Develop Negotiation Tactics When Selling Your Car

It is important to develop your negotiation tactics before you even enter the car dealer's premises.

Negotiating with car dealers can be a daunting experience - these hardened professionals are experts at squeezing consumers for every penny. However, following some simple principles can give you the confidence to negotiate a fantastic deal.

The starting point is to research the vehicle's value. Do this by consulting price guides and comparing the asking price to similar models. Once you define how much to pay consider the other factors, e.g. does the vehicle require servicing prior to sale? This process defines the deal you need to achieve.

Open negotiations with a realistic offer and adopt a 'give and take' approach. This prevents you making concessions without receiving something in return, i.e. only agree to 'X' if the trader agrees to 'Y'. When the dealer makes a counteroffer, perhaps including free tyres, remember to distinguish between retail and trade values. The retail price of tyres may be £400 but traders pay considerably less.

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It is also important to stay alert for traps. Professional negotiators sometimes make inflated offers for trade-ins to secure sales. This cost is recouped by overcharging for the replacement vehicle. Dealers also like to rush consumers into a decision and barrage them with irrelevances. The trick is to take your time, be assertive, and only focus on achieving the best possible deal. This confident and logical approach should ensure a successful outcome. Good luck.