How Much Do Car Dealers Make Per Car?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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“We make money on everything though, and that includes parts, service and the car sale.” Industry estimates put dealership per-car profits at

just over $2,000 per vehicle sold

, even though dealers tend to lose about $200 per car over their cost to purchase it. How can that be?

How much profit does a car dealer make on a $30000 car?

If the invoice cost of a vehicle, for example, is $30,000, then the normal

5-percent profit would be $1,500

and the 25-percent sales commission on the sale would be $375. But if the dealer adds a $400 pack, the adjusted cost is $30,400 and assuming the sales price remains the same, the profit isn’t $1,500, but $1,100.

What is the profit margin on a new car?

New cars tend to have a profit margin between the invoice price and what the dealership actually pays for the vehicle of

between 8% and 13%

. There may be some higher and lower margins, but the overwhelming majority fall somewhere in between those figures.

How do car dealerships make money?

Car dealerships make money from three primary areas of their operation;

Sales, Service, and the Finance and Insurance (F&I) departments

. If you’re in the market for a new car, simply interested in learning more about how car dealerships operate, or ended up here by accident, you’re in luck!

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.

Where do car dealerships make the most money?

According to NADA, nearly 37 percent of a dealership’s gross profit comes from the

sale of F&I products and service contracts on new and used cars

. A dealership’s service and parts department accounts for 44 percent of the dealership’s gross profits, according to NADA.

How much commission does a car salesman make per car?

The majority of car buyers think dealers make

between 10 and 20 per cent

profit on every new car they sell. In an exclusive survey for Car Dealer, What Car? found that 28.2 per cent of 5,000 car buyers surveyed think dealers make 10-20 per cent on every car.

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

Focus any negotiation on that dealer cost. For an average car,

2% above the dealer’s invoice price

is a reasonably good deal. A hot-selling car may have little room for negotiation, while you may be able to go even lower with a slow-selling model. Salespeople will usually try to negotiate based on the 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 much does Ford make per car?

The Ford F150 makes a gross profit margin of

$10,000 to $13,000/vehicle

. It sells 800,000 F150s each year, for a profit of $8 billion or more on just the F150s.

What should you not do at a car dealership?

  1. Don’t Enter the Dealership without a Plan. …
  2. Don’t Let the Salesperson Steer You to a Vehicle You Don’t Want. …
  3. Don’t Discuss Your Trade-In Too Early. …
  4. Don’t Give the Dealership Your Car Keys or Your Driver’s License. …
  5. Don’t Let the Dealership Run a Credit Check.

What is the most profitable car company?

  • Toyota Motor: $19.1 billion.
  • Volkswagen: $15.54 billion.
  • General Motors: $6.73 billion.
  • BMW: $5.5 billion.
  • Honda Motor: $4.19 billion.
  • Volvo: $3.79 billion.
  • SAIC Motor: $3.71 billion.
  • Peugeot: $3.58 billion.

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.

How much does it cost to start a car dealership?

While you could get started with your dealership at minimal costs of 10 lakhs for securing a contract besides the GSTIN registration, you should have

at least Rs. 50 lakhs

in securing inventory for the same. Also, individual car manufacturers charge different price amounts for their dealership.

Why car dealers make you wait?

Fewer people work there and each customer might be talking to one of the finance managers for 30 minutes or so. While all this is going on, your new car is being washed, gassed and prepped for final delivery.

If that process doesn’t sync up exactly, you might have to wait a while longer for the car to be ready

.

Who is the richest car dealer?

1.

Bill Gates

. Company: AutoNation Inc. Gates may not be the first person you would expect to see on a list of automotive wealth, but his share of car dealer AutoNation contributes to his overall fortune, most of which comes from Microsoft Corp.

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.

What is the profit margin for used car dealers?

Blended total gross margin for traditional franchised auto dealers is approximately

15-18%

.

Can you make money selling cars?


Buying and selling used cars can be an excellent way to add an extra source of income

. Sure the initial investment may be a bit more than what most people may be comfortable with, but the profit you can potentially make it worthwhile.

How do dealers make money on financing?

Dealers make their commission

through what is known as a finance reserve

. This is an extra percentage added to your interest rate – usually 1 to 3%. For example, a dealer may be able to get you financed at a 5% interest rate through one of their lending partners.

Is being a car salesman stressful?

Car sales is

one of the most stressful jobs that there is

—next to air traffic controller and heart surgeon.

Is selling cars a good career?

Many people view a career in auto sales as a job filled with long hours and the need to employ hard closing techniques. However,

a career in auto sales can be very rewarding

. Those who are successful in auto sales understand that their success is not dependent upon the brand of car that they sell.

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”

How do you talk down a car 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 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 far below MSRP will a dealer go?

If a dealer sells a brand new car at the MSRP they’ll probably have a margin of somewhere

between 9 and 14 percent

. As you’ll see in my other article, not all of that margin is even guaranteed to the dealer and some can be reliant on the dealership meeting other franchise criteria before it’s released to them.

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.