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Success Story: Michael
Everyone loves a good success story. At CarEdge, we take great pride in giving our customers the knowledge and confidence they need when they’re buying a car.
Today, we’re going to meet Michael. Michael was in the market for a specific make and model of vehicle, but the only dealer in town wasn’t offering him a fair deal. Thankfully, Michael was a member of CarEdge, and the knowledge he gained enabled him to get his dream car without facing a nightmare at the dealership.
The Right Car at the Wrong Dealer
In the past, Michael had found it easier to lease his vehicles, which gave him the flexibility of a new car every few years. But one day, Michael fell in love with a vehicle model that was no longer available in new condition. So he decided to make the switch from leasing to buying a used vehicle.
Michael faced just one small problem: The vehicle of his dreams was only available at a particular dealership. But Michael was confident that he had the tools and know-how to get the best deal. Michael knew that the dealership had a $699 non-negotiable delivery fee, but he was willing to pay that price because he knew the dealer had a “no-haggle” policy.
Michael deliberately began his car-buying process by evaluating his trade-in. Michael had done his homework. He had shopped his trade-in around, getting online quotes from some of the major providers like we recommend, and eventually received one offer that was $2,000 more than the competition. Unfortunately, this dealer wasn’t so generous. They made an offer, but it was lower than almost any online offer Michael had received. What could he do?
Michael Came Prepared
Thankfully, Michael came prepared. As a member of CarEdge, Michael had been reviewing our materials and watching our videos to learn the vocabulary and tools to get his best deal. After becoming a member, he was able to perform his own analysis by running market reports, looking at reviews, and gaining the knowledge he would need before ever contacting a dealership.
Before he became a member of CarEdge, Michael felt confident in his knowledge of cars. But after investing time studying and reviewing our resources, Michael was amazed at the new depth of his knowledge.
Turning Knowledge Into Savings
Michael’s new knowledge came in handy now that he had entered the car-buying process.
The Highest Trade-In Value
First, he told the dealership that one of their competitors had provided an offer on his trade-in that was $2,000 more than what they were offering.
The dealer agreed to match this quote if Michael could provide a scanned copy of the quote. Michael assured the salesperson that if they could match the price, he’d be willing to purchase the car that same day.
As a premium member you get access to our Valuations tool that is powered by Black Book. Become a member to get access. You can print the value of your vehicle to show the dealer.
True to their word, the dealer offered Michael a trade-in value that was even better than before, offering $2200 more than their initial quote. Michael had won his first battle, but the sales war was far from over!
The Lowest Interest Rate
Michael and the dealer worked out all the details of the trade and the car he wanted to buy. Michael knew that he had excellent credit, which would allow him to qualify for around 3% financing from his local bank. The dealer, on the other hand, offered a rate of 4.4%.
When Michael challenged this figure and asked for the buy rate, he noticed a change in the conversation. The dealer knew that Michael was not their average customer. They promised to “see what we can do.” Within an hour, Michael received a phone call from the dealer—this time offering him a rate of 2.4%. Michael wasn’t merely excited; he felt satisfied that his research had paid off!
Avoiding Expensive Add-Ons
That’s when the dealer offered a $40 discount on a Vehicle Service Contract (VSC) package. This, they assured him, would “only” raise his monthly payment by the slightest amount. Michael, however, saw through their sales tactic. When Michael requested the actual price of the service contract (and not just the monthly rate), he discovered that the dealer was trying to add on $6,000 worth of services and products.
Michael politely declined. Thanks to his membership at CarEdge, he had a quote for a VSC in the amount of $2,400.
Perhaps Michael said it best: “The true success and value of CarEdge is shown here. Completed the deal without an extra 2% interest and without $6,000 of add-ons because I was prepared. Got an extra $200 over the highest offer on my trade (and over $2k more than their original offer) because I asked them to beat it to get my business. I was comfortable enough to push back. I was ready so that I could get my Ray Shefska Stamp of Approval, I think that even working with a no-haggle dealer, I can get one here.”
Michael’s Story Can Be Your Story
Ultimately, Michael got his dream car, thanks to the knowledge he gained through CarEdge. Our online resources gave Michael the knowledge and confidence he needed to push back and get the best deal possible.
