Do Dealers Make More Money Selling Cars Or Auto Repair?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Average profit per new or used car

On average, how much do dealers make on used cars? The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) reports that the

average gross profit for a used car is $2,337

. That same data set puts the average gross profit for new cars at $1,959.

What is the profit margin for used car dealers?

Blended total gross margin for traditional franchised auto dealers is approximately

15-18%

.

Do dealers make a lot of money?


Most dealers don’t make the bulk of their profits on the sale of a new car

. The big profit usually comes through arranging car loans, selling add-ons, and making money on your trade-in. Dealers can easily make a profit of $3,000 just through the financing alone (see: How Dealers Make Money on Financing).

What markup do car dealers make on used cars?

The reality

The used car market is a lot stronger with profit margins for dealers around

12 to 15 per cent

.

Why do dealerships want you to finance?

Car dealers want you to finance through them because

they often have the opportunity to make a profit by increasing the annual percentage rate (APR) on customers’ auto loans

. But they also have relationships with multiple lenders and car manufacturers.

Do car dealership owners make a lot of money?


The salaries of Car Dealership Owners in the US range from $18,902 to $495,413 , with a median salary of $90,593

. The middle 57% of Car Dealership Owners makes between $90,596 and $225,300, with the top 86% making $495,413.

How much will a dealership come down on price on a new car?

In the current inventory pinch, dealers are

unlikely to come down much on the price of a vehicle

. In July 2021, J.D. Power pegged the average discount on a new car at just 4.8% of MSRP, a record low, amid strained dealer supply.

What is the markup on cars?

According to the website iSeeCars, the average markup fee is $3,753, or

9.9% over MSRP

.

What is a dealer margin?

A dealer margin, or dealership profit margin, is

the monetary difference between the invoice price

, which is the amount that a dealership pays to acquire a vehicle, and the MSRP, which is the manufacturer suggested retail price – also known as the sticker price.

How do car salesmen make their money?

Most dealerships pay salesmen a paltry base salary of roughly minimum wage. Salesmen then typically earn

commissions of 25% of the dealership’s gross profit on the car

. That gross profit, by the way, is more than you might think.

How dealers make money on financing?

Traditional means dealerships make money off of financing


What the dealer negotiates with lenders is the interest rate they pay, not what the end user, or car buyer, pays

. This provides the dealership an opportunity to mark up the interest rate ultimately offered to the client and make money off of financing.

Can dealers mark up MSRP?


Dealer car markups generally aren’t illegal

but there are different regulations when it comes to interest rates. Ask for a discount. It may be counterintuitive, but cars with markups may have manufacturer incentives that can save you money.

Why are dealers marking up cars?

Some brand dealerships are taking advantage of

low vehicle inventory

and marking up prices, and automakers are shifting what resources they have to building more profitable—read: more expensive—trim levels and models, driving prices upward and leaving budget shoppers in the lurch.

What should you not say to a car salesman?

  • “I really love this car” …
  • “I don’t know that much about cars” …
  • “My trade-in is outside” …
  • “I don’t want to get taken to the cleaners” …
  • “My credit isn’t that good” …
  • “I’m paying cash” …
  • “I need to buy a car today” …
  • “I need a monthly payment under $350”

What is the dealer margin on a new car?

As per the study, most automakers in India offer less than 5 per cent of the average fixed dealer margins, basically, it ranges from

2.9 to 7.49 per cent on Ex-showroom price across all categories

. In India, MG Motors and Maruti Suzuki offers the highest average dealer margins at 5.22% and 5.07% respectively.

Is it better to make a large down payment on a car?

Putting money down on a vehicle has plenty of advantages.

The larger the down payment, the lower your monthly payment will be

—and you’ll probably get a better interest rate, to boot.

Do car dealers prefer cash or finance?

In most cases,

car dealerships that are focused on the sale of their offered vehicles are the ones that tend to prefer cash

because it’s a quick way to close the deal. Sellers that prefer cash-based transactions usually offer discounts or other promotions that are not available to credit payments.

Do car dealers lie about your credit score?


All it takes is for the dealer to lie to you about your credit score

. After they do a credit check, they don’t have to reveal what your score is, they can just tell you that you won’t qualify for competitive financing rates. At this point, most car buyers are desperate and think they won’t get financed.

Do dealers count as owners?


Dealers don’t count toward the # of previous owners

. Even 2nd hand car dealers, so long as they got the paperwork right.

Who is the richest car dealer?


Wayne Huizenga

, 70, a major shareholder in AutoNation Inc., the nation’s largest dealership chain, which he founded in 1996. His net worth is put at $2.2 billion. AutoNation has 224 dealerships.

How do you beat a car salesman at his own game?

  1. Learn dealer buzzwords. …
  2. This year’s car at last year’s price. …
  3. Working trade-ins and rebates. …
  4. Avoid bogus fees. …
  5. Use precise figures. …
  6. Keep salesmen in the dark on financing. …
  7. Use home-field advantage. …
  8. The monthly payment trap.

How do you talk a car dealer down in price?


Explain that you are looking for the lowest markup over your bottom price

. As an alternative, ask if the salesperson is willing to beat a price you got from a legitimate buying service. If so, tell him what it is, or better yet, show them a print out. Try not to be argumentative.

How do you outsmart a car salesman?

  1. Forget Payments, Talk Price. Dealers will try selling you to a payment per month rather than the price of a car. …
  2. Control Your Loan. …
  3. Avoid Advertised Car Deals. …
  4. Don’t Feel Pressured. …
  5. Keep Clear Of Add-ons.
David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.