Is that price on the windscreen the real price? How to tell in one visit

Two buyers walk into two yards on the same street. One haggles for forty minutes and gets a set of floor mats. The other asks one question and gets the answer she needed in thirty seconds. The difference wasn't skill. She'd worked out what kind of dealer she was in before she arrived.

The two pricing styles

Fixed or "no-haggle" pricing means the advertised price is the price. The dealer has already priced against the market and wants a quick, clean sale. Negotiated pricing means the sticker is an opening position, with room built in for the conversation and your trade-in.

Neither is better. Fixed pricing suits buyers who hate the dance. Negotiation can suit buyers who've done their homework and have a trade-in to play with.

Negotiate the car, then the trade-in, then the finance. Never all three at once.

How to tell which you're in

• Look for the words "fixed price", "no haggle" or "driveaway" on the website and the windscreen.
• Check if the same car is advertised at the same price everywhere it's listed.
• Ask directly: "Is this price firm, or is there room?" A straight dealer gives a straight answer.
• Read the CDR profile. Where the dealer publishes a pricing approach, we record it.

What's actually negotiable

Even at a firm-price dealer there's usually room somewhere else: the trade-in figure, a service or a set of tyres, delivery, or the timing. At a negotiating dealer, keep the three conversations separate. A low car price can be clawed back through a lean trade-in or a finance rate, and you'll only see it if you look at each number on its own.