Costco Member Leverages Auto Program to Negotiate Lower Car Price

A TikTok user named Suzie shared how she skillfully used Costco’s Auto Program to negotiate a lower price on a 2026 Toyota Camry. She first obtained the “no-haggle” discounted price of $38,800 from a Costco-affiliated dealer through Costco’s website. She then contacted non-Costco dealers to secure an even lower quote, which she used as leverage to push the Costco-affiliated dealer to further reduce their price. Ultimately, she closed the deal at $37,500—but chose to complete the purchase with the non-Costco dealer instead. The entire negotiation took place over the phone, helping her avoid the pressure of in-person haggling, and she strategically used the excuse of needing to “discuss it with her spouse” to buy herself more time. She emphasized that while Costco’s quote is a powerful bargaining tool, buyers shouldn’t feel limited to using only Costco-affiliated dealers. This approach works especially well for less popular vehicle models and effectively sidesteps common sales tactics.