Should I suck it up and negotiate to get a good deal?

Of course, high-pressure haggling may not equal better prices either, especially if you hate negotiating.

There are a few factors at play.

Let’s take a look at them.

Are you okay haggling, or does the whole thing just make you uncomfortable and stressed out?

Regardless of whether you choose to haggle, research is your best weapon.

Do your homework and find the base price of the vehicle you want to buy.

Then hit up sites likeKelley’s Blue Bookandpreviously mentionedTrueCarto find out how much you should actually pay for it.

Then,reach out to those dealerships directlyanduse this spreadsheetto get as much information as possible from them.

In any case, research in advance gives you an idea of who offers the best deals.

Whatever you do,coming armed with information has been proven to save you moneytime and time again.

Carmax, for example, has no-haggle pricing, but they make their money on trade-ins and warranty sales.

Those warranties can easily add thousands of dollars to your bottom line.

We don’t mean to beat up on Carmax here.

Be careful if you’re thinking “I found a great priceandthis will be easy!”

You might find yourself in an office getting a high-pressure sales pitch anywayjust not for the car.

Your goal should be a fair, low price near the bottom of your budgetdon’t expect miracles.

How Much Do You Value Your Time?

There is another factor worth considering before you head to the dealership: Your time.

How much is your time worth?

preserve your sanity and the stress.

Of course, for those of us who enjoy negotiating, it’s not really wasted time.

The Bottom Line: Not Necessarilybut How Much Is Your Sanity Worth?

So bottom line: Do no-haggle dealerships offer better deals?

The answer is not necessarily, but don’t rule them out.

Neither option means you’ll get a terrible deal.

Good luck finding a great deal,Lifehacker

Have a question or suggestion for Ask Lifehacker?

Send it to[email protected].

Title photo made usingC Jones(Shutterstock) andOpenclips.

Photos byIldar Sagdejev,David Hilowitz,Dave S, andTony Harrison.