Car Buying Checklist: How to buy a Car from a Dealer (The Homework Guy) Kevin Hunter

Great tips. Luckily, I'm a researcher and knew all the steps EXCEPT #1. We did factory order our Camry last year, and did make the dealer remove a few items (sunroof and navigation) from the factory order. Now, I hope to do the same again later this year with another trip to Toyota for a hybrid Crossover. Same with Hyundai if I go with another Kona. Hope be able to use Toyota SmartPath to get a good deal and not pay above MSRP, as most Toyota dealerships are still doing. If I cannot get 15-25% below MSRP, I'm walking out the door. Inventory should be up later this year and I will be a better buyer than I was in 2021.

I always negotiate the amount below msrp, no add on what so ever only factory install option. Always special order your véhicule.

Good one, Thanks

Hi K & E 😊

These aren't really secrets anymore if you watch enough Homework Guy videos 😄! But I was wondering if you could do a video on what seems to be labeled as "tax season" for used cars. Is this really a thing? Do used car prices really spike? Is it best to wait this time period out? Other channels talk a lot about this but I don't necessarily trust their content.

Another solid video.

Hey Kevin and Team, Thanks for your tips and steps in buying a new car, in particular about using Car*Max. Here is my experience with Car*Max and buying a new car in February and March of 2024. Firstly, I visited three Toyota dealerships. Only one would give my 2009 Camry LE an appraisal without test driving a new car. On the spot, a Toyota associate inspected my car, took pictures, and quoted me $2,000 for a trade in value. Two weeks later... WED: I used my car's vin number and filled out Car*Max's online appraisal questionnaire. I was quoted (online) $3,400. The quote was good for 7 days only. THURS: (Next Day) I walked into my local Car*Max office and asked someone to verify my online car quote of $3,400. An associate inspected my car onsite. Afterwards, I was sent an email from Car*Max, about 2.5 hours later, that verified the online $3,400 offer to buy my car. FRI: (Next Day) I bought a new car at the Toyota Dealership that gave my car the initial appraisal. SAT: (Next Day) I cleaned out my 2009 Camry LE, and then I took it in with all the required paperwork to Car*Max with the intent to sell my car to them. Once I met the appropriate Car*Max associate, at the appointed time, I left the office in about 30 minutes with my $3,400 check! I am glad, Kevin, you recommended that people use Car*Max for an appraisal. Thank You!

Was at a Subaru dealer , test drove a Crosstrek and they asked me what price I was looking at, Now earlier that day I was online with a dealer about an hour away & they had an almost identical Crosstrek & had a discounted price of $1,500 off the msrp & said to click on here for todays price , so i did & within a 1/2 hour they were quoting me about $2,300 off msrp which sounded great. So I had this price written down & his email printed price in my back pocket for ammunition. So when the dealer where i test drove the Crosstrek asked me what price I was looking at I had look into my paperwork and gave him a price a couple hundred bucks under the other dealers quote. So he came back and gave me a price that was about $500 higher than other dealers quote. So I told him that price was much higher than another dealers quote, so I told him their quoted price and said if you can beat their price I'd be interested. Had to show them email but they came back & beat other dealers price by about $250. So I agreed on the deal w/ no trade in & purchased the car for about $2,500 under msrp. and paid cash , but not until I got selling price & taxes & fees. And I chewed them down $1,400 on the extended warrany. My wife was happy w/ car & I thought I did pretty good on the deal. Now Im looking for a Toyota Tundra & can't find a nearby dealer that has discounted prices online or click here for todays price. But i'm finding a few dealers that are 4-12 hrs. away that are showing about 3-5% off the msrp. and i'd be willing to drive that far to pick up the Tundra but not sure I would want to drive my trade in 15' Jeep Wrangler all the way there from Western NY, so if I find a Tundra out of state @ a desired price over the phone , what would be my best option about the trade in , sell it on Carvana or to local dealer , but id be losing tax credit on new sale. Or should I go to my local Toyota dealer who doesnt have exactly what I want , and see what they can find for me , and use out of state dealers discounted price as leverage. And if they ask me what price im looking to spend should go at about 7% below msrp or more. Let me know what you think of the above & thanks for reading this huge reading. Also saw a dealer from Texas who says he will deliver any vehicle on his lot for free w/ the discounted price of about 5% off msrp. but i'd be learly of that deal. Thanks for your videos.👍

WOW

When I was at Toyota ordering a vehicle only saved you money if it’s something we needed to do for a sale. For example you’re a serious buyer and we don’t have a common vehicle and a competitor does.However when ordering something that isn’t common we usually don’t discount as heavily because we have leverage.

I want to but the new Chevy Trax. BASE model. no addons. After researching, there are some available with little to No addons. Sticker plus taxes and destination fees. nothing else. Can that be negotiable? basically I can ask them to half the destination fee and that's it? Can you get money off MSRP these days?

Toyota dealership in Michigan told me that Toyota doesn’t take factory orders since 2019. Is this true or are they lying?? I wanted to order so I can get exactly what I want

I like doing test drives at dealerships because I can use their vehicles to do my errands. I also don't have a driver's license and that's half the fun! 😂

Your talent is innate