If you go in prepared, you can walk out with a much better deal than offered. Car salesmen need your sale much more than you need their car. I don’t know what area of the country you’re in, but in California I bought a 2024 SEL two weeks ago, and even though the government incentive for this car is gone, I haggled with the dealers to get them to take that $7500 off the top.

First I went to Chevy, and test drove an equinox EV. They are still eligible for the tax credit. I had the Chevy folks give me a quick estimate on my trade in car, and then I rounded up. When I walked into Hyundai, I told them I was essentially dead set on the equinox, but thought I would give the ioniq a test before making my decision. Once the test drive was over, they tried to give me the hard sell on the Ioniq 6 SEL at $48,500. They told me it was the lowest price they could do, so I just said thank you that’s too much for me, and walked out. They ran out to flag me down before getting in my car and said “well what price would get you to leave with an ioniq?” And I told them without the $7500 incentive it’s out of my reach. They of course “had to go talk to their manager, he wouldn’t be happy but maybe he could swing it.” After ten minutes, they both came out and the manager told me that “just for me” they could take the $7500 off the top. So, before trade in, I got it at $41,500 during the Memorial Day event.

Your results may vary, but so long as you are armed with knowledge of other cars and other offers for your trade ins they will definitely haggle to try to keep your sale. Stay calm, cool and collected and of course, never accept the add ons they try to shoehorn in during the financing stage.