Buying a used car - haggle?

[earlydoors42]

I need to buy a car fairly soon. I haven't got one to trade in as mine died last year. I know all car prices are high at the moment and a garage told me they have a real shortage of cheap, small cars.

Am I supposed to haggle? Or am I supposed to pay the price they are asking? If I haggle, how do I do it?

Thank you

Shortage of vehicles is one reason for a sellers market but cheap small cars are always popular anyway.
If you don't have a trade in then you may have some chance of a discount but it's not guaranteed. Haggling has become less common with many garages point blank refusing to deal and the cheaper the vehicle the less wiggle room for the purchaser anyway.
All you can do is thoroughly inspect the car and note anything that might incur immediate post- purchase costs eg badly worn tyres , shortish MOT (although any reputable dealer should supply a new or long MoT), noticeable exhaust fumes etc. Base your offer on your findings and offer appropriately. They can but say no. Refuse dealer credit and extras.
Google the garage and check dealer reviews.

I have never paid asking price on a used vehicle. Although if you are doing a part exchange they usually do it by upping what they give you for that than reducing their price loads.

I usually start of by finding out what they offer for mine, telling them I like the car I’m interested in buying, but in my opinion it’s priced high and go from there. I often let them know I have another vehicle else where I’ve short listed to add a bit of pressure. The fact that I have always managed to bring the price down tells me they are priced higher than what they expect to get.

Thank you for the help, it's much appreciated

If you don't ask you don't get :)

That's what my dad always said anyway. The worst that can happen is they will say sorry, no. And thn you can decide to pay what they're asking or not. They won't bundle you up and throw you out the door

Ha I guess not! It's just not knowing if they think I'm stupid for paying the asking price or cheeky to try to pay less

I bought a new second hand car in the first lockdown , I am quite good at haggling and comfortable to do so , but there wasn't any give from the seller due to the shortage , first time I've never got a knock down on price , it's just how it is now I think

There’s not many discounts out there at the moment, it’s a combination of stock shortage and having to price competitively on sites such as Autotrader. If you’re not priced competitively you simply won’t get the enquiries and as such that leaves less wriggle room than you might have had historically.

I think it depends on what you are buying and who from but on the whole yes I would haggle but car market is volatile so don't expect a huge discount. Is it new or used is the first issue.

For used Look at auto trader for prices for private and dealer sales. Dealers might add a 'free warrenty' or service or tank of fuel etc. but will list prices higher

Also depends on price point more wiggle room the more expensive. And the type of car eg a 2015 Ford Fiesta vs something rarer. They are so many fiesta you can walk away and get a good deal elsewhere.

Good luck - also hate buying cars DH sees it as a hobby.

Thank you. I am looking at used cars. I was hoping for very cheap but there's nothing really in that bracket! I have looked on AutoTrader and they do seem to say things like "good price - £160 lower than expected" so that makes sense about not really having room to move much. Thanks all for the information. I am getting to the point of really needing a car but just can't face even looking! Need to pull my finger out

Could you put the vehicle reg in "we buy any car.com" and see how much they would give the seller, and compare if to what they are asking for and take it from there?

@DenholmElliot

Could you put the vehicle reg in "we buy any car.com" and see how much they would give the seller, and compare if to what they are asking for and take it from there?

But the price from webuyanycar is significantly below what you could expect to get from a private sale. It’s for people who can’t be arsed with the hassle. Their advert even pretty much says that.