How to Read a General Motors Invoice (2012 Camaro)

[cb2011rs]

So , a good deal is $36800 on this particular vehicle ????....

[kunk1963]

Great Info, THANKS!!!!!!!!! I will def be using this info on my 2013 ZL1....

[JacekPSUr1]

Originally Posted by cb2011rs

So , a good deal is $36800 on this particular vehicle ????....

From looking at the information provided, a good deal would be more like $35,926.2 You should never pay for shipping charges as dealers get reimbursed for it from the manufacturer.

[laborsmith]

Interesting JacekPSUr1. I have always been told the destination charge was non-negotiable, even when I was eligible for GMS pricing, because the dealer had to pay that amount. Everything else was negotiable, but not the destination charged. To think all these years the fact that the dealer gets reimbursed for it from Chevrolet has been kept from me.

Laborsmith

[z28-conv]

Great post "the_blur"

I would just like to add a few things. I have not purchased a car at MSRP for over twenty years. The info about the holdback not many people know about. I think it is about 3% of the invoice price. I will tell you there are certain times of the year that are the best times to buy a car. End of the year is best. My most recent purchase was a SUV. The MSRP was about 40,000 dollars. The dealers invoice price was about 32,000. I only paid 27$ over the dealers invoice price. SUV's were and may still be one of the most profitable to auto manufactures. I believe a suburban had the potential of 12k profit.
Now with that being said I have an order for a ZL1 vert. It is a very limited production vehicle and as some of you know some dealers are marking up the MSRP 5-10K. Well I'm happy that I'm not going to pay these inflated prices but also will not be able to get the car at dealer invoice. In this case a happy medium will be exceptible. When Im ready to buy a new SUV I will be able to make up the difference.

Oh yeah the destination charge is not negotiable. neither are taxes or tags.

[mrfuelie]

Just purchased 2013 ZL1 for MSRP minus $1000 rebate plus $150 paper work fee. They are just not going to move much on these, as a very great number of dealersips will never see one. And I do beleive they sell some of these for the $5,000 to $15,000 over MSRP.

[CrystalRedTintcoat]

HOLDBACK
While you are welcome to discuss holdback, I will not be doing so. I believe businesses do not have to share their costs with their consumers. We don't ask Taco Bell to sell us their tacos at cost, and we don't ask contractors to work for free, so I don't know why so many people expect car dealers to sell vehicles at a loss. If a dealer promises you a deal below invoice, you have gotten a great deal at the dealer's expense. If you get a deal below holdback, with all likelihood either something is wrong with the car or something is wrong with the dealer. Asking for holdback is not a good way to be taken seriously when negotiating for a deal, and it certainly won't be shown to you during the sales process. In my opinion, invoice is a fair deal. Holdback is robbing the car lot. MSRP is robbing the customer. I'd rather not see anyone on Camaro5 get robbed.

Great post. Some further details on Holdback ...

The holdback is necessary to calculate the actual cost and should be the starting place to calculate the profit you want to give; just don't discuss it aloud as you've said.

Many manufacturers (not all) offer dealers a percentage of (not off) MSRP in the form of what's called a Holdback used to cover the financing of the vehicles. Dealers must pay for the vehicles in advance with loans from the manufacturer or a bank. Chevy offers a holdback; last I checked it's 3% of MSRP. If the car's just arrived, the dealer gets to keep all of the holdback as instant profit. At 45 days he gets to keep 50% of it. Since most dealers rotate their inventory in less than 90 days, they usually get to keep some of the holdback payment.

So, if you're special ordering a Camaro, you and the dealer can strike a win:win negotiation by offering a fair and reasonable profit above the real cost ... Invoice (minus) holdback where holdback is calculated at 3% of the total MSRP of all the options you've ordered. The key here is to make an offer that provides the dealer with a fair and reasonable profit.

You'll see many people on this forum say they got $1,000 off Invoice. Is that "good"? Calculate the total invoice less the $1,000 discount then add back the holdback and decide for yourself. It depends.

NOTE: there are factors other than Holdbacks and Invoice that matter too like local market data (how popular a certain car is or isn't), how long cars are sitting on the lot (look at the sticker on the drivers door, take today's date minus the mfg date on the stick plus on month and that's how long it's been sitting there), cash incentives, rebates that affect the total price of what you should pay for a car.

[Ir0nM4n]

Originally Posted by laborsmith

Interesting JacekPSUr1. I have always been told the destination charge was non-negotiable, even when I was eligible for GMS pricing, because the dealer had to pay that amount. Everything else was negotiable, but not the destination charged. To think all these years the fact that the dealer gets reimbursed for it from Chevrolet has been kept from me.

Laborsmith

Interesting point, I have never paid destination charges. I always asked to have that price removed. When I purchased my 2011 Camaro I think destination was like 900.00. They removed it and I brought the car home. Now I will be ordering a 1LE in March, I am wondering since I will be ordering the car should I feel responsible to pay the destination charge.

[VQ35DE]

Originally Posted by MINI HLK

Interesting point, I have never paid destination charges. I always asked to have that price removed. When I purchased my 2011 Camaro I think destination was like 900.00. They removed it and I brought the car home. Now I will be ordering a 1LE in March, I am wondering since I will be ordering the car should I feel responsible to pay the destination charge.

One word answer. Yes.

[Nessal]

I too thought destination charges were non-negotiable. Now that doesn't seem to be the case. Is it for all cars on the lot and also ordered?

[david.inga]

Thank you for posting this article. In my case, I am told that the Invoice does not exist because I am special ordering my Camaro. I am told that since the car does not exist, there is no VIN number. And because there is no VIN number, there is no Invoice. It makes sense, but is it true?

[Chevyman2]

Can you receive chevy cash back or usaa discount with invoice pricing?

[kmmink]

Originally Posted by Chevyman2

Can you receive chevy cash back or usaa discount with invoice pricing?

My dealer allowed this when I took delivery just this Tuesday (12/11/12).

I received invoice price minus $750 USAA private offer and minus Chevrolet's $500 cash back for a total rebate of $1250.

I don't think they are suppose to give you invoice pricing with the USAA private offer, but my dealer did. I guess it is up to the dealer. Doesn't hurt to try.

[Chevyman2]

Originally Posted by Chevyman2

Can you receive chevy cash back or usaa discount with invoice pricing?

Originally Posted by kmmink

My dealer allowed this when I took delivery just this Tuesday (12/11/12).

I received invoice price minus $750 USAA private offer and minus Chevrolet's $500 cash back for a total rebate of $1250.

I don't think they are suppose to give you invoice pricing with the USAA private offer, but my dealer did. I guess it is up to the dealer. Doesn't hurt to try.

Thanks for reply.