‘Your Best Interests Are Not Their Interests’ – Dealership Insider Shares 5 Great Car Buying Tips for 2025
A consumer advocate who started a car buying concierge service has some important tips to share for anyone looking to purchase a vehicle this year.
In a TikTok that has generated over 150,000 views as of this writing, Billy B. (@Billythecarkid) shares what he’s grown to understand if you’re planning to buy a car from a dealership.
Tip #1: Your excellent credit score won’t make the dealership negotiate with you
It’s true that there is no minimum credit score you need to obtain a new or used auto loan. But having a high score can help. According to Experian, “a credit score of 661 or above will generally improve your chances of getting approved with favorable terms.” However, that doesn’t mean that you will get a better deal on the car purchase. It only affects the interest rate on the loan or lease that you’re applying for.
Buyers who plan to pay for a new or used car using a loan may think that filling out a credit application and revealing their high credit score may give them some leverage. Especially when it comes to negotiating the price of the car. But it doesn’t.
Billy states in the TikTok, “Your credit score, even though it’s fantastic, is not going to make the dealership negotiate more with you.” That means the price that you negotiate with the dealership is solely based on market value and not your credit score.
Billy continues to explain in the video, “The only thing that your credit score is going to do is get you a better interest rate.” This is true, considering Experian lists that a score of 660 can get an average new-car APR of 9.59%. A score of 661 to 780 can lower that interest rate to an average of 6.40%.
Tip #2: Pay attention to the window sticker when you’re comparing new cars
When shopping for a new car, comparing cars between dealerships should be an apples-to-apples affair, right? Not really. Even though you might see the same white 2025 Honda Civic LX at one dealership priced at $25,000, you might find the same model, trim level, and color at another dealership for more money. But why is that the case?
Billy addresses this by stating, “A lot of you will look at the same vehicle at two different dealerships, and because the MSRP is a little higher on one, you’ll think that dealership is ripping you off.” But that is not the case. “The reason that those vehicles are the exact same but one of them is a little more expensive on the MSRP is because that one has more options. The MSRP is a reflection of the options on the vehicle.”
When looking at a new car’s window sticker, it’s important to pay attention to the options that are added onto the vehicle. This can be anything from extra dealer-added accessories or some added manufacturer options, all of which can drive up the price. Remember to read the entire window sticker.
Tip #3: There is no set discount to ask for when negotiating the price of a vehicle
Negotiating the price of a new or used car with a dealership can be tricky. There is a little more that goes into it than just spitting out the price you want to pay and hoping that it sticks. Instead, you will need to do some research on the car’s market value, whether it’s new or used. Edmunds states that you need to “determine the market value of a vehicle before you begin to negotiate.” Finding the market value with tools like Edmunds’ Suggested Price is a good start. Finding that value can help you get a discount on the car.
It’s also a better tactic than just throwing out an arbitrary number. It also depends on the car’s demand. Billy states, “If a vehicle is really hot, maybe there is no discount. If a used vehicle is priced below market, maybe there is no discount… The only way to know what discount to ask for, if there is a discount, is after you study the market of the vehicle.”
Tip #4: Dealerships mark up the interest rates when you finance through them
If you’re planning on financing a new or used car, we always recommend getting one through your bank or credit union for the best rate. However, if you apply for a loan through the dealership, you can negotiate the interest rate they give you. But that doesn’t mean you’re getting a better rate.
“The only reason that we can negotiate the interest rate is because they’re lying about the interest rate to begin with and not telling us the very best rate they’re able to get us,” Billy stated. He goes on to advise that the only way to keep dealerships honest is to get a pre-approval. Getting a pre-approval through your bank can tell you what rate you could be approved for, which could tell you where you stand before applying for a loan.
Tip #5: Do your research before going into the dealership
The last tip is to do your research from home before setting foot into a dealership. This means getting a ballpark price on your trade, applying for a pre-approval for an auto loan, and researching the market value of the car. Most car buyers make the mistake of just going into the dealership without doing their homework.
“You can do the negotiations on theirs (car) from your living room. You can get the financing done in your living room,” Billy states. “Go to the dealers to test drive and sign the papers once you have agreed on everything.”
We couldn’t agree more. If you want to save as much time and money as possible, it’s important to do as much as you can from home in order to put the ball in your court when going to the dealership.
Commenters agree with this advice
These car buying tips seem to hit home with many of the commenters on TikTok. Others seemed to praise Billy’s expertise and ask questions about car buying in general.
“I bought my Toyota Corolla SE online. Very easy to see everything,” one TikTok user commented.
“Where do I get pre-approved? My first time buying a new car, and I’m already anxious,” another used asked.
“Best money I ever spent was hiring Billy to get me my truck,” a third user said.
Keep in mind that Billythecarkid is the co-founder of True Price Auto. It’s is a service that helps people through the car buying process, which is how he has all his knowledge. Regardless, these five tips offer some sound car buying advice that buyers should follow to make their purchase easier and possibly less expensive.
MotorBiscuit reached out to Billy via TikTok direct message to understand exactly how much industry experience he brings to the table and why he started his concierge service.
