Things might look a little different this year, but the Union Plus Auto Buying Service, powered by TrueCar is here to help. Check out, car shopping expert, Matt Jones’s top Black Friday car shopping tips below!
- Start early
Find the best deals by starting your research early. With plant closures earlier this year and halted vehicle production, inventory may be tight. It’s a good idea to come up with second and third options, in case there is low inventory of your first choice. - Trading in or selling an existing vehicle?
Decide whether you’re planning to sell or trade your vehicle. You’ll need to get an appraisal, and you can use the Union Plus Auto Buying Service tool to get a True Cash Offer on your current vehicle. About 50 percent of shoppers trade in a car when buying something new. If you’re one of these 50 percent, make sure you get your appraisal early. - Understand the auto market
This year, it really pays to understand the current automotive climate and pricing. For some hot vehicles with low inventory and high demand in this climate, paying sticker price might be considered a good deal. If you are looking for a specific vehicle and if that vehicle is new or in short supply, it might be sold at or even above sticker price. - Being flexible will help you get a better deal
Be willing to consider expanding the distance radius of dealerships for additional options. Being flexible about your search could give you greater inventory options. Don’t want to drive far to get your new car? You may be able to skip the trip to the dealer. More on that in tip 5. - Have a game plan
If you want to go to the dealership in person, be sure to arrive early. This is important because as the day wears on, more shoppers will hit the store, which can slow down your shopping process. Alternatively, many dealerships now allow shoppers to do all, or some, of the purchase process online. You can spot dealers offering remote paperwork processing and home vehicle delivery when shopping on the Union Plus Auto Buying Service — just look for the Buy From Home dealer badge. - Test-drive early
If you can, get behind the wheel for a test-drive at least a few days ahead of time. The showroom will likely get flooded with shoppers, and salespeople may not be available for test-drives on Black Friday. Make an appointment to test-drive on a weekday, before Thanksgiving. - Be patient
Remember to have patience with the sales process. Some dealerships will run out of salespeople or some salespeople may have to juggle more than one customer at a time. This is especially likely this year, because many dealerships are running with slimmer staff than usual due to the pandemic.
Bonus Tip: Start your shopping and research now so you can compare Black Friday deals and see how good a deal you’re really getting. Union members have saved thousands off MSRP1 on new cars and find great deals on pre-owned vehicles using the Union Plus Auto Buying Service, powered by TrueCar. Plus, you may be eligible for additional member perks like a $100 rebate on new union-made cars2 and up to $2,000 in post-sale benefits3.
This adaptation of the original article was published by TrueCar.
1Between 1/1/19 and 12/31/19, the average savings off MSRP experienced by Union Plus Auto Buying customers on new vehicles. See site for details.
2If you purchase a new, qualifying union-assembled vehicle, you will receive a check for $100 within 6 to 8 weeks after purchase. (The rebate checks come from Union Plus and not from the dealer). Union Plus receives a monthly report on the sales activity from the program provider to verify that a rebate check should be sent to a member who purchased a qualifying vehicle. This process is automatic, there are no forms to complete. Keep a copy of your Union Plus Auto Buying referral email that can assist in researching your purchase if you think you qualified for a rebate but did not receive a check.
3Some benefits not available in NY or NH. See site for details.
Handle car shopping on Black Friday like a pro! Matt Jones, TrueCar’s car shopping expert and director of industry education, shares his top seven tips for Black Friday car shopping.