How to Buy a Factory-Ordered New Car

Ordering a car from the factory ensures you get the exact car, color and option combination that you want, and it's a method that can save time tracking down a vehicle that fits your needs. This special-order vehicle, as it is sometimes called, is usually arranged at the dealership, but for some brands, ordering a new car online is the only way to buy. It is also a way to circumvent "market adjustments," aka dealer markups, which have become all too common these days. While you may not necessarily get a discount with a custom order, you could very well get a better deal than if you bought off the lot.

"I was surprised by how easy it was," said Dillon Griffith, a Fresno, California, native who custom-ordered a Subaru Outback after becoming disappointed by the lack of Outbacks in dealer stock. "I sat down with the salesman and he walked me through the order guide," he added.

So what's the catch? You'll need patience for the process since it can take between six and eight weeks for a domestic-built vehicle, about three months for a vehicle built overseas, and even longer if you want an electric vehicle from a lower-volume manufacturer such as Lucid or Rivian. In Griffith's case, he was told about three to four months, and his Subaru was delivered near the end of that timeframe.

Here are some helpful car tips on how to order a car from the factory and streamline the process.

Jump to:
Steps to buy a car directly from the manufacturer
Do I need to go through the dealer?
Should I buy a car off the lot or factory-order one?
Tips for successful custom ordering
What if you don't want to wait?

You might wonder why you can't find a car with the exact options and color combination you want. It's because the vehicles that are available on dealer lots come with popular options that dealerships think have the best chance of selling. If their research shows that a highly (or minimally) optioned model or particular package doesn't sell, you're less likely to see it on the lot. The same goes for colors. You're more likely to find such popular colors as black, silver and white in stock. Vehicles in less popular colors, such as yellow, brown or green, might be far and few between.

Steps to buy a car directly from the manufacturer

• Get prequalified for a car loan. Getting a car loan involves getting approved by a lender and using that loan to purchase your next vehicle.

• Choose a car and use the manufacturer’s online configurator to choose your perfect spec. Many manufacturer websites allow you to save your newly created car or truck. Some automakers will allow you to search for an exact match (or something very close to it) at dealerships within driving distance of your location.

• Contact your preferred dealership near you (see the next section below for more on this topic). Depending on the manufacturer you’re considering, if you didn’t find an exact match near you, you’re probably going to have to go to a dealership to complete your order.

• Negotiate a fair purchase price. Some automakers like Tesla, Rivian and Lucid use straightforward pricing models and don’t use traditional dealerships. But if you’re shopping from a major vehicle manufacturer that has a nationwide dealer network, there may be some potential for movement on the price quoted through an online configurator. Some popular cars may have dealer markups that can be avoided if you’re willing to order online and wait for delivery.

• Get your negotiated price in writing. Check to see what others are paying, then call other dealers for price quotes. Keep in mind that if there are any incentives on the vehicle, they may not apply until the car is actually on the dealer lot. The dealership where Outback owner Dillon Griffith purchased his vehicle asked him for $2,000 over MSRP at the time of delivery. Because the salesman hadn't notified him beforehand, Griffith avoided the markup. That day he also noticed an Outback like his on the lot — with a $4,000 markup.

• Make a deposit to secure your order. Before you hand over any money, find out if your deposit is refundable. Most dealerships will require a deposit when you're ordering, which could range from $100 up to $1,000 or more. Note that if the vehicle has an unpopular configuration and you change your mind, some dealers may elect to hold the deposit until the car is sold since they may have a hard time selling it. With Tesla, for example, a reservation is refundable, but an order fee is not.

• Wait until the vehicle is delivered to your selected dealership. How long does it take to order a car? That depends on the car you’ve selected, where the car is built, and how many people are in line ahead of you. It’s likely to take a couple of months from when you make your deposit to get the car delivered, and it could take longer for brand-new models or low-volume machines.

• Drive home in your custom-ordered new car. Enjoy!

Do I need to go through the dealer?

Due to dealership franchise laws in many states, yes, you’ll likely have to go through a dealer. Unless you're ordering a vehicle from one of the few manufacturers that do not sell vehicles through a dealer, your local dealer will be the one who actually places the order with the factory. It will be your point of contact throughout the process, from taking your order to setting up delivery. As such, choose your dealership and salesperson just the way you would if you were buying a car off a lot. Read reviews and talk to friends who have bought there to ensure you're going to have a smooth experience.

