As you scour the local dealerships or perhaps attempt to buy an ATV secondhand, you might be wondering where you will find the best value and the lowest price. With that in mind, you might be curious as to the flexibility that ATV dealers offer on their vehicle prices.
ATV dealers are often will negotiate on the asking price. However, the amount will depend on the season, availability, your research and price point, and many other factors. To find the best deal on an ATV, be sure to buy off-season and be flexible to various ATV models available.
Clearly, you can see that there are many factors that make up if and how much ATV dealers will be willing to budge on their selling price. Interestingly, the more the ATV costs, the more the dealer is able to work with a flexible price as the profit margin increases for them.
However, there are many other tips and tricks that you can implement to get the best deal on your ATV. Continue reading to learn more.
Purchasing an ATV is similar to purchasing a boat; both vehicles are used in seasonally appropriate settings and can vary in price based on location among other factors. Often, you will find that the law of supply and demand truly goes into effect with the sales of ATVs.
You can negotiate with ATV dealers to find the right price for you and them. More often than not, ATV dealers genuinely want the best ATV for you, but they also have a price point that they must maintain. Negotiating with an ATV dealer requires research, patience, firm points of interest, and reasonable expectations.
There is a difference in being taken advantage of and being willing to pay an appropriate price for the ATV you are attempting to purchase. Keep in mind that even if the price of the ATV itself is not negotiable, there are plenty of perks that the dealer might be convinced of providing in the included cost.
A few benefits worth negotiating for when buying an ATV include:
While your ATV dealer might not be able to toss in all of these benefits with the purchase of your ATV, it is still acceptable and appropriate to ask for a few of the perks to be included.
Since the ATV dealer can generally spare the profit margin in these areas more than they can flex on the price of the vehicle itself, it is worth keeping these perks in mind as a large component of your overall ATV deal.
Here’s a good video with some tips for buying a motorcycle, but these tricks also apply to ATVs.
Regarding what you need for negotiating with an ATV dealer, consider the following:
One of the most important tips in getting a good deal on an ATV is researching to know what a good deal will actually look like.
Not only does a good deal include a low cost on the model (or similar model) that you are interested in, but the deal should be respective to the season that you are buying in and the area in which you live.
For example, buying during the off-season will more typically yield lower costs than buying an ATV during the more standard buying season (summer). There are a variety of reasons that this is true, but mainly it has to do with supply and demand.
Check out our Best Time To Buy an ATV article for more tips on ATV seasonality and what time of year is best to purchase.
Since more ATV riders (both experienced and newbies) are looking to buy and ride ATVs in the summer months, ATV dealers often spend the cold winter month restocking.
This potentially gives you an opportunity to reap the benefits of a dealer looking to get older models off of their showroom floor to make room for the newer models.
Along with knowing what season to buy in, you need to know what dealerships are willing to do in your area.
This will be influenced by the climate as well as the number of dealerships in the area.
If a small dealer is known for cutting deals, this might mean that they are not as stable in their business and need to cut deals to maintain some sales. Or, perhaps they are good enough to keep their prices low. Either way, you can benefit.
Perhaps most importantly, you need to research the ATV models that you are interested in. As there are many different options available, an ATV dealer will know whether you are knowledgeable or not within the first few minutes of the conversation.
This allows them to perceive how much a “deal” they need to give you to make the sale.
Not that they are taking advantage of you, but if you are inexperienced with buying ATVs and have not done your research, then you might be more easily won over by “shiny” perks that you would not otherwise be inclined to purchase.
So, in doing your research beforehand, you can have more of an idea of what you are and are not willing to pay for- especially what you find necessary and unnecessary for your new ATV.
The next tip in finding the best price for your new ATV is to remain patient. Rushing into a search not only limits your options, but it limits the window in which you have to find the vehicle that may end up being your favorite.
Patience with an ATV dealer (or several dealers) can also help you to wait out on a sale or the new release of a certain model.
When a new model is released, you can often scoop up the previous year’s model at a reduced price. This is a similar concept as buying the latest phone or car- once the “new” year has passed, the model’s novelty depreciates and the price reduces.
If you know that your favorite manufacturer is about to release a new model, and you are willing to go with a different model than the new release, then you can expect to find a good deal. However, this obviously implies patience in waiting for this release.
