Getting a good deal for a used car is easy because the market has a large variety to offer, however, getting one for the best deal is tricky because what you may see as a win-win situation could well be what the seller had in mind at the first place. In order to beat the odds to still get more out of a deal will need the buyer to do some hard groundwork and let the cards play at a different table rather than pitching at just one place or one car.

There are three ways to tip the scales in the buyer’s favor.

• Choice: Do not be stringent with just one car model choice to buy, but look at alternatives with the same class category from different dealers and sources. Once you have weighed the pros and cons across different used cars and have done sufficient research about market value, pick out the best three or five out of the sourced lot and make a pitch but don’t haggle too much as the market has one for you even if a deal was lot. Haggling will show a sign of desperation and the seller will sway you in their favor if they know you are easy to influence.