Learning The New Car Invoice Cost
To make a profit, new car dealers buy vehicles at (lower) wholesale prices and sell them at (higher) retail prices. Specifically, they buy cars at the new car invoice price and resell them to the public at close to the sticker price. So car shoppers who want the best deal must first discover the new car invoice prices to make sure they are not overpaying. This actual figure seems to be quite mystical to the general public as well as to employees of the dealership. Only the owners really know exactly what they paid for each vehicle at the wholesale level. However, when shopping around for the best deal, we find that one dealership may quote a particular price, then a completely different price will be quoted at the next dealer. The consumer should understand that the wholesale cost any dealer pays is the same, regardless of their size or location. Expenses are added to the new car invoice prices as the dealers factor in the delivery fees charged by the manufacturer. However, this number is the same regardless of the location of the dealer. This figure is just tacked on to the individual cost of the vehicle that is passed on to the consumer. Where things change from one dealer to the next is the financing that dealers take out directly from the manufacturer to pay for their vehicle purchases. They must pay interest on this financing.
Floorplan is the term used in the industry to describe such financing to dealers. If a vehicle sells quickly, there will be less interest to pay, thereby reducing expenses so the dealer makes a bigger profit. What is commonly referred to as holdback is where the dealer gets a rebate from the manufacturer after the vehicle sells. Advertising on a regional or individual basis could also be a factor in increasing the wholesale cost which will affect the consumer at the point of purchase. That being said, it is time to do some calculations and discover one or more ways to end up with a new car but at a discounted price below wholesale. To be a smart consumer means to take advantage of situations that arise, such as slow car sales. Manufacturers do not appreciate a huge inventory sitting idle on a lot because it means a reduction of orders. Therefore, in order to be profitable and move their inventory along, the manufacturers provide incentives to both dealers and consumers. We have all heard of the various incentives they offer, like zero percent financing, low lease rates, rebates, etc. It is important to explain that consumers must be reasonable when expecting to purchase below the invoice price. If there is no help coming from the manufacturer, it just isn’t possible because this really is a combined effort. Consumers who miss out on a temporary incentive should know that these programs are often followed by new programs that might be even better.