Further, you need to remain patient in the season that you plan to buy your ATV in.
Since buying during the summer will likely not yield the best overall deal on your ATV, just wait a few more months and buy in the off-season.
You will experience an increased likelihood of finding the deal that you are hoping to find if you simply wait a few months and make do with what you have for this season.
Of course, this is not always practical if you find that you are in the middle of the summer and do not have a working ATV that you can ride. But, when it is possible and you are simply waiting to upgrade, then waiting until the off-season can come in clutch.
Being patient with the local ATV dealers can also help you out. ATV dealers are people, too, and will generally look to help you out more if you are polite and patient with them. Now, this does not mean that you should bend to their every request- as they are attempting to make a sale and you are attempting to cut a deal- but being patient with them can pay off.
Keep your eyes open at the various ATV dealerships in your area. If you live in an area that the nearest ATV dealers are within 100 miles, then you might have to use their websites or insist on a deal over the phone.
By telling an ATV salesman that you mean business and you are unwilling to drive all over kingdom come in search of a deal, they will see your dedication and firmness in your motivation to buy.
The third tip to finding the best deal and negotiating the price of your ATV is to maintain firm points of interest in the ATV you hope to buy. In essence, you need to know what you are looking for before you go into the dealership, and you need to demonstrate this knowledge competently with the ATV dealer.
Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that your points of interest might look different than your buddy’s. While the price of the vehicle might be the ultimate deal-breaker for you, your buddy might be more open to a flexible price as long as maintenance is included for the year- or something similar.
It is important to decide what the maximum price point you are willing to reach is before you enter into the dealership.
Additionally, you should know what you are looking for in an ATV and try not to be too set on one model. If you are flexible with your options, then you might be more willing to take a good deal on a model you had not originally considered.
Here’s a good video explaining some common negotiation tactics and strategies you could use when searching for a deal.
Finally, setting reasonable expectations on what a “reasonable” price is for your ATV is important.
Often, this simply comes as a component that will (or will not) earn you the respect of the dealer.
If you come into the dealership looking to pay $1,000 for a $4,000 model, for example, then you are likely not going to get the deal you are looking for.
However, if you choose to keep a budget range and will stretch to the higher range of the budget as long as a few perks are added to your buy, then you might end up with a better overall price on the ATV and perks included. This can save you in the long run, even if you are spending to the top of your budget.
Ultimately, it is important to be realistic with what you can buy, what the ATV dealer can offer you (as they have to make a profit to pay their bills), and respect the process. By following these reasonable expectations, both you and the ATV dealer will be thoroughly satisfied in the deal that you make, and you can walk away with your new ATV at a reasonable price.
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Shopping for a sport UTV or ATV can be an exciting time.
As you search for the newest models by Yamaha, Polaris, or another manufacturer, you’ll want to make sure that you are buying an affordable ATV and not accidentally overpaying. Many customers do not realize that the answer to the question “Can you negotiate with ATV dealers” is yes!
Knowing how to bargain with an ATV dealer can save you hundreds or even potentially thousands of dollars. If you have never had to enter into ATV dealer negotiations, we’ll cover the topic in this guide to ATV dealer negotiations.
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You have probably heard of MSRP, but you may not fully understand the term. Buying cars, UTVs, and ATVs is a different process than, say, purchasing a gallon of milk from the grocery store. Commodities like milk have set prices that are non-negotiable.
Motor vehicles often come with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) that is set by the manufacturer. Companies set MSRP numbers to standardize prices in different parts of the country.
You can think of MSRP as the number that the manufacturer believes is a fair selling price for the general public. MSRP typically includes the factory warranty, but it does not include extra bells and whistles that can be added as upgrades.
MSRP is sometimes called the “sticker” or “window” price. Your “out the door price” could be more or less than MSRP depending on how well you negotiate.
Can I bargain with an ATV dealer? Absolutely, and here’s how. When you negotiate with ATV dealer, you have a bit of wiggle room to offer a price that is slightly lower than MSRP.
A general rule of thumb is to offer up to 15% below MSRP. The internet has made it easier than ever to shop around, so dealers expect some customers to know that prices are sometimes negotiable.