Michael’s story can be your story! No one likes feeling like they’re being taken for a ride at the car dealership. Before you contact a dealer, check out some of our resources. Consider becoming a member, like Michael, so that you can have the confidence to get your next vehicle at the price you deserve.
What’s a Better Value in 2021: Used or New?
Updated September 22, 2021
One of the oldest pieces of wisdom that people have passed around about buying a car is that it’s always better to buy a used car. In fact, nearly 70% of Americans say they would consider buying a used car, according to Cision. Is this age-old wisdom always true when it comes to used vs. new cars? What about in a strange year like 2021?
Today, we’re going to take a look at several factors that influence the new vs. used car buying decision, including factors that are unique to 2021.
When we compare used vs. new car values, we’re comparing equivalent vehicles that vary primarily based on model year. We all know that a 10 year old car will cost less than a brand-new car, so we need to compare equivalents (the same make, model, and trim) to honestly address the question, “Should I buy a new or used car?”
What’s Unique in 2021?
We all know that 2020 and 2021 have presented the world with unique problems. One of these problems is a semiconductor shortage. Semiconductors, also referred to as integrated circuits, ICs, and “chips,” are used in nearly every electronic device, which means there is a generally constant (and increasing) demand for them.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, semiconductor manufacturers had to shut down and then re-open with new safety restrictions. Doing so hurt productivity, along with the productivity of the entire supply chain.
Since it takes so much time to produce a semiconductor, it has been a slow struggle to catch up to the demand that multiple industries are placing on chipmakers.
You may be interested in this deep dive on How We Ran out of Cars in the US.
The second issue is related to other inputs that are required to manufacture vehicles.
Earlier in 2021 there was a severe winter storm that hit Texas and knocked their power grid offline. This storm resulted in oil refineries halting production, including the production of byproducts. One of these byproducts is used in foam seats in cars. Because of this, many automakers were struggling to secure foam so that they can continue to produce new cars.
There was also a rubber shortage that effected automakers.
More recently, we’ve seen automaker struggle securing other raw materials, such as resins and steel.
All of these factors have made 2021 a unique year in which to purchase a car. Keep these factors in mind as we proceed to examine which is better value; new or used cars.
Used vs. New Car: Comparing Current Value
Let’s begin with the most important attribute: Value. What is the current value of the car that you’d like to buy? You must understand the current value to decide whether to buy new or used.
We recommend using our Market Price Report to help determine the value of the car that you’re after. Our report will compare actual sales prices from various dealerships in your area to determine what a fair price might be for the car.
Run a Market Price Report for the target car that you have in mind. The price that we suggest as a fair price isn’t the entire story. To understand the full price that you can expect to pay, you’ll need to click through to the website of the dealership selling the car. Read through their listing and look for any manufacturer or dealership incentives.
You may discover that there is a $3,500 rebate on your car or some sort of dealer incentive for financing that will impact the purchase price. There may even be credits or rebates that apply to certain people, such as first responders and members of the military.
Deduct the dealer incentives from the price that we’re telling you is fair and you’ll have a great idea about the current value of the car.
You’re not done yet! To truly compare apples to apples for a used vs. new car, run another Market Price Report for a used car variant of the same make and model. For example, if your new car was a 2021 Honda Accord, you might run a new report for a 2019 Honda Accord.
Do the same thing and click through to the dealership website. Notice how there are no added discounts, incentives, or credits? Used cars generally do not have any added discounts.
Also use the Valuation Report in the app to get a sense of what a dealer would charge for the used car. Check out our guide to the Black Book value, which is used by many dealers.
Now, you have an excellent idea about the true value of both new and used cars for the make and model you’re interested in. Even though you can now answer the question about which one is a better value, there’s much more to consider before you make your purchase.
Used vs. New Car: The Negotiability Factor
The price that someone is asking for a car is hardly ever going to be the actual price that someone else pays, something that’s true for both new and used cars. As such, to truly answer the question at hand, you need to consider how much you can negotiate with the seller.
When you run a Market Price Report, you’ll see a negotiability score towards the top. This score is calculated based on how long the car has been on the lot as compared to the average in the region. If a car has been on the lot for 70 days and the average in the area is 20 days, you’ll likely have some great luck negotiating for that car.