Not every automaker, however, will let you order your vehicle when you want to. Honda dealers, for example, order their vehicles on a quarterly basis. The only way you can place an order for a specific vehicle is to speak to the fleet manager, who will put in a request before it's time to place the quarterly order.

Custom ordering a highly anticipated all-new vehicle can also be difficult due to limited supply. Also, the dealership might not have a say in which versions of hot vehicles it receives. The manufacturers will look at the sales records for the previous model years and allocate the vehicles accordingly for the initial shipment. If the dealer near you underperformed on the sales of a particular vehicle, it likely won't be allocated as many of the newer models.

Should I buy a car off the lot or factory-order one?

A vehicle that you custom-order shouldn’t cost any more than vehicles in dealer stock and, in some cases, may actually cost less.

When you buy from dealer stock, you may have to settle for a vehicle with either more or less equipment or your second or third color choice. Moreover, the dealership pays interest on stocked vehicles at a predetermined monthly rate to the manufacturer.

When you place a factory order, you get exactly what you want, in the color you want, and the dealer doesn’t have any finance charges — which may reduce the cost to you.

The downside to ordering is that incentives and rebates are good only on the day of delivery, unless stated otherwise (in writing) by the dealer. In other words, if an incentive or rebate program is in effect when the vehicle is ordered — but not in effect on the day of delivery — the customer is usually ineligible for the incentive or rebate. If you order a vehicle, and the delivery date is very close to the expiration date of a rebate or incentive program, note that the dealer may try to delay delivery until after the rebate or incentive has expired.

Also keep in mind that a dealer will be less likely to negotiate on a model that’s a hot seller. But if the model you’re seeking has been gathering dust on the sales floor, you may be able to score a great deal.

Tips for successful custom ordering

Follow these simple guidelines if you want to pursue ordering a car from the factory.

• Decide what you really want: The whole point of custom-ordering a new car is to revel in a sense of personalization, so you need to figure out not only what your next vehicle will be but how you want it equipped. If you're shopping for a Honda or an Acura, the option choices are very limited. If you're talking Ford F-150 or Porsche 911, there is a laundry list of options and trim levels to consider.

• Don't get too carried away with the options: Think twice before checking off every item on the options list. Doing so will cost you more now, and you probably won't recover the extra cost when you sell the car. If you care more about getting exactly the vehicle you want than you do about its future resale value, there's no problem. You just have to realize that your specific tastes might not be shared by the car-buying public when you go to sell. Less popular options on a vehicle don't necessarily add to the resale value, and in most cases, they actually decrease it. When people are looking for a used car, they are more interested in saving money than paying for your chrome wheels or technology package. Finally, once you've equipped your vehicle, use our affordability calculator to see if it is really within your means.

• Plan ahead: If you plan carefully, your vehicle will arrive just as you sell your old car to a new owner or as you wrap up your lease. Few of us purchase a car on a whim or must replace our current vehicle in a matter of days or weeks. If you plan ahead, you don't have to worry about compromising on the car you want. This is also the time to look into what you need for financing. Try to prequalify for financing from your bank or credit union. In many cases, the automaker's finance arm can offer a better rate, so ask your salesperson about that too.

• Find the right dealer: When you order a vehicle, your relationship with the dealer becomes critical. This is the organization you'll be talking to throughout the process, from taking your initial order to setting up delivery. If it is a good dealership, it will keep you updated on your order's progress without you needing to reach out. Choose your dealership just the way you would if you were buying a car off a lot. Read reviews and talk to friends who have bought at the dealership to ensure you're going to have a smooth experience. Make sure you have a salesperson who is knowledgeable about the process.

What if you don't want to wait?

An alternative route to the factory order is to consider a dealer trade. Dealers have powerful search tools that can zero in on cars with specific options. The dealer may be able to locate a car even when your search comes up short. This approach has its pros and cons, so take a look at this article on dealer trades for more information.

If you simply can't wait to order your car, consider greatly expanding the geography of your search. In our experience as we shop for vehicles to put in our One-Year Road Test fleet, there's often a match or a near-match for every color and option out there. You just need to be willing to shop outside your city limits. We've found cars we wanted in another county, a nearby state and even across the country. If this approach sounds intriguing, take a look at this guide before making a decision.

If you are patient with the process, ordering your next vehicle from the factory can be a rewarding experience. Just make sure you understand what's involved, order carefully with a trustworthy dealer, and negotiate as if the vehicle were on the lot. Then you can enjoy the purchase of a car that was built just for you.