Online resources like Kelley Blue Book can help you find the MSRP for the ATV or UTV that you are shopping for.
Once you negotiate with an ATV dealer, make sure that the dealership doesn’t try to tack on extra fees to make up for those discounts.
Depending on consumer demand and when a new model came out, an ATV dealer may not be inclined to heavily discount an all-terrain vehicle. Next, we’ll look at how the time of year can impact your ability to negotiate a lower price on your ATV or UTV.
The price of your ATV or UTV isn’t the only thing that is negotiable. Other items and steps that can be included in your negotiation plan include:
One approach may be to agree to pay the sticker price in exchange for some freebies, like a new set of helmets and safety goggles. Or you may choose to settle for a 5% price reduction if the dealer waives the registration fees.
Most of your savings will come from negotiating the price of the vehicle. If that effort isn’t fruitful, see what else the dealer may be willing to throw in.
Be patient and don’t take it personally if a seller won’t budge. There’s always another dealer, so don’t set any hard deadlines on your price negotiation endeavors. Remember, the goal is to save money and to own the right ATV or UTV.
Sometimes, waiting for the market offseason can nudge ATV sellers to want to make a sale. One slow season for ATV sales is May and June. Since new models come out mid-summer, shopping around before that spike in sales can often work in your favor.
In general, the longer a vehicle is on the sales floor, the more a dealer will want that unit gone. Like car dealerships, stores that sell ATVs have limited floor and storage space.
Making repeated visits to a store also helps you build relationships with the sales team. Those relationships can work in your favor when it comes time to make a deal.
Demonstrate that you have done some prior research. Knowing which make and model ATV that you are looking for and the ATV cost can help you skip the formalities so you can get down to negotiations.
Showing that you have done background research also signals that you can’t be easily swayed to pay the MSRP or higher. If you are looking for a great source of ATV-related news, check out our comprehensive news archives.
Even when show up fully prepared, set reasonable expectations. Remember, dealerships have to make a profit to stay in business. You are unlikely to convince an ATV seller that your ATV should be sold for near cost.
As we mentioned earlier, it is reasonable to expect up to 15% off MSRP but not any lower under most conditions.
Most of us are familiar with the process of negotiating the final sales price of a car. ATV and UTV sales should not be treated any differently.
Following the tips in this article can easily save you 15% or more from the sticker price of your new all-terrain vehicle.
So, can you negotiate with ATV dealers? Absolutely. Before you start shopping, begin your online research by visiting our sport UTV comparison guide.
It is possible to ride an ATV with a child, but in some cases there is an age limit. And preparing for the trip is not as difficult as it seems.
We have prepared a guide on how to properly ride an ATV with a child.
If the ATV does not have a vehicle passport, but it is planned to ride somewhere in the forest or just off the highways, there is no law that determines the minimum age of a passenger.
Indeed, in this case, the equipment is considered sports equipment, like a bicycle. Therefore, in theory, you can ride with a child of 2-3 years.
But very young children may not enjoy the ride. Most likely, they will be afraid of shaking and turning. Therefore, it is worth taking passengers when they already fully perceive the world, understand the “commands” of the driver and can report on their condition and feelings. That is about 4-5 years old.
If you ride not on your ATV, but on a rented ATV, the company can set the minimum age for passengers.
The parent will have to explain:
If the child is not quite small (10-12 years and older), he can be seated in a regular passenger seat.
It is more difficult with younger children. On the one hand, they can be placed in front of you: this way the child is easier to control, and he will have a better view. But in the event of a frontal impact, you can crush the passenger with your body. Therefore, such a landing is good only if the driver drives as carefully as possible, slowly, and ideally also along a known route without obstacles.
The second option is to put the child in the back. In terms of safety in case of a possible collision, this is much better. But on the other hand, he will be less able to see the road: in order to see what is happening, he will have to turn his head left and right, since everything in front of him will be obscured by the back of an adult.
The third option is a special child seat. True, manufacturers do not produce such accessories, so you will either have to order it yourself, or buy a child seat for a motorcycle or bicycle and try to fix it on an ATV.
In this case, the child will sit higher, and it will be possible to fasten the belts.
The ideal route is explored, uncomplicated, with even ground, without bumps. Well suited forest or field primer. On an unfamiliar road, you can first ride without a child.