As such, when you’re comparing new vs. used car values, you need to keep in mind how much you can potentially negotiate off of the vehicle. There’s always plenty of room to negotiate with a new car, but the attitude with used cars is often “the price is the price.” Keep this in mind as you determine whether to buy a new or used car.
Negotiating doesn’t just happen when you’re haggling down the MSRP, it also happens when you’re seeking financing. Speaking in generalities, you’ll receive better financing offers when you’re buying a new car, along with having more room to negotiate on those offers. Used cars are usually a bit more cut and dry.
Used vs. New Car: Comparing Warranties & Condition
What difference does a warranty make in the used vs. new car battle? Your new car is going to come with some type of warranty to protect you from manufacturer’s defects. It may even have another warranty for powertrain components. Additionally, the car will be in factory-perfect condition, so you won’t need to worry about a pre-purchase inspection.
On the other hand, a used car is going to have whatever may be left on the warranty from when the car was initially bought. In many situations, that means there will be no warranty or that you only have a year or two left. Plus, you’ll absolutely need a pre-purchased inspection to make sure that you have a solid understanding of its condition.
Should you buy new or used? How important is the warranty to you? If it’s vital, then new cars are the way to go.
New or Used Car: Which Way Should You Go?
You should do the leg work to determine whether a new or used car is better in your exact situation. Our tools will do most of the hard work for you, but you still need to use them to determine whether a new car is better than a used car for the make and model you’re investigating.
When it comes to 2021, our conclusion is that buying a new car is generally the way to go, due to the material shortages that are impacting the industry. These shortages have raised the prices for used cars, which are more in demand, although this may change as the year goes on. While you may not have as much room to negotiate with a new car, you’ll still find more value with a new car than with a used car that has a temporarily inflated price.
Anyone looking to buy a car, whether it’s used or new, will benefit from using our Market Price Report. You can run three searches for free, which allows you to compare cars and make your ultimate decision. Head on over to the Market Price Report and run one today!
What Can I Learn from a CarFax Report?
Understanding the history of a used car before you buy it is vital, but it can sometimes be difficult to get a full and accurate picture. Some sellers may lie about the condition of a vehicle or simply not remember everything that’s happened to it. This is where a CarFax report comes in.
We always recommend getting a pre-purchase inspection on any used vehicle you are considering purchasing, however at a bare minimum you need to get your hands on the vehicle’s history report.
What is a CarFax report? It’s a simple document that sheds light on the entire history of a given vehicle, starting from the time that it was manufactured. Understanding all of this information can help you to decide whether you want to buy the car, assist in negotiations, and let you understand what to expect from the car in the future.
Let’s take a look at what else you can learn from these important reports.
What is a CarFax Report?
CarFax was founded in 1984 as a method to use data center tools to track and prevent odometer fraud. These days, CarFax maintains a database of over 6 billion vehicles in the United States and Canada.
An individual consumer or dealership can pay a fee to CarFax, along with the VIN for the car in question, and CarFax will present a detailed report about that vehicle.
So what’s on a CarFax report? There’s usually plenty of data to help consumers make an informed purchase decision. The data from CarFax comes from over 100,000 different sources. Much of the data on a CarFax report comes from police departments, since they are the first responders that handle major and minor car accidents. Other sources of data include insurance companies and auto body shops.
What’s on a CarFax Report?
CarFax reports are broken down into several important sections. The section that’s particularly important for private sales is labeled “Title.” This is where the Department of Motor Vehicles’ information is listed.
Ensuring that the owner shown on the title matches the name of the person you’re buying from (if you’re not buying from a dealership, that is) will go far in keeping you out of trouble. This section will also inform you if the car has a salvaged title. It can even tell you if the car has been reported as stolen (run the other direction if it is).
Salvaged titles are not necessarily a lost cause. A salvage title means that the vehicle was in an accident and was declared to be totaled by an insurance company. After it was declared to be totaled, someone else took it upon themselves to repair the vehicle and put it back on the road. Salvaged vehicles might not have anything wrong with them, but you should still be wary of getting into a salvaged vehicle, since there are likely to be a lot of unknown factors.
