Car buying expert reveals how to answer questions from a dealership (2024)

A car buying expert has revealed how to answer tricky questions from a dealership - and his advice could help you save money.

US-based Billy, who does not disclose his last name, has built up a fanbase of more than 114,700 followers on TikTok thanks to his handy tips and tricks.

Most recently, he dished on how to deal with salespeople over the phone by tackling their questions 'like a pro.'

And his insight was soon flooded with comments from potential purchasers who heaped praise on his video.

'When can you come in?'

Billy wasted little time in launching into his advice as he began:'First thing the dealership is going to say when you call is, "what vehicle are you looking for?"

'And then they're going to do something that they do at every dealership. They always act like they have to check if the vehicle is still there.

'Sometimes they'll even add the little bonus of, "you know, I think somebody was working a deal on that one," or, "I saw somebody about to buy that last night, let me go check if it's still here."

'It is all bulls**t. They say this in every dealership, every day, no matter what.'

He continued: 'Minutes after theyverify the vehicle is there, they're going to hound you about coming in for a test drive and looking at it in person - and doing everything in person for that matter.

'This is where we need to be strong and let them know that we're just window-shopping right now and we'll let them know when we get to that next step.'

'Do you have a trade-in?'

According to Billy, the second question the dealership will ask is, 'do you have a trade-in?'

'Every time the dealership says this - even if you have a almost brand new vehicle - they're going to tell you the same thing: "In order to give it an accurate appraisal, I need to see it in person.

'"I mean if it's really, really nice when it gets here, we could probably step the number up a little bit but otherwise we're gonna have a lower, more like auction-number appraisal."

'This is what a dealership is always going to say to you and it's so frustrating.'

The expert mused: 'Why can't they give you full price for your vehicle and what the trade would be worth to them?

'And then peel the number backwards when you get there if you lied about things and it wasn't in good condition?

'Basically what the dealership is telling you is that all the condition things you told them are lies and they don't believe you until they see it in person.

'It's also just a ploy to get you down to the dealership to make you purchase.'

He shared: 'In my opinion, this isa pretty easy objection to overcome. I would just get some bids from [elsewhere].

'Present any one of those to the dealership and say, "This place was able to give me numbers, site-unseen. Can you at least match their numbers?"

'Monthly payment goal?'

The third question that the dealership may ask is about your monthly budget or payment goal.

Billy said: 'This iswhere you have the opportunity to tell your salesperson, "I'm interested in the bottom line.

'"I'd like to know all the numbers and how we got there - more than just the payment. The payment will work itself out."

'Your salesperson is always going to try and get you fixated on the monthly cost instead of the overall cost - and that's because the monthly cost can be manipulated by the finance department.'

'Finance or cash?'

Billy shared that the fourth question that a dealership might ask is whether you are buying using finance or cash.

'Now in my opinion, unless there's some benefit on the price or a discount or incentivized rate the dealership's offering, I don't have any reason to use the dealership financing.

'But for negotiation purposes I like to dangle that carrot in front of the salesman's face and make it seem like it is possibly an option,' he admitted.

'All too often we're quick to tell them, "Hey, we got a six per cent from our credit union and the dealership will just match it."

'Even if they have got a rate that was better than that they're not going to tell you unless it pays them more.

'So they're just going to give you the rate that matches yours or the one closest to it.'

'Down-payment?'

The car buying expert said that the final key question you may get asked by the dealership is about whether you will be committing to a down payment.

'Now a lot of people have different opinions about this but I think the more information that we give the dealership - until we are sure of everything - is just helping them and not us.

'This is one of those instances where I think, "Let's not tell them about our down-payment."

'If they ask, say, "Probably, I really don't know, I haven't put a number on it yet. I'd like to see the final numbers and see what everything lays out like and then I can assess how much down payment I wanna put down."'

Billy concluded: 'Basically, with almost any question the dealership ask you, always play dumb and mum is the word.'

The content creator uploaded the clip alongside a caption that read: 'Start by emailing, phoning or texting with the dealer.

'Until you locate the perfect vehicle and have everything just the way you want it, you shouldn't step foot in the dealership.'

His video was flooded with comments from thankful followers as one wrote: 'Great advice!'

Another commented: 'Thank you for that good information.'

Someone else added: 'You are so good. Sharing with my friends.'

And a fourth person wrote: 'He's right on.'