Car Incentives Expected to Drop in 2013
January 10, 2013
2012 was a great year for car dealers, but that could mean trouble for car buyers in 2013.
According to Automotive News, about 14.5 million cars were sold in the US in 2012, a 13 percent increase over 2011.
The car industry is currently basking in the glow of a great sales year, however analysts are predicting consumers will see less incentives in 2013.
Additionally, TrueCar says the median price for a vehicle was $31,228 last month, a 1.8 percent increase from December 2011 and a 1.3 percent increase over prices in November 2012.
TrueCar estimates the average incentive was $2,409 in December 2012, a 9 percent decrease compared to the same time in 2011.
All this means consumers looking for a great deal will need to be diligent about doing their homework. Below is a look at how both car prices and incentives in 2012 compared to 2011. As always, make sure to start with the RydeShopper when you're ready to negotiate your deal.
Car Prices Comparison: 2012 vs 2011
| Manufacturer | Dec 2012 Price | Nov 2012 Price | Dec 2011 Price | % Change Dec 2011 to Dec 2012 | % Change Nov 2012 to Dec 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chrysler (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat) | $30,011 | $29,796 | $29,322 | 2.3% | 0.7% |
| Ford (Ford, Lincoln) | $33,010 | $32,543 | $31,912 | 3.4% | 1.4% |
| GM (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC) | $33,219 | $32,891 | $33,241 | -0.1% | 1.0% |
| Honda (Acura, Honda) | $27,062 | $26,897 | $26,086 | 3.7% | 0.6% |
| Hyundai/Kia | $22,547 | $22,342 | $21,426 | 5.2% | 0.9% |
| Nissan (Nissan, Infiniti) | $28,127 | $27,704 | $28,298 | -0.6% | 1.5% |
| Toyota (Lexus, Scion, Toyota) | $28,576 | $28,396 | $27,349 | 4.5% | 0.6% |
| Volkswagen (Audi, Volkswagen) | $33,914 | $33,610 | $33,781 | 0.4% | 0.9% |
| TOTAL INDUSTRY | $31,228 | $30,832 | $30,686 | 1.8% | 1.3% |
Car Incentive Comparison: 2012 vs 2011
| Manufacturer | Dec 2012 Incentives | Nov 2012 Incentives | Dec 2011 Incentives | % Change Dec 2011 to Dec 2012 | % Change Nov 2012 to Dec 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chrysler (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat) | $3,206 | $3,043 | $3,248 | -1.3% | 5.4% |
| Ford (Ford, Lincoln) | $2,633 | $2,526 | $2,926 | -10.0% | 4.2% |
| GM (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC) | $2,952 | $2,921 | $3,118 | -5.3% | 1.1% |
| Honda (Acura, Honda) | $1,845 | $1,871 | $2,336 | -21.0% | -1.4% |
| Hyundai/Kia | $1,573 | $1,359 | $1,254 | 25.5% | 15.8% |
| Nissan (Nissan, Infiniti) | $2,449 | $2,403 | $2,970 | -17.5% | 1.9% |
| Toyota (Lexus, Scion, Toyota) | $1,756 | $1,632 | $1,904 | -7.8% | 7.6% |
| Volkswagen (Audi, Volkswagen) | $2,391 | $2,264 | $2,518 | -5.1% | 5.6% |
| Industry | $2,409 | $2,310 | $2,647 | -9.0% | 4.3% |
My Recommendation for Car Shoppers
TrueCar No-Haggle, CarsDirect, and NADAGuides are the quickest way to see the lowest car prices in your area. These sites show you no-haggle prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually really good. This should be the first step you take when negotiating your car price. Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.- Gregg Fidan
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About The Author
Gregg Fidan is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate
the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
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