Can you negotiate below MSRP if you are pre-approved?

mrpoopyface

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Jul 6, 2024
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I'm bringing a pre-approved letter to negotiate. It's with 10k I can put down on it. However, do you think dealers can knock off a few thousand if you come in pre-approved?
 
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I'm bringing a pre-approved letter to negotiate. It's with 10k I can put down on it. However, do you think dealers can knock off a few thousand if you come in pre-approved?
Most likely not as there is a list of people willing to pay full price or above waiting for a phone call.
Also remember, they make additional money with financing, so even coming in with an all cash offer isn't their best deal anymore
 
I'm bringing a pre-approved letter to negotiate. It's with 10k I can put down on it. However, do you think dealers can knock off a few thousand if you come in pre-approved?

A dealer can always discount, doesn’t mean they’re willing to though.

If you have to have the shiny new toy while it’s still a hot commodity you probably don’t get a discount. Either wait a year or two, or pay to play.
 
I agree with those above....... most have the attitude "if you don't buy it the next one will" I got very lucky today when I purchased mine (all cash). My daughter's friend's husband is the sales manager. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time and was able to pick it up at MSRP + dealers add-on junk and still saved 8K over the first deal I had made (still hasn't arrived at the dealer yet).
 
I'm bringing a pre-approved letter to negotiate. It's with 10k I can put down on it. However, do you think dealers can knock off a few thousand if you come in pre-approved?
Whether you put $1 or $10,000 or $100,000 I really doubt you will get anything off MSRP. If you can get it at MSRP without a markup or unwanted garbage, that is a win.
 
I've been told by my buddy who has worked in finance at a dealership forever that towards the end of a fiscal month or fiscal quarter is when a consumer has the best chance of getting a better price. I'm not saying it's fact so take it as anecdotal but maybe could work in your favor. I got my LC mid trim discounted about $1800 under MSRP. But, I also found a dealer who doesn't do any market adjustments. Plenty of others included required warranties I didn't want or market adjustments. So, a lot of it probably depends on the individual dealership and local supply and demand when it comes to how good of a deal you can get. Also, how much are you willing to sacrifice on what you want versus what is available on the lot etc.
 
After my sales was complete and I had the keys, I asked some questions to the Manager.

He told me all the LC/FEs are allocated to dealers, so they can't get another one unless they strike a dealer-to-dealer deal.

The LC allocations are based on the Tacoma and 4 Runner sales. They have sold a ton of both so they got 30+ allocations. They got 2 FE allocations and purchased 2 FEs at retail from another dealer.
 
Agreed with not getting off MSRP. The LC and GX are so hot right now most dealers can ignore/say no to you and just wait for the next guy.

My preferred Toyota dealer (ONE Toyota Oakland) has most cars under MSRP. The popular ones are at MSRP until the popularity comes down, then you start seeing the downward dealership adjustments.
 
I'm bringing a pre-approved letter to negotiate. It's with 10k I can put down on it. However, do you think dealers can knock off a few thousand if you come in pre-approved?

1958s have been discounted for a while now and Southeast Toyota dealers just received a train full of allocations (each dealer seems to have 10-15 each). I would actually wait a month and ask for $1-2K off at least.

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It really depends on the dealer. Inventory is slowly catching up. Dealers have unbelievable overhead and the vast majority of them have been bleeding money the last year or so. They need to sell in order to keep cash flow coming in.
MSRP is very common. Just decide what you want, find a reputable dealer, put a deposit down, and you will get one at MSRP in a timely manner.
 
It really depends on the dealer. Inventory is slowly catching up. Dealers have unbelievable overhead and the vast majority of them have been bleeding money the last year or so. They need to sell in order to keep cash flow coming in.
MSRP is very common. Just decide what you want, find a reputable dealer, put a deposit down, and you will get one at MSRP in a timely manner.

Bleeding my ass. Market forces work both direction. After recording profits for 2+ years straight... the market has switched and there's a glut of new (overpriced) vehicles on the lot.

Blame the carmakers to jacking up new car prices. I argue MSRP for oversupplied vehicles is too much to pay. Nobody should pay MSRP on a Tundra... $5-8K discount is the norm. Same with Jeeps - ask for $10K off.

LCs are flooding the market and are wildly overpriced for what they are. $2-5K off should be the norm by the end of the year.
 
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