See what others paid, so you don’t overpay for your car using the Price Curve on Pen Air FCU Car Buying Service, Powered by TrueCar
No one wants to overpay for their car, but you need comparative information in order to know what is actually a good price vs. what is above market average. With Pen Air FCU Car Buying Service, Powered by TrueCar, you can actually see what others paid in your area through our in-depth Price Reports and the Price Curve. The Price Curve is powered by TrueCar, a company which is respected in the auto industry for its data and analytics, and populated by objective pricing data that shows the most up-to-date pricing information.
How do I use the Price Curve?
First, search for the new car or truck you want and adjust
the options to your liking. Then, on the Price Report, look for the Price Curve
symbol above the vehicle you’ve selected that says “See what others paid.” Once
you click on this you’ll see the Price Report, with the Curve, for the car and
the options you selected. Keep in mind that the more you’ve narrowed down the
options you want, such as deciding on the trim, options, and colors, the more
accurate the Price Curve will be.
For example, let’s say you’re shopping for a 2013 Honda Accord Sedan. After looking through the available options you decide to choose the EX-L trim with a four-cylinder engine, continuously variable transmission, and navigation. According to Pen Air FCU Car Buying Service, Powered by TrueCar Price Report and Curve shown on January 9, 2013 in zip code 91335, the MSRP for the 2013 Honda is $30,785, the average price paid is $29,849, and a great price would be $28,723 which you should expect to pay at one of the Program Certified Dealers. Over to the right you can see that this estimated price is actually $2,062 off MSRP. (Note at the top of the Curve you have the option to switch between Local Sales and National Sales if you want more information.)
How does the Price Curve work?
The Pen Air FCU Car Buying Service, Powered by TrueCar shows
users what other people paid for the same car locally and nationally – you just
need to pick the tab with the information you want. Data is pulled in from
numerous respected data sources and aggregators that possess actual transaction
details. This data does not include any personally identifiable information
and, in many cases, is validated from multiple data sources across the
different stages of the auto purchase process including financing, leasing,
taxes, title, registration, and other information. The Curve can also be based on
vehicle configuration data, customer and dealer incentives data, financing and
loan data, vehicle registration data, and much more.
The Price Curve provides an estimated price based on the
vehicle you configured online. (Keep in mind that when it is time to buy, this estimated
price may change if the dealer does not have the exact vehicle in stock or you
change options and features.) The information presented on the Pen Air FCU Car Buying Service, Powered by TrueCar Price Curve is adjusted to account for
the fact that most or all of the recently sold vehicles in your area may
include different option combinations than your specified vehicle
configuration.
Basically it comes down to the fact that this is real,
unbiased information you can trust.
What this means for you
This data is powerful and is the first step in finding the
car you want. Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few cars you can request an
estimated price and Guaranteed Savings Certificates from prescreened dealers in
your area (you pick the dealers based on what’s best for you) before even going
to a dealership or making a phone call. Instead of driving around from dealer
to dealer, you can get all your information in advance and then can enjoy your
test drive knowing you’ve already locked in your Guaranteed Savings if you
decide you like the car. (Note that not all states are eligible for Guaranteed
Savings, and you will see estimated savings instead.)
Plus, remember there is never any obligation to buy (even if
you have taken a test drive), and there is no cost to use the service. You can
review the Price Curve and related information on as many cars as you want
without any charge.
Getting your Guaranteed Savings
Once you click to get certificates, you will be presented
with estimated pricing from up to three Program Certified Dealers near you. To
lock in your Guaranteed Savings, select the dealers with whom you would like to
do business and then select “next.” Performing this step will provide you with your
Guaranteed Savings Certificates as well as the dealer name, phone number, and
location, along with driving directions and other important information about
your Certified Dealer. (Note that not all states are eligible for Guaranteed
Savings and you will see estimated savings instead.)
The key to a hassle-free car-buying experience is reviewing
the Curve, locking in your savings, printing your Guaranteed Savings Certificate,
and taking it to one of our Program Certified Dealers.
To see how much you could save, go to penair.org/autoloans.
