Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles: Can Their Prices Be Negotiated?

Most shoppers understand that if they’re in the market for a car, they can get a cheaper one if they buy used or certified pre-owned. This second option is a smart way to go because you’re still getting a relatively new vehicle that doesn’t have many miles on it. 

Also, the seller is usually the vehicle’s manufacturer. They will have done a multiple-point inspection to ensure that everything is in good working order before making the car available for resale.

You can visit the Northside Auto Group, San Antonio residents, if you’re thinking about going the certified pre-owned route. You may be curious about whether the price of such vehicles can be negotiated, though. Let’s talk about that now.

You Can Negotiate for Any Vehicle

Let’s start by answering the question of whether you can negotiate for a certified pre-owned vehicle in the most general sense. For the most part, any vehicle that you might buy is subject to a price negotiation. That includes brand-new, certified pre-owned, or used.

However, just because you go into a dealership intent on haggling, that doesn’t necessarily mean a salesperson or manager will be willing to do the same. Usually, if the dealership is feeling pressure to make more sales at that particular moment, then you may have the advantage in these types of negotiations. It can be difficult to tell if you have that advantage or not, though.

If you go to a dealership toward the end of the calendar year, they might be more willing to drop the price on some of their stock. You can also try going toward the end of the month. If a salesperson has a quota they are trying to meet, they may be more open to a significant price reduction. 

Know the Price Point You Can’t Go Beyond

You have no way of knowing, as a buyer, how low a car lot would be willing to go on the price of any particular vehicle. However, if you propose something that’s far below the asking price, then that’s probably a waste of time. 

A minor price reduction is probably more realistic. If the dealership won’t drop the price, then getting more favorable terms on a warranty might yield more value for you as a consumer.

You should always have a number in mind beyond which you’re not willing to go. If you can’t get the car at that number, and you can’t afford to spend even one penny beyond that, then maybe you can’t get that particular vehicle. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Walk Away

With that in mind, don’t be afraid to walk away from the dealership empty handed if they won’t give you a number that works for you. There are always other dealerships and vehicles. 

If you and the dealership are very close on the price you want to pay and the number at which they’re willing to part with the vehicle, that’s when you might strike a deal that seems favorable for both sides.