What's Your Deposit?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 327
From: North Carolina
What's Your Deposit?
I've ordered a couple of high end cars in my time and one was no deposit and the other was $500 deposit. My local GM dealer wants 10% of the cost of the car as a deposit. I think this is pretty extreme. But is this the new norm? Am I going to have to bite the bullet and pay this?
Pro
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 514
Likes: 265
From: Huntsville
I've ordered a couple of high end cars in my time and one was no deposit and the other was $500 deposit. My local GM dealer wants 10% of the cost of the car as a deposit. I think this is pretty extreme. But is this the new norm? Am I going to have to bite the bullet and pay this?
I would think if the dealer already has mark up planned a 10% deposit (assuming non refundable once the dealer takes delivery), will keep the buyer from backing out.
I don’t know though, do dealers disclose markups at the time of order?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,299
Likes: 1,862
From: Oregon
Unheard of from a Chev dealer. The norm for a C8 is $1000. That was a few years ago when they were all sold out.
Maybe times are changing and they cannot afford to be stuck with a high end car if you bail out.
Shop around. I have heard it many times before, shop out of state.
Maybe times are changing and they cannot afford to be stuck with a high end car if you bail out.
Shop around. I have heard it many times before, shop out of state.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 725
Likes: 21
From: Dallas TX
$500 for my 2015 C7/Z06, $2500 for my 2025 C8/Z51. Both at the same dealership and both with an agreed not to exceed MSRP at the time I placed the deposit with both deposits refundable if we couldn't agree on the price. I bought the C7 for MSRP and the C8 for a lot under MSRP.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,834
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From: Kelso, Wa
Before putting ANY $$$ down with ANY dealer you want it in writing that the deposit is refundable at any time prior to the order being accepted by GM, AND that it applies to the purchase price.
Perhaps it would be best to check with MacMulkin instead of whomever it is you're "dealing" with.
Perhaps it would be best to check with MacMulkin instead of whomever it is you're "dealing" with.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 297
Likes: 192
From a seller's perspective I think it should depend on the customer and the build. You're a previous/local customer wanting a fast-moving configuration - small/no deposit. You want the McDonalds Edition - 50% non-refundable deposit.
Safety Car
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From: NJ
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I put a $500 refundable deposit down.
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Joined: Apr 2016
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From: Pittsburgh
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Your dealer may not get many Corvette allocations & doesn't want to get "stuck" with one on the lot
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 322
From: Indiana
I would say $1000 deposit is reasonable.
For my 2026 Stingray, I paid $1000 down and agreed to a fixed amount off of MSRP. That was a month ago and the option prices are still not announced.
On my 2020, I paid $5000 non-refundable and my car was built in Sept 2019 after the plant reopened.
Each deal is what you make it work for you.
For my 2026 Stingray, I paid $1000 down and agreed to a fixed amount off of MSRP. That was a month ago and the option prices are still not announced.
On my 2020, I paid $5000 non-refundable and my car was built in Sept 2019 after the plant reopened.
Each deal is what you make it work for you.