The next section on the CarFax vehicle history report will simply list the mileage of the vehicle. It’s okay if there are some differences here, but they should be minor. Any major difference in the mileage is a red flag and could indicate odometer fraud. Typically speaking, though, differences in the mileage report only mean that the record hasn’t been updated as further miles were driven.
A CarFax report will also list how many owners the car has had. In an ideal world, you would want to buy a car with as few owners as possible. Generally, this means that the car hasn’t been passed around too frequently. A car with too many owners is a mild red flag, as this can be associated with certain types of fraud. Take note that CarFax does not collect nor report the names and addresses of previous owners.
On top of understanding how many people have owned the car, you’ll also learn whether the vehicle was used commercially, in a lease, or as a ride-sharing vehicle. This information can help you to understand what you’re getting into, since commercially owned vehicles will generally have more miles and may have been treated a bit rougher in the past. A ride-sharing vehicle can have its own problems, too, including a more worn interior and rougher suspension.
On a CarFax vehicle history report, you’ll learn if there are any active recalls that pertain to the vehicle. If you see a major recall affecting the target vehicle, ask whether it’s been addressed. If not, ask for a discount, since you’ll have to deal with the recall.
Most recalls are for a specific component. If a component has been recalled, it means that the car needs to be taken into a dealership for service. If you buy a used car and immediately have to address a recall, it can be a significant inconvenience (which often means it’s a good idea to ask for a discount).
Most importantly, a CarFax vehicle history report will tell you the accident history of the target vehicle. Details about the accident should be provided as well. Understanding whether a vehicle has been in an accident can help you to make your purchase decision. If you do proceed with the purchase, you can use the accident as leverage during the negotiations.
CarFax will let you know whether any car accidents resulted in airbag deployments or severe structural damage. If you see either of these types of damage listed, you should proceed with extreme caution. But even if you see a severe collision listed on a CarFax report, you should ask questions about the accident and ask for documentation about the repairs.
While collisions are certainly the main source of damage to cars, they are not the only one. A CarFax report can also show if there was any significant damage from fire, hail, or floods. Hail damage can be repaired without much issue, but stay away from cars that have been in a fire or a flood. Both of these types of damage can compromise the safety of the vehicle and result in costly repairs down the road, even if the initial damage was already repaired.
What is a “Clean” Report?
You’ll often hear people say that a certain car has a “clean” CarFax report. This means that there was no information found that was concerning.
It’s worth noting that a clean CarFax report doesn’t mean that the vehicle is perfect and worthy of being purchased. Sometimes, information can be misreported or otherwise mishandled so that it doesn’t show up on a CarFax report. For example, this might happen if someone failed to report a fender bender.
Other times, data may not show up because it didn’t come from the right sources. For example, an auto body shop might report that they worked on a car and replaced the rear fender, but if their report didn’t contain any information about the accident that caused the damage in the first place, it may not show up on the CarFax report as an accident.
When Should I Request a Report?
It’s a good idea for anyone that is buying a used car to purchase a CarFax report before they sign on the dotted line. Many car dealerships are happy to provide a copy of the CarFax report for the vehicles that they sell.
You need to do everything you can to make sure that you’re buying a worthy vehicle, not a lemon that’ll break down on you next week. Test drives are one way to do that, and pre-purchase inspections are another way. Consider CarFax reports to be yet another tool in your toolbox when you want to make sure that you’re getting a good deal.
If you see any red flags appear on a CarFax report, it’s up to you to bring it up to the seller. Ask them whether there is a reasonable explanation for the things that came up on the report. You may end up hearing a string of excuses, but in some cases, you may get information that can alleviate your concerns.
Should I Get a CarFax Report?
As of 2021, one CarFax report costs $39.99, with discounts for volume as you increase the number of reports. Considering how much you’re likely to spend on the car, this is a minor expense that’s usually well worth the cost, especially if you end up using the information to negotiate the purchase price for your vehicle.
If you’re working with a used car dealer, ask them to supply a CarFax report for the vehicle that you’re interested in. It’s in their best interests to show that they have confidence in their cars and they usually don’t mind paying the small fee. If they won’t provide you with a report, it might be time to move on to the next dealership.
