Check any Car with our Free service!
no purchase necessary
Check any Car with our Free service!
See Mileage & MOT History
Compare Cars across websites
Used as a Taxi or Unrecorded Damage?
How to negotiate a better deal when buying a used car
Can you negotiate used car prices?
That’s what we believe too, which is one of the reasons why we created Car Guide.
Even if you don’t think negotiation and haggling is your strong point, you’ve got nothing to lose. The worst that will happen is you’ll have to decide whether you’re happy to pay the asking price. And if it all goes to plan, you might even bag yourself a bargain!
Read on to learn how to negotiate a better deal and possibly lower price with confidence.
Free Car Check
Just enter any Car Registration below
Tell us when you’re buying the car so we can show you the most relevant info
See how much missed Services & Repairs might cost you
Get a Used Car for less – we uncover the costs of Services & Repairs plus show you what a Used Car might fail it’s next MOT on.
See what Car Sellers don’t want you to know, absolutely no payment or card details needed!
Before you buy
Make sure you do your research – find out how much similar cars are being advertised for.
Why not try the Car Guide car comparison tool? This allows you to compare used cars for sale on multiple car search sites such as Autotrader and Motors. More importantly, the more you know about the car, the more leverage you will have to negotiate. Therefore doing a full check is a wise decision. You can also use Car Guide to find out the market value of the car.
Decide on a couple of important points
Will you be paying in cash, are you hoping to part-exchange/trade-in your current vehicle or do you plan on taking out a finance agreement? Make sure you do the maths – work out how much you can realistically afford to pay, whether that’s as a lump sum or in monthly instalments.
If you’re toying with the idea of entering a finance agreement through a car dealership, it’s worth checking whether you could get a better rate by taking out a personal loan with your bank.
Importantly at dealerships, negotiate on the vehicle price. Be careful of salesmen avoiding negotiating and asking “what’s your monthly budget”.
You’ll find they normally hit your monthly figure but they may extend the term of the finance agreement by a further year, demand a larger deposit or give you less for your part-ex.
Top tip:
Write a list of your must-have features, set yourself an upper price limit – and make a pact with yourself to stick to it. Oh, and keep all those details to yourself. Think of it this way – your objective is to get the best deal. The seller’s is to get the best price. So, whether you’re buying from a dealer or private seller, the less information they know, the better.
Found the perfect car?
Ready to hand over your hard-earned cash in exchange for a shiny new motor? Buying a car is an exciting time, but as with any big purchase, it’s best not to rush into anything. Take your time to find the right car for the right price.
Before you go any further, head over to the Car Guide website and run a vehicle check to find out:
- If there is an outstanding car finance agreement attached to the vehicle
- The vehicle’s mileage history and service history
- Potential problems you may have with the car during the next 6 to 12 months
- The likelihood of the car failing its next MOT
- Whether a pre-purchase inspection is recommended
This information will be useful as part of the negotiation process.
How to negotiate car price
Take a deep breath and remember this – when it comes to negotiating a used car price, the power is in your hands. The dealer or seller cannot force you to buy a car. If you don’t get the deal you want, there’s no shame in walking away. There will be other, better deals, so don’t let yourself be cajoled into something you won’t be happy with later.
Keep your cards close to your chest. Don’t allow emotions to cloud your judgement. And certainly don’t let the dealer or seller know just how much you love this car!
Top tip:
If you are buying from a dealer check what car finance you can get elsewhere so that you are prepared and can compare it to the deal the dealer might offer you. Check our guide on getting the best car finance deal.
Negotiate a better deal when buying a used car from dealers
The first rule – the initial price you offer should be lower than you’re actually willing to pay. This gives you some movement if they don’t bite straightaway.
Common scenarios:
1. The dealer isn’t offering enough money in part-exchange on your current car.
What to say:
In order to purchase this car, I will need more than you are offering in part-exchange.
2. You’ve seen a better offer at another dealership
What to say:
I’ve been to (dealership) and they are offering X for £X. What can you offer me?
3. After a lengthy negotiation process, the dealer is still offering a price that is too high
What to say:
I’m willing to pay a maximum price of £X.
Negotiate a better deal when buying a used car from private sellers
There are pros and cons to buying a car through a private seller. One of the main disadvantages is that the car won’t have been subjected to the rigorous vehicle health checks used by car dealerships.
You can make this work in your favour though. Taking the time to check the vehicle thoroughly will allow you to identify issues such as dents in the bodywork, chips in the windscreen and worn tyres. And since the seller might be looking to close a deal quickly, you might be able to haggle on the price.
How can Car Guide’s Vehicle Check help you negotiate a better deal when buying a used car?
If the Car Guide Vehicle Check identifies an issue, consider whether this is a deal-breaker for you. If it is, you’ll have saved yourself the time and effort of taking the car for a test drive and negotiating on the price. Time to move on to the next car!
If you’re still interested in the car despite the highlighted issue, research the likely cost of resolving it. Don’t forget to account for the hassle of not being able to drive the car while it’s being fixed.
When negotiating on price with the dealer or seller, explain the information identified on the report and set out the amount of discount you are looking for. It is worth setting this amount higher than you would be willing to settle for, as they’re bound to try playing you at your own negotiating game!
Effective negotiation
Negotiating doesn’t mean you can’t be friendly and courteous. But you should definitely try to maintain a little mystery about exactly what you’re looking for, how much you’re willing to pay and your financial position. Often, car dealers will make you a better offer subject to you taking out a finance deal, so don’t tell them you’re paying by cash too early on.
Be confident. Instead of saying, “Will you give me a discount”, try saying, “How much discount will you give me?” If they won’t give you the discount you’re looking for, explain that you would be willing to buy the car there and then if you can come to an agreement on the price. If that doesn’t work? Walk away. Take some time to reflect – they might even call you with a counteroffer.
Negotiate a better price with Car Guide
If you want to save time and money during the process of buying a used car, check out Car Guide today.
Car Guide’s Buyer’s Report enables you to access a mix of proprietary and industry data relating to the car you’re considering buying. Our Buyer’s Report which also includes true cost of ownership, will provide you with all the information you’ll need to confidently negotiate a better price.
Reveal its history, future risks and costs
