We got a super low interest rate and a rebate with dealer financing that made it cheaper than paying cash. There was a penalty for paying off the loan within 6 months, but when that day came we paid it off. There is some minimum % of the purchase that must be financed to get the deals, but it was worth it.

The last car I just paid with a personal check. There were no incentives to finance. I did have to sit in the business office to do the paperwork and the annoying upsell pitches.

The Tesla store told me that they had an electronic payment method in place. I’d think other dealers would too nowadays. Call and ask.

That’s assuming that the lying bastards ever deliver my Model 3 Premium. “It’ll be here by September 30” they told me when I ordered it July 29. Lying bastards.

I bought a new pickup in September.

Negotiated the price and wrote a personal check.

Get the final price and wire it to the bank, or a cashiers check. Trust me, they will tell you exactly how they want it!!!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
The Tesla store told me that they had an electronic payment method in place. I’d think other dealers would too nowadays. Call and ask.

That’s assuming that the lying bastards ever deliver my Model 3 Premium. “It’ll be here by September 30” they told me when I ordered it July 29. Lying bastards.

I agree you should have the car by now, but, with rising gas prices demand for EV's is through the room, they can't build them fast enough....

As for payment, cash, check, cashiers, combination of check, debit or finance. If you have a miles CC or some reward travel card use it for as much as the dealer will allow. Get the points, or a Discover and get the max cash back, what's in your wallet Capital One.....

You might get a few more dollars off if you use dealer financing and pay off after the loan is issued and funded, it does take about a week for the banks to close the loan, file the paperwork and send you a bill they don't fund them the day you close typically until the dealer puts the papers together and sends to the bank.

When I bought our 4Runner it was local, put the deposit on a cash back credit card and they took a personal check for the balance. we had to sit through an obnoxious finance guy trying to sell warranties (touch screen, windshield etc). We got out as quick as we could.

My next purchase was not real local, done over the phone. A quick deposit for $500 on a CC and then I bank transferred the balance. When I was picking up the vehicle the only paperwork was for my registration.

If you have reasonable means and assets, a permanent address that isn't a mobile home and good credit they will take a personal check.

The advice to consider financing to get the best deal is also solid. They have no need to know what your actual plans may be to pay the note off in a month or two.... It's not confession, just shut up.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
The Tesla store told me that they had an electronic payment method in place. I’d think other dealers would too nowadays. Call and ask.

That’s assuming that the lying bastards ever deliver my Model 3 Premium. “It’ll be here by September 30” they told me when I ordered it July 29. Lying bastards.

Is there a premium for using an electronic payment?

Most places here in Tennessee (to include a [used] truck and new side-by-side readily accepted a personal check in order to save us the 3%-5% premium. In the truck's case, we drove off the lot shortly after signing over the check (didn't get title until after the check cleared though)

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
You don’t even need a bank check. Write it out on your personal check. That’s what I did.

This is what I always do as well. I often negotiate the final price via phone or Email then take the already filled-out personal check with me to pick up the car.
In the closing or paper-work room when the person starts offering extended warranty, maintenance contracts, etc. I just hand him my check and say "include all that if you can". That shuts them up and they get back to filling in the sales forms and receipt.

Thanks guys. Personal check it is.

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:
If you have reasonable means and assets, a permanent address that isn't a mobile home and good credit they will take a personal check.

The advice to consider financing to get the best deal is also solid. They have no need to know what your actual plans may be to pay the note off in a month or two.... It's not confession, just shut up.

I worked at a Lincoln Mercury dealership. This is not a true statement. A financing deal is always in Leiu of a cash rebate deal. Rarely are the rebates on financing better, but usually the cash rebate is always best because the financing deal is a lesser rebate because the deal is usually a lower interest rate instead of cash off. Solid advice would be to look up the rebates on the vehicle you are interested in BEFORE going to the dealership, they are published online. I'll attach Fords below.

2026 Ford Bronco: finance $1000 cash back and 4.9% for 60 months. Cash deal: $2500 cash back. (for example).

Rebates also vary greatly each month depending on what the financing company needs to push (lease, purchase, cash deal) to make their cash flow work. If they have too much capital out, then cash rebates are better. If they have too much money out long term, then they push leases because the cash comes back in 2-3 years usually versus 5-6 years. If they need more long term debt then they push financing. Same with vehicles, if they need to push more Mavericks instead of Bronco's to keep the assembly line from shutting down they'll put more incentives on those, such as a killer lease deal. The deals/rebates are also regional. SE Toyota will offer entirely different deals than NE (region) Toyota etc. etc.

https://www.ford.com/local/mia...1e81f24dddac95f8f6b3

I bought a CPO Subaru last November and had gotten a good rate from my credit union and when I went to the dealer with it, they matched it with their local bank they used for financing and I went with that. Pay online each month.