If you’re working with a private seller, on the other hand, don’t expect them to provide you with a CarFax report — you’ll most likely have to purchase your own as part of your due diligence on the vehicle.
Remember to buy a pre-purchase inspection alongside your CarFax report, which can help you to have all of the information you need to make an informed purchase decision.
Success Story: Mike C.
We love hearing from our CarEdge members about their recent car deals. It’s always wonderful to see the ways they’ve used our solutions to negotiate and secure an excellent deal on their next car.
Today, we’ll take a look at a story from Mike C. about his recent car purchase. He used our solutions to expertly land a deal that he was extremely happy with. That’s what it’s all about. Let’s dive in!
Background: A Thoroughly Researched Decision
Mike had a 2017 Buick Envision with a warranty that was about to expire. Not wanting to drive a car without a warranty, he started researching his options for buying a new car 8 months before he stepped foot on the lot at a dealership.
He discovered CarEdge on YouTube while researching car reviews. He was “instantly impressed” and began watching videos and taking notes. He even went through our Deal School.
After researching different options, Mike decided to pursue a new 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited. Mike’s initial plan was to wait until the end of March (per Ray’s advice), but after noticing that his bid from Carvana for his Buick increased, he decided it was time to act.
Due to the chip shortage, used vehicle prices are rising fast. Become a member to get the latest prices on used cars powered by Black Book. Black Book is the guide many dealers use when valuing a trade-in.
Using our email templates, Mike reached out to eight dealerships in the area. Seven dealerships replied with out-the-door (OTD) prices. He then used the lowest of the eight OTD prices to negotiate with the other dealerships. Although he received a few excuses about why they couldn’t lower their price, he eventually heard back from one of the dealerships with a price that Mike considered to be fair.
According to Mike, “Your email templates were invaluable. They quickly identified the motivated dealers in the area.”
He printed off all of the documentation from us, along with his Carvana quote, and headed into the dealership.
At the Dealership: Efficient and Effective
Mike had already negotiated the OTD price over email. When he arrived at the dealership, he verified all the numbers with the sales manager, and “Deal 1,” as Mike puts it, was done in minutes.
“Deal 2” was trading in Mike’s current vehicle, his Buick. Initially, the sales manager said he couldn’t even get close to the trade-in value that Mike wanted. Then, Mike showed them the Black Book numbers that we provided him in the Market Price Report, along with Carvana’s offer. With all of this evidence presented, the sales manager agreed to come up to $20,600, which was acceptable.
In the F&I Office: A Quick Decline
The “friendly but assertive” F&I manager struck out when he started to offer Mike different protection packages and vehicle service contracts. Mike simply said no.
You don’t have to purchase a vehicle service contract at the dealership. See if a vehicle service contract is right for you.
He also verified that there was no early payment penalty on financing. The F&I manager said there was not a penalty, but that if he didn’t wait 90 days to pay off the loan, then it would result in a chargeback to the dealership.
Two hours after arriving, Mike and his wife drove away with a brand-new Hyundai Santa Fe.
An Easy, Yet Excellent Deal
Let’s evaluate Mike’s deal. He graciously provided us with all of the figures, which are:
- MSRP was $40,395 + dealer add-ons (tint, nitro, wheel locks, pinstripe and more) at $1,767 for a total price of $42,162
- Dealer sales price was $37,900, less $1,250 in Hyundai rebates
- Doc fee of $150
- TTL of $193
- Sales tax of $1,084.82
- Total OTD price was $38,077.82
Mike admits that there was probably room for improvement (and there always is), but he’s happy with the deal he received. He tells us that the deal he landed was as good as he could’ve hoped. Considering that the 2021 Santa Fe Limited had only been out for 2 months, Mike says he thinks that he got the best price possible.
We agree with Mike. It looks like he got a great deal. He used our tools to expertly find out all of the background information that he needed to negotiate. We especially like the way he utilized our email templates to get dealerships to negotiate against each other.
As Mike put it when reflecting on his transaction, “The power of knowledge cannot be denied. CarEdge access to days on lot, price history, and Black Book values are info sources of immense importance. Your deal school is an awesome body of work and will help just about every auto consumer. Some of the content I already knew, but I learned so much more. Your email templates were invaluable. They quickly identified the motivated dealers in the area.”
