When I pitched the idea of “how to get a better deal on a car” to the illustrious Wallet Blog editor, he came up with a sneaky strategy to make sure you drive down the price as low as possible.

Get a car loan from the dealer, even if you don’t need one. Allow the dealer to sell you a loan with a ridiculously high interest rate, but MAKE SURE that there is no penalty for paying off the loan ahead of schedule. The dealer will make a higher commission on a loan with a higher interest rate, which will make them more likely to agree to your low-ball offer on the car.

Low-ball your offer and don’t be afraid to walk away — I walked out of a dealership four times in one day until the dealer finally accepted my offer.

Then, as soon as you drive off the lot with your new car, either pay off your loan in full (if you have the cash), or, refinance to a much lower interest rate. This might be a good opportunity to determine whether you qualify for membership in any of your local credit unions, as credit unions typically offer very competitive rates for auto loans.

Pretty tricky, huh? That’s why he’s the boss!