AIBU to haggle a car price?

[cardilemna]

when you go to a big name car garage eg AC, is it possible to haggle or negotiate prices at all? Or is that just a thing in American movies?!

I had a challenging upbringing and didn’t have parents who could exactly teach me the etiquette or the way to do things like this. I’m in the process of car shopping and I’ve heard stories or people haggling or negotiating prices like they do in movies but is that the done thing to do? I don’t want to try it and come across as rude and cheeky if it’s not what people do in real life but I also don’t want to pay more than I have to and get ripped off if other people can negotiate and it’s acceptable to do that.

TYSM in advance 😊

It's absolutely fine if you can justify it

I have never bought a used car without haggling. The last one which was a few years ago now, I ended up saying ‘I will give you £5k and my car’ (part exchange) and it was accepted. Up to him whether the discount was considered money off the car or an increase in his offer on mine 😀

I got an mot agreement on both my cars one was due less than a month so they mot it before I collected it so I had a full 12 months the other was due a couple of months after but if I paid full price they would give me a free mot and do any work needed for free

Yes you can haggle and should. They may not reduce the car but may add free warranty, or servicing etc.
If its a finance car then definitely haggle, they can alter and tick boxes change things that will bring the cost down. Give them a budget (go slightly below what your willing to pay) and see what figures come out. You'll meet a middle ground.
If you don't, there's plenty of other cars to buy so just try somewhere else.
Also don't buy a car without test driving it the way you would normally drive a car.

I always haggle (used to work in the industry a long time ago), but don't tell them that until the deal is done 😂

The last car we bought I got an extra £1000 for the trade in, 4 new tyres, only asked for two, a service and £50 quid of diesel.

The sales guy was in hysterics at me and my husband just stood back and let me do my thing.

I always make sure i'm respectful with what I ask for and already know what I'm willing to pay for the car.

If you want to say what the car you are buying is and the price, mileage etc, and if you have a trade in I can maybe help.

It depends on where you go. Some dealerships the sales reps have the ability to negotiate. Others they don't - the price is fixed and that's that. But they may still have some leeway to offer other things such as a better tradein price or free stuff. The answer may also depend whether you are paying cash or taking out finance. They often make more money from the finance than they do from selling the car.

It's always worth asking. They can only say no. But be prepared to backup your request. Find a very similar car that is available elsewhere for a lower price, and use that as a starting point. And be genuinely prepared to walk away and look elsewhere. If you aren't they will know and won't budge an inch.

Brilliant- thank you so much for all the help and tips. I’m not part exchanging although my boyfriend is looking to part ex his car and we were both looking to get new cars (him part ex and me just a new car) would it be sensible to negotiate a discount given we would potentially be buying 2 cars from them?

I've never bought a car without haggling.