Why can't dealers just list the accurate TOTAL prices for used cars?

Asked by Jacquie Jun 01, 2020 at 05:54 PM about the 2008 Honda Civic EX

Question type: Shopping & Pricing

When used car dealerships list cash sale cars, what is the reason to surprise a
customer with a thousand dollars worth of fees that should have been included in the
advertised price? There is no reason to hold back that number.  

Obviously when a used car dealer says the price is firm, negotiating is not encouraged.
There's not much wiggle room in used car sales. The dealer only makes money on the
doc fees, so obviously that number is going to be the highest amount that's legal to
charge, and the salesperson is going to say it's not negotiable.  Tax is not negotiable,
nor is the price for registration and title. Fine.  Everybody knows this, so why are we still
playing the stupid games that end with the salesperson writing a secret number on a
piece of paper?    

It would great if dealers would come clean, but I just had two more of these
experiences, where I've shopped and found two cars online to be priced fairly, but in
person, the cars cost $1,000 more to drive home.   

I need a car.  I have cash.  I can't go to a bunch of dealerships because I'm diabetic
and I don't want to get COVID 19 from a salesman who talks to a bunch of random
strangers all day long.  I just want to shop online and if I like the car, I want to test drive
it and pay for it.  It's ridiculous that I can't just buy a car like I can buy everything else.

If I went to Fry's because milk was advertised at $1.19 for a gallon, I'd expect to pay
$1.19 at the store.  I would not be happy to see that the milk actually cost $1.78, or
$1.95, or $2.38 thanks to fees and taxes.

Maybe you'd all sell more cars that way.  

2 Answers

41,240

I suggest you use reputable dealers, like New car lots with used cars. They tend to be more honest. Look at the reviews before you contact them as well. Work a deal online, get a firm price, show up, drive it home.

No one includes fees in the price. Fees other than tax and registration are bogus for used cars.

Your Answer:

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    ColdinMA
    Reputation
    2,390
  • #2
    Guru9CNGV
    Reputation
    2,140
  • #3
    GuruDMD1V
    Reputation
    2,130
View All

Find great deals from top-rated dealers

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Honda Accord
43 Great Deals out of 907 listings starting at $1,599
Used Toyota Camry
48 Great Deals out of 979 listings starting at $2,212
Used Toyota Corolla
122 Great Deals out of 1,994 listings starting at $2,795
Used Honda Civic Coupe
19 Great Deals out of 276 listings starting at $2,914
Used Honda CR-V
99 Great Deals out of 3,843 listings starting at $1,795
Used Mazda MAZDA3
73 Great Deals out of 1,498 listings starting at $2,495
Used Lexus IS
18 Great Deals out of 305 listings starting at $6,449
Used Hyundai Elantra
161 Great Deals out of 3,498 listings starting at $2,995
Used Ford Mustang
65 Great Deals out of 1,258 listings starting at $4,995
Used Toyota RAV4
100 Great Deals out of 2,089 listings starting at $3,888
Used Nissan Altima
22 Great Deals out of 709 listings starting at $1,400
Used Honda Civic Hybrid
901 listings starting at $6,998
Used BMW 3 Series
71 Great Deals out of 1,168 listings starting at $1,795

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.