1. Be Honest and Communicate

Trust is an important part of any negotiation and established only through honesty and communication. Be up front with the dealer about what you want from the beginning.

2. Educate Yourself

Make use of all of the resources available to you. The internet is a vast source of information, but experienced professionals such as sales representatives and loan officers are also knowledgeable and available to answer questions.

3. Don’t Overpay

The many services available to you on this site will help you make an informed decision on your next vehicle purchase, including financial calculators, manufacturer rebates, local dealer discounts, AutoCheck® used vehicle history reports, and Black Book™ new and used vehicle pricing.

4. Get Low Interest Financing

Pre-approval for an auto loan from your credit union is often the best way to get the best interest rate and lowest monthly payment on your next vehicle purchase. Shop around for the lowest interest rate.

5. Protect Your Purchase

Read and speak to your loan officer about the warranties, extended service contracts, and insurance available through your credit union before making your purchase. Dealers make substantial profit on these “back end” products and your credit union can save you money.

6. Best Time to Buy

Dealers, pressured to meet monthly quotas, make fifty percent of their total monthly sales after the 20th each month making it the ideal time make a deal. Selection may be better at the beginning of the month before the end of the month push.