Determine how long a truck has been on a dealership lot?

gmcsierra71 · September 22, 2023

Is there a way to determine how long a truck has been sitting on dealership lot?

Dirk13 · September 22, 2023

Look at the sticker in the driver door jamb. It tells you the month and year it was built. That doesn’t necessarily tell you how long the dealer has had it though.

You could just ask when they got it delivered?

redwngr · September 22, 2023

And there is always the chance it was a dealer trade which was originally shipped to another dealer.

It would have got the door sticker when it went down the line, but it could have sat outside at the assembly plant for an extended amount of time before it was shipped.

Curious if there is there a reason for wanting to know, other knowing it was sitting during price negotiating?

Edited September 22, 2023 by redwngr

KARNUT · September 22, 2023

Most of my trucks were longest on the lot. I got the best deals that way. They were glad to work with me on those. This was pre Covid.

eppieguy · September 23, 2023

CARFAX usually shows when the vehicle came on to the lot.

TrueBlue · September 25, 2023

If there are very few miles on it that might be an indicator.

swathdiver · September 25, 2023

On 9/22/2023 at 9:30 AM, gmcsierra71 said:

Is there a way to determine how long a truck has been sitting on dealership lot?

Curious, for what purpose?

BIGDOGx · September 25, 2023

8 hours ago, swathdiver said:

Curious, for what purpose?

To get a better deal would be one of them.

I know there is a site some car youtube guys use that tells them exactly how long each car they look at has been sitting on the lot. Sorry never thought to pay attention to what they use, but i know for a fact there are sites that calculate this.

Phantom 4D · September 25, 2023

Check the glove box or console for a check in date. The dealers have to do a check in inspection for any defects from the plant and shipper.

KARNUT · September 25, 2023

1 hour ago, BIGDOGx said:

To get a better deal would be one of them.

I know there is a site some car youtube guys use that tells them exactly how long each car they look at has been sitting on the lot. Sorry never thought to pay attention to what they use, but i know for a fact there are sites that calculate this.

I’ve never had a problem with getting an answer for show me the deals for longest on the lot. After awhile they have to pay interest if they sit too long. They like to move them before 60 days. I’ve had family members that were car salesmen. Around here they’re advertising big discounts lots are filling up. Especially electric vehicles. Of course the strike could affect that. My local Hyundai dealership has 10 Santa Cruise little pickups. Of course they’re hard loaded. Taking advantage of mark ups when they were scarce. Same with my local Ford dealer several Mavericks now. Hard loaded and expensive. A keen eye and patience. A good deal can be had if they linger.

Edited September 25, 2023 by KARNUT

TrueBlue · September 25, 2023

My first 2023 had sat on the lot since February. It had 105 miles on it. I bought it at the end of June. I traded it in for a the blue LT I have now that was 400 miles away so they trucked it from their sister lot to the lot where I bought it. I don't know how long it was on the first lot but when it got to me it only had 36 miles on it, so I'm guessing it wasn't at the original lot long. I'm picky about my vehicles so in addition to wanting a good deal I want something that is as close to being "out of the crate" as I can find. I then do my own oil changes and tire rotations so that I don't have to leave them in the hands of someone else who couldn't give a rip about cosmetics and care of my baby.

In these times of short supply there aren't many of them that linger long enough for the dealer to mark them down much.

Edited September 25, 2023 by TrueBlue

swathdiver · September 25, 2023

3 hours ago, BIGDOGx said:

To get a better deal would be one of them.

I suppose that's possible. In the end it boils down to how much down and how much a month. For me, I do not compromise much on my wish list of features. We have no problems traveling across this great nation to get exactly what we want. I used to think of getting a deal on a leftover and then finding myself pushing a non-existent lever or dial for an option I wanted and didn't get.

newdude · September 25, 2023

5 hours ago, BIGDOGx said:

To get a better deal would be one of them.

4-5 years ago this would be an agreeable statement.

Not anymore in the market now. Only way deals will appear is if the interest rates stay where they are or rise more and put a choke on sales. If sales slump, incentives may rise.

KARNUT · September 25, 2023

38 minutes ago, newdude said:

4-5 years ago this would be an agreeable statement.

Not anymore in the market now. Only way deals will appear is if the interest rates stay where they are or rise more and put a choke on sales. If sales slump, incentives may rise.

You need to check out the Houston Area. I’m seeing up to 15K off, no payments for 90 days. And under market interest. Ford and Ram lots are full. Nissan trucks going for 42K. Rams for 45K. I think my local GMC dealer is playing games. Plenty of lot space with just high end trucks. They’re also a Hyundai dealer with mainly loaded examples. They’re probably going to get burned with the competition selling more budget friendly examples. The budget deals right now are Nissans in my area. Better deals than even Hyundai. And even VW is dealing.