New car quotes are easier to obtain than ever thanks to the growing significance of the Internet as a car buying resource. You can obtain a quote either by contacting the dealer directly, or by searching online and in newspapers for promo pricing specials. The advantage of getting a new car quote is that these prices are generally good deals, and getting the quote before going in to look at the car eliminates the negotiation process, which many people find stressful. But how do you know that the quoted price is actually a good deal?
To begin, find out all the options that the vehicle in question is equipped with. Online resources such as Kelley Blue Book allow you to check off each and every option to determine what the invoice of a vehicle should be. Keep in mind that this figure may be slightly more or less than the actual invoice. This allows you to determine how good a deal the quoted price actually is. Often times, dealerships are willing to sell a car at or near the invoice price because they receive cash bonuses from the factory if they sell a certain volume of vehicles. Special quotes and promo prices frequently appear when they need to meet a certain quota in the coming weeks to get those bonuses. Under these circumstances, the dealership just wants to move as much inventory as possible, so for buyers it is a wonderful opportunity to get a bargain on a new vehicle. Sometimes, it is possible to use quoted prices to negotiate with other dealers. For example, say that one dealership gives you a quote on a car that is a great deal, but they don't have the color you want. You may be able to use their quoted price as leverage at another dealership that does have the color you want. This may allow you to get a great deal as well as get the perfect new car rather than settling for something else.
Beware that some quoted prices include factory cash rebates, which usually exclude the buyer from taking advantage of special financing offers. For example, sometimes a dealership will list a car with a promo price that is well below invoice. In almost all circumstances, a price this low includes some sort of rebate. In general, the factory gives buyers the option of an up front cash rebate or special financing rates, but not both.
It is also possible to get a low new car quote that isn't listed online or in a paper by contacting a dealership directly via their website. Most new car dealerships have a system set up where you can specify the make, model and options you want, and they will give you a very reasonable quote. This can work out well for both parties; for a customer who knows exactly what they want, they can avoid haggling over price and simply inspect the vehicle and make a purchase with a price already decided. From the dealership's perspective, they move inventory out the door and get the sale done quickly so their sales staff can assist other customers.
Getting a quote on a car before going in to the dealership can make buying a new vehicle quick and painless. Though make sure to get quotes from multiple sources to ensure that you get the best price and best vehicle possible.
