A lot of people find the process of shopping for a car very stressful. From worrying about haggling over the price to fearing they’ll end up with a lemon, there’s a lot to think about.
But two men on TikTok are trying to take the anxiety out of shopping for a car by telling people what they should and shouldn’t say before they even walk onto the car lot.
The advice is going viral, and people took to the comments to ask for additional advice for themselves. While TikToker Nathan Kidd, who goes by @nextridenate on the platform, wasn’t able to answer everyone’s questions, he did try to get to as many people as he could, offering them advice and guidance about the car-buying process.
Not only that, but other salespeople also offered up some pearls of wisdom in the comments, turning the post into something that a lot of people could probably benefit from watching.
The List Breaks Down What Not to Say
@nextridenateBuying a car? Know what to say BEFORE you walk in. 👀🚗 5 things to avoid saying at the dealership, and what to say instead. Save this for your next car purchase, and follow for real car-buying advice! 📍 Altoona, PA 📩 DM me “CAR” if you’re looking for your next ride.♬ original sound – Nathan Kidd | Cars & Car Sales
It may sound counterintuitive, but Kidd says to avoid asking what the “lowest price” is. Instead, he suggests framing the question another way and asking what the “best deal” is. Kidd says the lowest price and best deal are two different things, and he says only caring about the first one can make you miss out on some savings.
Next, he advises people against saying they only care about the monthly payment. There’s a lot that goes into that final number, and Kidd says car buyers will get a lot more information if they ask about the APR, loan term, down payment, amount financed, and total cost of the loan, saying, “A low payment can hide a very expensive loan.”
It’s Okay to Name a Price
If someone already has a clear idea of how much money they want to spend, they can let the salesperson know. Kidd suggests telling the salesperson your budget, while negotiating the vehicle’s out-the-door price separately.
A lower monthly payment may require a longer loan term or a larger down payment, potentially increasing the overall cost or upfront expense.
Avoid Saying the Words “Just Looking”
When someone tells a car salesperson that they are “just looking,” the salesperson may assume the shopper isn’t ready to buy. Instead, Kidd says people should say that they are still “early in the process” and share some of the info they’ve already figured out for themselves, including the ideal make, model, or features.
Lastly, for trade-ins, shoppers should establish the trade-in value and negotiate it separately from the new vehicle’s price.
Commenters Asked for More Advice
The comments were full of people sharing their own experiences and questions. For example, one person asked if they were better off using their down payment up front or making an extra principal payment after the loan is finalized.
“Your monthly payment would typically stay the same, but that extra $10,000 could help pay down your loan balance faster, depending on how the lender applies it,” he responded.
“What if the only thing I care about is the out-the-door price? How would I get that answer?” another person asked, prompting another commenter to suggest simply asking the salesperson for that figure.
While it all sounds like good advice, many people in the comments were still annoyed by the idea that they had to watch how they say things when they shop for a car, underscoring how much some people dread the process.