How Long to Negotiate Before Walking Away
How long should you negotiate a car deal in the US before walking away? When to push one more time and when to leave.
There's no fixed "right" time to walk away from a car negotiation in the U.S.—but there are clear signals. Here's when to push one more time and when to leave so you don't overpay or waste time.
TL;DR Walk when they won't move and you're above your max or above market. Don't walk just because of time—walk when the deal doesn't meet your number. State your limit once or twice, then leave if they don't move. Use autopremo.com to know your target and market so you know when to stay and when to go.It's Not About Time—It's About the Number
How long you negotiate matters less than whether the number works. If they hit your target (or close enough) in 10 minutes, you're done. If they never get there after 2 hours, you walk. So the real question is: Have you given them a clear chance to meet your number? If yes and they haven't, walk. If not yet, give them one more clear shot—then walk if they don't move.
Know your target number at autopremo.com.When to Push One More Time
- They've moved but not quite to your number. They're close (e.g., $300–$500 away). One more round: "If you can do $X OTD I'll sign today." Sometimes they'll close the gap.
- They haven't checked with the manager yet. You've stated your number once. Ask: "Can you check with your manager one more time? My number is $X OTD. If you can get there, I'm ready." Give them one chance to come back with a new number.
- You haven't stated your number clearly yet. Make sure they know your target: "I need to be at $X out the door. Can you get there?" Then wait. If they say no, you've given them a clear chance—then walk if you're at your max.
Don't push forever. One or two clear rounds is usually enough. If they've said no twice (or the manager has said no), walking is the next move.
Get your target at autopremo.com.When to Walk Away
- They won't move and you're above your max. You've stated your number. They've said no (or countered above your max). You're not going to pay above your max—so you leave. No guilt. You gave them a chance.
- They won't move and you're above market. You've checked comps (use autopremo.com). Their number is above median. They won't come down. You're not overpaying—so you leave. There are other dealers and other cars.
- They're wasting your time. They keep "checking with the manager" but coming back with the same number. Or they're pushing payment, add-ons, or trade-in instead of addressing OTD. You've asked for the breakdown in writing and they won't give it. At some point, leave. Your time has value.
- You're tired or emotional. If you're fatigued or upset, you're more likely to cave. It's better to leave and come back another day (or go to another dealer) than to agree to a bad deal because you're worn down.
A Simple Rule of Thumb
State your number clearly once (or twice). If they don't meet it or get close, walk.- First round: "I need to be at $X out the door. Can you get there?" Wait. If they say no or counter above your max, one more: "Can you check with your manager? My number is $X. If you can get there, I'm ready today."
- Second round: If they come back with the same number or still above your max, walk. "I appreciate your time. My number is firm. If anything changes on your side, you have my number." Then leave.
You've given them two clear chances. That's enough. More rounds usually don't change the outcome—they just drain you and make it more likely you'll cave.
Know your number before you go at autopremo.com.Your "When to Walk" Checklist
- [ ] Target OTD and max known (from autopremo.com)
- [ ] Stated your number clearly at least once (ideally twice)
- [ ] If they won't move and you're above max or above market → walk
- [ ] If they're wasting time (same number, no breakdown, pushing payment/add-ons) → walk
- [ ] If you're tired or emotional → walk and come back or go elsewhere
- [ ] Don't push forever—one or two clear rounds, then walk if they don't move
Bottom Line
How long to negotiate before walking away: long enough to state your number clearly once or twice. If they don't meet it (or get close) and you're at your max or above market, walk. It's not about time—it's about the number. Use autopremo.com to know your target and market so you know when to stay and when to go.