Cars Blog

• Tweet
• 
• Email

• Tweet
• 
• Email

Pickup truck sales have been slower than automakers originally projected, so dealers are more willing these day to negotiate than in recent years to make a sale.

While automakers of all pickup truck models are offering substantial rebates to reduce high inventory, the dealers are really the ones offering customers incentives to take the pickups off their hands.

Automotive News is reporting that some dealers are offering thousands of dollars in discounts in addition to the cash rebates offered by automakers. Auto analysts say that the slow sales in pickup trucks are partially due to gas prices that have remained around $4 per gallon for much of the year. In addition, many Americans are holding onto their cars longer than in the past, due to the economy.

If you are heading out to truck shop and are hankering for a new pickup, do your research on an independent car pricing website that tracks actual sales data to see what the trucks are currently selling for, secure a good rate on an auto loan before you visit a dealer's lot, and don't be afraid to negotiate with a dealer to get the best price. For more tips, read 12 tips for buying the right car in 2012.

Tara Baukus Mello writes the cars blog as well as the weekly Driving for Dollars column, providing both practical financial advice for consumers as well as insight into the latest developments in the automotive world. Follow her on Facebook here or on Twitter @SheDrives.