Buying a car -- do you haggle?

DH and I will be buying a car in the next little while.  Is it acceptable to bargain for cars here, or do you just pay the asking price?

When my DF bought his Mini, I was surprised at the lack of haggling.  He claims it's because Mini  doesn't have to haggle, as they have the demand, but I am not sure I believe that.  He did get "extra's" thrown in, but he paid the full asking price. 

I suppose it depends on the car you are looking for, but I would say it doesn't hurt to try.  I mean....the sales person will just chalk it up to you being American. 

I suppose it depends on the car you are looking for, but I would say it doesn't hurt to try.  I mean....the sales person will just chalk it up to you being American. 

Hehe...that's true!  Must admit that I'm sometimes cheekier than I would normally be because I know people will just think it's the American way!   

Wouldn't it depend if it is new or second hand, or if you are buying from a dealer who has the authority to lower the price or chuck in extras?  If you are buying a Min, for example, new from the official Mini dealership, i'd say that haggling is pointless.  If buying second hand then do it!


Vicky

See, that's what I was wondering.  I imagine we'll start with a used car from a dealership and I've certainly haggled on those in the US...so should I do it here?

Yes.


Vicky

God yes! Always haggle whether new, used or a wreck! 

There are some places that sort of do the haggling for you, if you want to buy new try:

www.broadspeed.com

and for used but not too old try:

www.motorpoint.co.uk

Good luck!

Hi there,

In a single word..

YES!!

Always haggle no matter what!

Some more info for you...

Seeing as you've said you're going to a dealership, then I'll assume you are going for a brand new car. Get hold of Auto Express Weekly and What Car! magazines, they have excellent guides on what kind of discounts you can expect off 'Sticker' (list price) per manufacturers dealer and per model of car etc. Some cars just won't get any discounts at all, i.e like the MINI that's already been mentioned, but more than likely you will be able to get quite a substantial amount off.

buying a car in the UK has become more 'accessible' and prices have come down quite a bit over the last decade or so, you should be able to find yourself a good deal.

the best deals however are those where someone else has taken the depreciation hit and you pickup a nearly new, low miler car for thousands off the price. Only you know how 'well off' you are and maybe buying brand new is perfectly within your means for you, but I'd recommend being sharper than that, buying an almost 'new' car and with the savings putting them towards other financial deals which will make you money (investments, or savings accounts etc) or, if you feel like spending it, towards that item(s) you really wanted!

Hope that helps!

Cheers! DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Thanks, Dennis.  Yes, we'll definitely be going for a "nearly new" car -- I'd never buy a brand new car!   

Thanks for those websites, boatmad. 

Thanks for those websites, boatmad. 

My pleasure - I've bought from both the sites I quoted personally so can vouch for them first hand.

DH and I will be buying a car in the next little while.  Is it acceptable to bargain for cars here, or do you just pay the asking price?

To make your search a little more complicated but to save you money big time--There is a way to buy cars with minimal mileage that are off loaded from Japan at Southampton docks. They charge a relatively small fee to modify to comply to UK regs and they do it on the spot. Someone I rented a cottage from in wales did it. He got a Toyota.
If you knew anything about car ownership in Japan, it is strange and they change cars after maybe 10,000 miles. Something about smog rules.
Another way of savings is to buy your car on the continent for the UK. The Brits have been doing this a lotand save a significant amount of money. Yes, they are UK models, RHD.
Good luck.

Here in the East Midlands -- Our experience has been NO.  When at a dealer buying a new car... they do not haggle. They were completely unwilling and confused that we didn't seem to see or understand what the sticker said.  Duh! It came to a complete standstill and I think both sides were baffled frankly.

Buying my used car on a lot? YES did haggle and managed to get him down 500 quid..and 6 months tax. Should have gone farther.

I imagine we'll start with a used car from a dealership and I've certainly haggled on those in the US...so should I do it here?

As others have said already, yes!   On a used car, whether private or dealer, there's always room for haggling.