“All considered, my wife and I are really, really happy. Thank you for the time and effort you saved us. The time spent watching your videos was well worth it, given the info and entertainment value. Thank you for the money saved. Thank you for making the whole buying process just about stress-free.”
Well done and congratulations, Mike! We hope you enjoy your brand-new Santa Fe Limited.
Have you learned something new about buying, selling, or trading in a car as a CarEdge member? Share your story with us!
Success Story: Melissa
We love to hear success stories from the members at CarEdge. It’s great to see how people are putting our tools and information to use and securing excellent deals on their new purchases, sales, and trade-ins.
Today, we’re going to share a success story from Melissa. She doesn’t quite have her car in-hand due to the chip shortage, but she’s already secured a great price for her trade-in.
We’ll go over how she researched her negotiation, pushed when the dealership wouldn’t budge, and how she feels about the entire transaction. Let’s take a look at how Melissa negotiated the process and what she learned along the way.
Background: A Well-Researched Car Purchase
Melissa tells us that she started researching which car to buy in 2020, but that she only recently found CarEdge in early 2021.
One of the first things that she remembers learning from us was that she needed to negotiate her trade-in and new car purchase as two separate transactions. Prior to that, she never thought it would be important to separate the two, and since she was about to trade-in her car, she was happy to learn a new trick.
Do you have a vehicle to trade in? Read the full guide to trading in your car.
After she signed up for CarEdge and became familiar with our dashboard, Melissa began to use our “trade in valuation” tool powered by Black Book, the same valuation book dealers use.. She tells us that she immediately put that into good use, since she was working with several dealerships at the same time.
On one of our live streams, Melissa had her deal picked to go through an examination with our trade-in analyzer. This is a segment in our live streams where we pick a member’s deal and analyze it live.
During this stream, she learned about some pre-trade negotiation strategies. Melissa also benefited from another CarEdge member, Larry R, who shared some insights into what the tax benefit would be if she traded her vehicle in versus selling it to Carvana or Vroom.
With all of these facts and figures in place, Melissa was ready to head to the dealership to complete some final negotiations on her trade-in.
At the Dealership: One More Push
Although she had done a lot of the legwork upfront via email, Melissa made an appointment to visit a car dealership to finalize selling her trade-in. She decided to try to get more value out of her trade-in.
The salesperson was visibly upset, since they had already prepared the paperwork. As such, they were dismissive of her attempt to negotiate. They tried to push her to sign the documents and move along with the sale that had been negotiated via email.
She didn’t give in, however. Melissa made it clear that she knew used vehicle prices were skyrocketing due to the microchip shortage and that this wouldn’t stop anytime soon. She told them that she knew that car dealerships tend to make more money on used cars than new cars and it would be worthwhile for them to pay more for the trade-in.
Her point was further cemented when she let them know that she had already received multiple quotes from online price books and other dealerships for her vehicle, so she knew what her trade-in was worth.
Having the trade-in value that was provided by Black Book, the same value the dealer was using, helped Melissa to understand the value she should be receiving for her trade-in. Her persistence paid off and the dealership ultimately caved in and gave her another $200 for her trade-in.
After the Fact: A Deal Handled Perfectly
Melissa reported that on the same evening she traded her vehicle in, it showed up on the dealer’s website. The car dealership was asking for $3,690 more than what she received for it. Considering that a good part of that difference usually comes from reconditioning costs to prepare the vehicle for a new buyer, she was happy with the amount that she received from the deal.
Melissa is still waiting for her new car to be manufactured and shipped out. Unfortunately, the chip shortage has customers all around the world waiting for their cars to arrive. Melissa did not mention the make and model of the car that she’s buying, but we hope that she likes her new car when it comes in.
A Happy Member and a Trade-In Deal Negotiated Well
Melissa was very pleased with the value that she received for her trade-in. She’s grateful that she found our tools and was prepared to bring up the effect of the chip shortages at the dealership.
In her opinion, she’s saved over $4,000 compared to what she would have paid without CarEdge. We’re glad you negotiated a great price on your trade-in, Melissa!
