a low price for your dream car, you don’t want to end up with a lemon car. If you wish to purchase a new or used car, prioritizing quality is paramount in a successful purchase. How do you ensure that you’ll get the best price for a new car?
In this post, you’ll learn some essential tips to get the best deal when buying a new car. Let’s get started!
- Research and Prepare
Assess yourself first before talking to a car dealer. You need to know why you want to buy a new or used car and how you plan to use it. Find out the specs and features that are important to you to avoid being lured to pay extra features you don’t need. Also, make sure that you do the following:
- Research and be aware of the additional expenses (e.g., taxes, fees, charges, and levies), aside from the upfront cost of the car.
- Obtain price quotes from at least five dealers (same car model). Call rival dealerships to get the price quotes. Click here so you can check a trusted and reputable dealer site.
- Get Car Financing Pre approval
Before you head into a car dealership to start a negotiation, it’s best to get pre approved for a car financing first. Doing 
so will provide you with some leverage and will also show you where your credit standing falls. A good car dealer can beat or at least hit the interest rate your bank or the credit union can offer. Here are some tips when getting pre approval for your car financing:
- Evaluate your credit history, source of income, and income percentage that you’re willing to use to pay your car payments.
- Save up for a down payment to get fast approval. Start with 20% down payment. Remember that the more money you put down, the quicker the transaction and the easier you’ll get a fair deal.
- Evaluate the entire pricing package. For instance, the bank might offer 1.9% interest rate whereas a car dealer can offer 4.5% for a loan. However, getting a $2000 instant rebate makes the dealer’s bid more appealing.
- Make sure that your credit history is clean because unsettled debts is a major red flag.
- After getting pre approved, you’ll be able to determine the car loan duration and the monthly payment you can afford.
- Bring Someone with You
Bringing a trusted friend or family member is a good idea if you’re a first-time buyer. An experienced car owner can help you if you need a second opinion. Your companion can also give you valuable car maintenance and warranty coverage insights and other pieces of advice so you can adequately evaluate the components and pricing of the car.
- Do Not Negotiate
Salespeople are good communicators, so negotiation is a major part of their daily routine. While your auto dealer has been trained and experienced to negotiate car prices, you shouldn’t feel pressured or intimidated to insist what you think is right for you. Here are some effective tactics to lower the price of your dream car:
- Tell the sales manager and the salesperson that you will sign the paperwork once they’re able to reach your target figure. Decline any counter-offers politely.
- Follow up on weekend nights about an hour before the car dealership closes and talk to the salesperson or manager you’ve spoken before. If the sales for the week is in a bad state, they might feel compelled to work with you.
- Follow up at the end of the month (preferably the last day) when car dealers are usually under pressure to reach their monthly target sales.
- Follow up on bad days (e.g., terrible weather). A storm or windy weather will likely result in zero sales, and salespeople usually find ways to bend the rules just to hit their quota for the day.
- Avoid buying a new car during spring or summer because these are the expected times when car buyers flock to car dealerships. The best season to buy a new car is winter when most people prefer to stay at home.
Conclusion
It’s possible to get the best price for your prospective car as long as you apply the tips mentioned above. The key to a successful transaction is knowing what you need by doing thorough research. Make sure also to clear your credit history and display good behavior when negotiating. Open communication is also a must as well as applying proven tactics that work.