Order a New Car From the Factory and Save

With vehicles in short supply at the dealership, more shoppers are ordering cars from the factory.

In return for a wait of a few weeks — or months — you get exactly what you want. In the current market, you’re likely to save money as well.

While Americans have long been accustomed to finding a car and driving off the same day, “build-to-order” is common practice in Europe, and it's the method embraced by electric carmakers such as Tesla, Lucid and Rivian. Now that supply chain delays have created bidding wars for vehicles that land on dealer lots, build-to-order is having a moment in the U.S.

Ford now allows buyers to order some popular models online and have them delivered to a dealership. That accounted for more than half the company's retail sales in June.

Most dealerships are eager to take special orders as well.

“That seems to be the hot move right now,” says Matt Jones, director of corporate marketing for automotive shopping site TrueCar. “Folks want to get exactly what they want as opposed to buying what’s available.”

Get pre-approved for a loan before you buy

Is build-to-order cheaper? It can be

Ordering a car from the factory might also help you avoid markups from the dealer, says Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor and content strategist for car research site Edmunds.

Montoya’s aunt recently was shopping for a Subaru Crosstrek and was offered a car on the lot at a local dealer at $3,000 over the sticker price. Instead, she asked the dealer to order one from the factory and paid only the sticker price. “And these days, sticker price is a good price,” he notes.

Indeed, the current market is brutal. Casual shoppers are competing with drivers who've lost a car to theft, accident or major mechanical issue. Some buyers are leveraging inflated trade-in prices to offset the thousands over MSRP they’re paying on a new ride.

A factory order allows both buyer and seller to take a deep breath.

For a dealer, a special order represents a sure sale rather than the risk that you find your ideal car elsewhere.

For the consumer, build-to-order gives time to reflect and make wise choices. Kelley Blue Book calls ordering a custom-made vehicle a “smart life hack” because “it cuts you out of the emotional process of seeing a car … and wanting it now.”

How to place a factory order

If you have the luxury of waiting for delivery, here’s how to navigate the build-to-order process.

First, you'll need to figure out if the company actually accepts custom orders or if its cars are allocated instead. If allocated, the configurations are predetermined — and any "order" you make is merely claiming a car already in the pipeline. Toyota, for example, operates on this model.

Shoppers typically order a vehicle one of two ways:

1. Configure a vehicle on the manufacturer’s website and submit your order through an assigned dealer. The MSRP you see is not guaranteed. Negotiations are handled through the dealer.

2. Negotiate and order directly with the dealer of your choice.

Before you sign anything, get these details from the dealer:

Time frame: The dealer can't give you an exact delivery date, but its ordering system should be able to give you an estimate. Consider going elsewhere if the delivery date is too far out, as manufacturers allot cars to dealerships at different rates.

Changes: Clarify the points of no return. With perhaps months before delivery, you may change your mind about color or options. You may be able to back out completely by a certain date.

Deposit: Typically this is $500 to $1,000. Many dealers don't actually cash the check or run the credit card number since the deposit is really “just to prove the customer has glue in the game,” Jones says. Ask what happens to your deposit if you decide to back out.

Documentation: Ask what paperwork you'll receive after placing your order and how to track your vehicle’s arrival. Often, dealerships provide a build order sheet that lists the model, final negotiated price and estimated delivery date.

Price: The dealer should provide you with a buyer's order spelling out the agreed-upon price, including any options, fees and dealer-added extras, tax, title and license. Not all dealers do so. Whatever paperwork you receive should reflect that agreed-upon amount. Ask if this is the amount you'll pay when the vehicle arrives. While rebates and incentives are rare these days, according to Jones, clarify which are reflected in the price and what happens if they change.

Before your vehicle arrives

Before your car lands at the dealership, make sure you track it periodically or follow up with the salesperson. Once you get a delivery date:

Arrange financing. Find a preapproved car loan. You’ll avoid surprises with your credit and have a rate for the dealership to try to beat.

Have your trade-in appraised. A dealership won't give you a trade-in price until you're ready to sign papers on your new car. If you’re considering trading in, quotes from internet retailers such as Carvana can help you get the most value for your car.

Ask about incentives. It doesn’t hurt to check the manufacturer’s website or ask your sales representative in case new incentives are available.

When your new vehicle arrives

Act quickly. If you have a delivery date or get a call from the dealership, ask if the car will be marked as sold and how long the dealer will hold it. Grab it as soon as you can, Montoya advises.

Inspect the car. Look the car over to make sure the vehicle matches what you ordered and that it hasn’t been damaged in transit.

Talk over any trade-in. Ask the dealer to appraise your old vehicle and show them any competing offers. Bear in mind that the sales tax savings of trading may be significant.