Car Buying Guides
Data-driven guides to help you navigate new car pricing, understand dealer tactics, and make smarter purchasing decisions. Written by the team behind VINdow Sticker, using insights from tracking hundreds of thousands of vehicles across the country.
2026 Kia Sorento Buyer's Guide: It's Not the Sorento, It's Kia
All 24,098 Sorentos are below sticker — and so is every other Kia we track. Across ~143,000 Kias, not one is advertised at or above MSRP. Plus why the SX badge, not the price, sets the discount.
Read guide2026 Jeep Compass Buyer's Guide: Four Numbers Explain 96% of the Market
Almost every Compass is discounted by one of just four round figures. And the cheapest volume trim gets the biggest cut — the exact reverse of the Gladiator from the same showroom.
Read guide2026 Kia Sportage Buyer's Guide: Every Single One Is Discounted
All 27,708 Sportages we track advertise below sticker — not one at or above. But the average cut is only $774, and that combination tells you exactly how to shop it.
Read guide2026 Subaru Crosstrek Buyer's Guide: The Fastest-Selling Car We Track
The Crosstrek turns in 23 days — about half as long as its rivals — which is exactly why discounts are thin. Plus the real factory invoice on every VIN.
Read guide2026 Jeep Gladiator Buyer's Guide: Why Every Single One Is Discounted
Not one of the 19,472 Gladiators we track advertises above sticker. The median discount is $5,286 — and the cuts get proportionally deeper the more expensive the trim.
Read guide2026 GMC Sierra 1500 Buyer's Guide: The Discount Is Hiding at 38% of Dealers
The median Sierra discount is $0 — but the 38% that are discounted average $5,562 off. Why the Sierra discounts four times harder than its Silverado twin.
Read guide2026 Ford Bronco Sport Buyer's Guide: The $2,250 Floor and How to Beat It
64% of all 33,737 Bronco Sports carry an identical $2,250 discount — a national program, not a negotiation. Here is how the other 35% go deeper, up to $5,500 off.
Read guide2026 Toyota RAV4 Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and Best Deals
Complete 2026 RAV4 buyer's guide with real pricing data from 29,390 vehicles in stock. Every trim from LE to Limited — most sell at MSRP, plus how to spot dealer add-ons.
Read guideFord Employee Pricing 2026: Is It Real, Who Gets It, and What You Actually Pay
Ford's 2026 Employee Pricing is open to everyone — but whether you see it depends entirely on the dealer. We found the same truck advertised ~$12,000 apart. Here's what it is, how to get it, and what you'll really pay across 216,000+ Ford listings.
Read guideThe FTC Just Drew a Line on Car Prices. Here's What 775,000 Listings Show.
In 2026 the FTC told dealers their advertised price must be the total price — every mandatory fee included — and made them responsible for third-party listings too. Here's the rule in plain English and what every car we track reveals about markups, discounts, and availability.
Read guideHow to Read a Window Sticker
Every new car has a window sticker (Monroney label) required by federal law. Learn what each section means — from base price to destination charges — so you know exactly what you're paying for.
Read guideDealer Markups Explained: ADM, DIA, and Market Adjustments
Dealers add thousands to the sticker price through market adjustments, mandatory accessories, and add-on packages. Understand the difference between ADM, DIA, and dealer price adjustments — and how to spot them.
Read guideThe Best Time to Buy a New Car in 2026
Timing matters. End-of-month, end-of-quarter, and model-year changeovers all create opportunities. Learn when markups drop and inventory surges based on real market data.
Read guideHow to Use VINdow Sticker to Find the Best Deal
A step-by-step walkthrough of every VINdow Sticker feature — from searching inventory and comparing markups to tracking price drops and finding below-MSRP deals.
Read guideDIA Explained: Dealer Installed Accessories You Can Negotiate
What Dealer Installed Accessories are, how they differ from factory options, which ones have real value, and how to negotiate or remove them from your purchase price.
Read guideFactory Order vs. Dealer Inventory: Pros and Cons
Should you factory order your next car or buy from dealer inventory? Compare wait times, pricing, customization, and markups to make the right choice for your situation.
Read guide2026 Ford Bronco Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and Best Deals
Complete Bronco buyer's guide with real pricing data from 29,876 in stock. 98% sell below MSRP — a ~$2,000 median discount — and only the Raptor still holds sticker.
Read guide2026 Toyota Camry Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and Best Deals
Complete Camry buyer's guide with real pricing data from 37,785 sedans in stock. The median Camry sells at exactly MSRP — see which trims and states actually discount.
Read guide2026 Ford Maverick Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and Best Deals
Complete Maverick buyer's guide with real pricing data from 26,475 in stock. The once-impossible-to-get compact truck now starts under $28,000 with 0% marked up — and the discounts hide on the top trims, not the base.
Read guide2026 Ford Explorer Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and Best Deals
Complete Explorer buyer's guide with real pricing data from 34,585 SUVs in stock. Every single trim is priced below MSRP — from the value Active to the 400-hp ST.
Read guide2026 Subaru Outback Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and Real Dealer Margin
Complete Outback buyer's guide with real pricing data from 33,956 vehicles in stock. 61% are below sticker — and we show the dealer's actual factory invoice on every deal page.
