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If you've ever bought a car from a fleet manager what is the process for going about that?
Do car dealerships try to block individual buyers from contacting the fleet manager?
Once the fleet manager knows you are just an individual buyer and not buying for a business are they usually open to selling to you as an individual buyer?
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,551 posts, read 81,103,317 times
Reputation: 57750
My very first new car was from the fleet manager, and I was able to do so because he was a friend of my insurance agent who made the connection for me. I mentioned his name and that he had sent me and got a good deal at about 15% off of the MSRP. Since then I have done better than that several times just by negotiating with a regular salesman.
If you've ever bought a car from a fleet manager what is the process for going about that?
Do car dealerships try to block individual buyers from contacting the fleet manager?
Once the fleet manager knows you are just an individual buyer and not buying for a business are they usually open to selling to you as an individual buyer?
First off: Do you have a fleet number?
But before that are you seeking a used fleet vehicle or a new vehicle?
There is a whole sub culture of people who purchase used fleet vehicles such as trucks and former police cars.
If new, well, you need to actually have a fleet. Each manufacturer sets it's own rules for fleet purchases.
Usually 5 vehicles.
I did obtain a fleet number from Ford but had to jump thru a bunch of hoops. And I was purchasing only one vehicle.
Can an individual purchase a new fleet vehicle. Yes. But extremely difficult.
If you own a business, any business, even self employed, and you have state documentation such as a state license, you can purchase any GM vehicle (not Corvette) under the Business Choice Program. There, although not a fleet, you can purchase one vehicle as if it was a fleet vehicle.
Fleet vehicles are usually special optioned vehicles. In truck, it is the Work Truck. In fleet, you have the option for any of the special SEO colors. Those are colors not listed in the standard brochure, such as orange and such. GM has about a dozen or so fleet colors offered to Business Choice customers that are above and beyond the brochure colors.
I have been reading on the internet and elsewhere that buying from a fleet manager is a great way to save on a new car. However, articles make it sound like this is so easy to do but if it was, I think a lot more people would be doing it. I think this is one of those pieces of advice floating around that really isn't very practical or available for most people.
My parents bought a car 35 years ago from a fleet manager, but they actually knew him through a family member.
I believe that the dealerships that do have fleet managers have gotten wise to joe blow walking in off the street and just trying to deal with their fleet manager and they make that difficult to do.
If you've ever bought a car from a fleet manager what is the process for going about that?
Do car dealerships try to block individual buyers from contacting the fleet manager?
Once the fleet manager knows you are just an individual buyer and not buying for a business are they usually open to selling to you as an individual buyer?
I used to buy my work trucks through the fleet manager. I never had anyone try and block me. And I bought whatever was cheaper. It was Dodge Ford or Chevy only because nobody made real full size trucks at the time. A fleet manage will sell you a car just like any salesman.
Location: Butler County Ohio and Winters in Florida
929 posts, read 2,722,327 times
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At the dealership I worked at in the 1990s the Fleet Manager did retail some cars to folks he knew or referred to him.
He did usually sell the cars cheaper than the retail sales department , I recall them complaining about that.
This was before internet and super discounting like some dealers do today.
I agree with the unit731 above, you must be a real fleet owner to buy at real fleet prices and programs.
I used to buy my work trucks through the fleet manager. I never had anyone try and block me. And I bought whatever was cheaper. It was Dodge Ford or Chevy only because nobody made real full size trucks at the time. A fleet manage will sell you a car just like any salesman.
^^This.^^
Many times he is just the salesman that handles fleet sales. If you get him, he will sell you a car. It isn't like you're going to get the same deal from him as the guy who buys five trucks at a time.
Fleet vehicles are usually special optioned vehicles. In truck, it is the Work Truck. In fleet, you have the option for any of the special SEO colors. Those are colors not listed in the standard brochure, such as orange and such. GM has about a dozen or so fleet colors offered to Business Choice customers that are above and beyond the brochure colors.
It's not just special options - fleet sales is the only way to buy a brand new 2013 Impala! (I think that's also the only remaining car with an available column shift)
The guy I lease my daily driver from works in volume, so when I wanted to buy a truck as a second car, he got me a great deal on one.
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