Not fast, without sharp acceleration, braking, turns and turns, do not allow the ATV to roll in any direction. If you still need to drive through a section with pits or a slope, you need:
Motorcycle equipment for children from 4 years old can be found on sale.
The types are the same as for the "adult" equipment: there are helmets, shoes, gloves, jackets, pants, overalls and protective elements (knee pads, elbow pads, back protection).
Ideally, of course, take a complete set, even for a slow and careful trip. In extreme cases, you can only get by with a helmet. But it is better to supplement the protection with at least gloves and knee pads, as well as closed hard shoes.
Riding with a child is not difficult. The main thing is to drive carefully and slowly, choose smooth and calm routes, use equipment and make sure that the passenger is sitting comfortably and can hold on to something. The age limit (12 years) is valid only for ATVs with a vehicle passport.
Articles
08 Feb
After a long wait for rides, the last thing you want is to face a breakdown in the middle of the forest, and then spend part of the season for repairs.
Therefore, it is very important to properly service the ATV after the winter - change the oil, lubricate everything you need, make sure there are no backlashes and smudges, check the tightness of the bolts and nuts. We will talk about everything in more detail in the article.
This is important because over time the oil loses its properties - because of this, heat is less efficiently removed and friction between parts increases. All this leads to accelerated wear.
Please note that the ATV engine can only be filled with special oil for motorcycles - this is due to the clutch in an oil bath. And it is advisable to use what the manufacturer recommends, as it guarantees stable operation under increased loads. For example, for CFMOTO there is a special line of CFMOTO G-Motion oils.
Two things are checked:
The air filter prevents dust and small particles of dirt from entering the engine, so it is important to keep it in good condition.
To clean the foam filter, wash it in warm water with Fairy or in a special agent, wring it out a little (do not twist it) and dry it. After that, impregnation with oil for filters is necessary.
When driving, the radiator becomes clogged with seeds, grass, lint and dirt. If you do not clean it, the next ride can turn into a test - a long road to the house with constant stops to cool the engine.
It is better to clean the radiator with a compressor by removing the protective grille. It is undesirable to use a pressure washer due to the risk of damaging the honeycombs.
It is best to move the radiator to the front luggage area - it is more convenient to service, you can safely overcome puddles and other water obstacles without fear of subsequent overheating of the engine due to stuck dirt.
Important: if you plan to dive deep into the water, it is obligatory to install snorkels, seal the wiring and remove the breathers - without this, it is highly likely that the swim will end tragically for the equipment.
During long storage, gasoline deteriorates - fractions evaporate, the octane number becomes lower, oxidation and precipitation occur. If you drive on such fuel, the piston group and the fuel system may suffer, so it is better to fill in fresh.
There should be no play - try to shake all the rods and levers by hand. You also need to make sure that there are no oil smudges on the shock absorbers.
It is necessary to check the cardan shafts for play, make sure that there are no breaks or damage on the anthers of the CV joints.
It is also important to inspect the variator belt: if there are cracks or broken teeth, a new one must be installed.
The variator itself can be blown out with compressed air. Lubrication of its individual parts is required only if it is indicated in the instruction manual (it all depends on the ATV model).
Timely renewal of grease will help extend the life of the components. Depending on the model of the ATV, the number and location of injection points may be different. Usually they are on the suspension arms, crosses and spline joints of cardans, steering knuckles.
To do this, take the wheel on the sides and shake it in different directions, jacking up the ATV. If there is play, the wheel bearings are most likely worn out, less often the bushings.
It is necessary to check:
The recommended tire pressure for your ATV can be found in the owner's manual and also on the machine itself, usually near the left rear fender.
It is not necessary to be guided by the value indicated on the tires themselves - this is the maximum pressure that the tire can withstand.
Apply electrical protective spray or lubricant to the contacts and connectors to prevent moisture ingress and malfunction of the ATV.
Even before the season, you must make sure that the high and low beams, side lights, emergency alarm, power steering, turn signals, horn, winch and heating are functioning normally.
Normally, the battery charge is from 12.5 V. If it is less, it should be charged. Plaque on the terminals, cable lugs and the battery case itself can be removed with a sponge moistened with a solution of baking soda in water.