Read guide2026 Toyota Tundra Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and Best Deals
Complete Tundra buyer's guide with real pricing data from 33,575 in stock. A two-tier market — 48% discount (median $3,540 off) while 21% sell over MSRP — so where you buy swings the price $4,000+. See which trims get marked up.
Read guide2026 Ford F-150 Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and Best Deals
Complete F-150 buyer's guide with real pricing data from 47,933 trucks in stock. 99% are priced below MSRP — every trim from XL to Raptor analyzed, and one trim never discounts.
Read guide2026 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and Best Deals
Complete Super Duty buyer's guide (F-250 & F-350) with real pricing data from 43,952 in stock. Your trim decides your discount — work trims (XL/XLT) discount 100% of the time, luxury trims (Lariat/King Ranch/Platinum) sell at MSRP.
Read guide2026 Ram 1500 Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and Best Deals
Complete Ram 1500 buyer's guide with real pricing data from 96,485 trucks in stock. 92% are discounted an average of $4,393 — the deepest truck discounts we track.
Read guide2026 Ram 2500 Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and Best Deals
Complete Ram 2500 buyer's guide with real pricing data from 32,886 in stock. 97% sell below MSRP — a median $2,000 off — and they move in 19 days. Every trim discounts except the Power Wagon.
Read guide2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and Best Deals
Complete Silverado 1500 buyer's guide with real pricing data from 24,256 trucks in stock. Most dealers advertise at sticker — here's where the real discounts hide.
Read guide2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and Best Deals
Complete Grand Cherokee buyer's guide with real pricing data from 62,627 vehicles in stock. 97% advertise at sticker — but the discounters cut $4,373 on average.
Read guide2026 Jeep Wrangler Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and Best Deals
Complete Wrangler buyer's guide with real pricing data from 54,698 vehicles in stock. 2-door Wranglers are discounted 2-3x as often as 4-doors — see every trim.
Read guide2027 Kia Telluride Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and Best Deals
Complete guide to the redesigned 2027 Telluride with real pricing data from 10,442 vehicles in stock. Every priced unit is at or below MSRP — the markup era is officially over.
Read guide2026 Honda CR-V Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and How to Shop It
Complete CR-V buyer's guide with real inventory data from 38,021 vehicles in stock. Trim-by-trim MSRPs, the hybrid math, and how to shop a brand that doesn't publish dealer prices.
Read guide2026 Toyota 4Runner Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and Best Deals
Complete 4Runner buyer's guide with real pricing data from 10,659 vehicles in stock. Every trim from SR5 to Limited analyzed with average markups and inventory levels.
Read guide2026 Toyota Tacoma Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and Best Deals
Complete Tacoma buyer's guide with real pricing data from 52,851 trucks in stock. Every trim from SR to TRD Pro analyzed — only one trim is above MSRP.
Read guide2026 Lexus RX Buyer's Guide: Trims, Pricing, and Best Deals
Complete Lexus RX buyer's guide with real pricing data from 4,357 vehicles in stock. 85% of Lexus inventory is below MSRP — find the best trim and price for you.
Read guideThe Lexus GX 550 Shortage: Why 93% of Listed Inventory Is Already Sold
A breakdown of the GX 550 inventory paradox: hundreds of listings, almost none actually for sale. What's driving it, which trims to target, and how to actually buy one.
Read guideToyota Markup Report: What Dealers Actually Charge
Real pricing data on every Toyota model based on 252,976 vehicles across 1,969 dealers. See which models sell below MSRP and which carry premiums — from the discounted Tundra to the marked-up Supra.
Read guideHow Long Do Cars Sit on the Lot? Days-on-Market Guide
Days-on-market is a hidden negotiation lever. Learn which models sell in under a week, which sit for months, and how to use DOM data to negotiate a better price on your next car.
Read guideBest States to Buy a New Car: Where Dealers Discount Most
Montana, Idaho, and Utah lead the nation in new car discounts. Real data on state-by-state pricing, why low-population states offer deeper deals, and what to know about buying out of state.
Read guideWhat Is Dealer Invoice Price and Why It Matters
Understand the difference between MSRP, invoice price, and true dealer cost. Learn about holdback, dealer cash incentives, and how to calculate the real margin on any new car.
Read guideHow to Negotiate a New Car Price: Step-by-Step Guide
A complete 10-step guide to negotiating your next car purchase — from researching dealer costs and checking days on lot to getting competing quotes and pushing back on DIA.
Read guideLexus NX vs RX: Which One Should You Buy?
A data-backed comparison of the Lexus NX and RX — size, powertrain options, pricing, and which offers the best value. Real pricing from thousands of vehicles in stock.
Read guideHybrid vs Plug-in Hybrid vs Gas: Which Powertrain Saves You the Most?
Break-even analysis of gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains using real purchase prices and fuel costs. See how dealer discounts on PHEVs change the math.
Read guide2026 State-by-State Dealer Markup Report
Which states have the lowest dealer markups? A data-driven report based on 300,000+ vehicles at every Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler, Ford, GMC, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, and Subaru dealer in the US.
Read guideHave a question we haven't covered?
We're always adding new guides based on what car buyers are asking.
Suggest a topic