How much less should i offer on a used car

Keep it light. Stick to numbers and facts. Avoid bare-knuckle negotiators. Negotiate slowly and repeat the numbers. Be ready to walk. Steps 1. Get the numbers. Make the right opening offer. Make a counteroffer.

Getting to 'yes'. Inking the deal. Show More. Quick look: used car negotiations at a glance. Your Car-Buying Cheat Sheet. Get Nerdy quick tips on how to streamline the car-buying process even before you hit the dealership.

Download for Free. More tips for negotiating a private-party deal. More negotiating tips for buying a used car. On a similar note Dive even deeper in Auto Loans. Mercedes-Benz U. Car Insurance. Auto Loans. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights.

Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Your Money. Personal Finance. Your Practice. Popular Courses. Wealth Lifestyle Advice. Part Of. Car Leasing vs. Used Cars. Car Financing. Car Valuation. Car Buying Strategies. Table of Contents Expand. How Much Is a Used Car? How to Plan a Used Car Purchase. Negotiating With Private Sellers. The Bottom Line. Key Takeaways Buying a used car could offer a better deal financially than buying new, thanks to depreciation.

Getting a good deal on a used car can be done by conducting thorough research online, checking out cars and test-driving them, and comparing prices. Private parties may be less expensive but come with greater risk, while dealer lots and certified pre-owned vehicles may be more reliable and are backed by lemon laws in most states. If you're interested in financing a used car purchase, it may be helpful to get prequalified or preapproved for a loan prior to entering into negotiations.

Tip If you're planning to finance a used car purchase, consider getting prequalified or preapproved for a loan, as this could be a useful bargaining chip when negotiating prices.

Note Some of the automotive magazines — particularly the largest, Car and Driver — are also useful for their lengthy backlog of reviews with a slant towards driving enthusiasts. Tip Consider having any used vehicle you plan to purchase looked over by a certified mechanic who can point out any major issues, if they exist.

Important Negotiating used car prices with a private seller could lead to a better deal but keep in mind that you may not get any type of warranty with the purchase. Note Buyers should ask how warranties will be honored and where any needed repairs will be made, however. Article Sources. Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work.

These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy. Compare Accounts. The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Investopedia receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where listings appear.

Investopedia does not include all offers available in the marketplace. Related Articles. Car Insurance How to Buy a Car. Budgeting Car Shopping: New or Used? In these circumstances, it really is a case of every deal stands on its own, and it all comes down to how much the seller wants to sell and how much you want to buy that particular car.

The used vehicle market has changed an awful lot over the last 10 to 15 years with more and more exclusively online sellers entering the market such as Carvana. This relatively new way of retailing used vehicles often works on obtaining inventory on a sale-or-return basis from leasing and finance companies. However, the way car dealerships price their inventory has also had to change in recent years, and this can sometimes lead to very tight margins in some cases.

Most private sellers will try and ask as much for their car as they think they possibly can, and these expectations can often be unrealistic. Buying from a private seller is more of a risk, so the price you eventually end up paying and the amount of discount you should negotiate need to reflect this. There are also exceptional circumstances where you have less or even no chance of negotiating down the asking price of a used car. In some cases, when an exceptional vehicle is advertised for sale you can even find some people being prepared to offer more than the asking price to purchase the vehicle.