In the automotive world, current offers or special offers are defined as manufacturer incentives and rebates offered on specific makes and models as a way of enticing consumers to buy certain cars.
Manufacturer-to-consumer current offers (or incentives and rebates) vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, from vehicle to vehicle and they often change from month to month, depending on the particular offer. Consumer incentives are applied to specific models for a specified period of time and they are usually offered in the form of low interest (or no interest) car loans or cash rebates.
Sometimes, a manufacturer will offer combination deals where you can choose both a low interest rate incentive AND a cash rebate, but the interest would be higher and the cash rebate would be lower than if you chose one offer separately. Whats more, certain manufacturers will allow a consumer to terminate his or her vehicle lease early, without penalty, if the customer enters into a new lease, or purchases a new car, from that same manufacturer. Still more, certain manufacturers offer special lease deals with extremely low monthly payments, no cash down and no up-front charges.
There are also manufacturer to dealer incentives or cash incentives paid to the dealer by the manufacturer when a particular vehicle is sold. Sometimes, dealers will pass along these incentives or cash allowances to consumers to make the sales deal more attractive for the customer. Other times, these incentives are non-negotiable. Be sure to research our Negotiating Strategies section to learn more about manufacturer-to-dealer incentives. In each case, the manufacturer is the primary source of the incentive not the dealer and each offer is designed to spur sales of certain vehicles in the marketplace.
As an overview, following are some common manufacturer incentives:
- Reduced finance rates
- Cash back on certain models
- Loyalty bonus
- Graduate or military incentives
If there are no special financing rates available, you can negotiate the annual percentage rate of the car loan (or the APR) as well as the payment terms at the dealership level. These elements are just as negotiable as the manufacturer's suggested retail price of the vehicle or the MSRP. Once you know you can negotiate the APR and/or the loan terms, this information will help you secure the loan that best suits your needs and your own personal lifestyle.
Important Note: Remember that certain manufacturer incentives and rebates are NOT negotiable and they may be limited based on your credit qualifications. Additionally, certain incentives and rebates programs are only available for certain makes, models or model-year vehicles, or in certain regions.
