Buying a car at a dealership need not be an infuriating, tiresome experience. You’ve got the tired, old sales tactics. Then you’ve got the hidden fees, markups, and upsells. Yikes.

But a car expert on TikTok says a direct approach can cut through the murky waters of dealer car-buying. In one of his popular consumer advice videos, he called a dealer, resisted the typical pressures, and got one step closer to the no-monkey-business out-the-door price for a vehicle. 

You don’t need to do the song and dance at the dealership for the out-the-door price

TikTok user billythecarkid placed a phone call to a local Toyota dealership on one of his popular car advice videos. His mission? Get an out-the-door price for a car at the dealer. He talked to a salesperson, who quickly asked when he would like to stop in. But Billy stood his ground.

He told the salesperson matter-of-factly that he wanted the out-the-door, final price for the car, including the taxes and fees. After some back and forth, the salesperson agreed to text Billy with the number. “There’s really nothing you have to do at the dealership outside of [a] test drive when you get there,” the car expert said. “And if you love it, go sign the final papers that you already negotiated.” 

Dealers want you to come in so they can turn up the heat

“Dealerships may insist that you come in instead of giving you pricing over the phone for a few reasons,” Billy said in the video. “First, they might want to engage with you in person to use negotiation tactics and potentially upsell add-ons, like warranties or accessories.” He’s not wrong. A dealer can make a significant profit beyond the out-the-door price after tax and fees by adding accessories, personalizing modifications, and offering warranty coverages. 

“Being there also allows them to apply pressure and create a sense of urgency, which could lead to a quicker decision and a higher chance of a sale, Billy said. “If you prefer not to go in, try asking for the ‘out-the-door’ price, which includes taxes, fees, and everything else.” And as demonstrated in the video, directness goes a long way.

The tactic worked for Billy’s viewers, too

“Absolutely. If the dealership wants a sale, they will honor your request,” one viewer commented. Another person commented, “I used your tactic and was able to purchase over the phone,” suggesting the direct approach helped them get the out-the-door quote they needed to buy within budget.

“You helped me with my most recent purchase,” another commenter replied. “I got [the] out-the-door quote in text message, and when I got to the dealership, they added ridiculous charges. I argued & won. Thank you for your tips!” It’s an eye-opening reminder that getting a quote beforehand can help ease the car-buying process and cut through any trickery.

MotorBiscuit reached out to billythecarkid for comment via TikTok comment.