While Nissan is discontinuing the Nissan Rogue Sport, the Nissan Sentra remains in the brand’s lineup. The Sentra is popular with buyers for its affordability, fuel efficiency and safety. The 2022 Sentra received a Top Safety Pick rating/award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS); it is priced at $19,950 and can get up to 29 MPG in the city and up to 39 MPG on the highway.
The 2023 Sentra hasn’t yet made its way onto the brand’s website, but buyers can still purchase a 2022 model. Those looking for a deal, though, might wonder about any promotions or incentives. Where can buyers find Nissan Sentra incentives? Here’s where to look:
- Local Nissan dealership websites
- Kelley Blue Book
- Nissan’s website
Check Local Dealership Sites
Local Nissan dealerships could offer certain incentives or promotions that decrease the cost of a new Sentra. Buyers who are interested in finding the best deals for a Sentra can check out the sites for their local dealerships.
Some car buyers shop in-person. Those who like to visit dealerships and see the cars in person without surfing online can talk to a salesperson at the dealership to inquire about any incentives for the Sentra.
Visit Kelley Blue Book
Kelley Blue Book is the most trusted automotive authority for car valuations. Buyers can visit KBB to understand the resale value of their car if they wish to sell it privately; they also can use KBB to research the trade-in value of their vehicle.
In addition, KBB offers reviews and recommendations about the latest car models. The site also might include news stories related to the best lease deals or other promotions offered by car brands.
Incentives on Nissan’s Website
The easiest way to find all the available promotions and incentives about any brand’s vehicles is to simply visit the brand’s main website. Nissan includes a page for each car in the brand’s lineup that highlights all the available promotions, deals incentives for the model.
So what are the latest incentives or promotions related to the 2022 Sentra? Currently, Nissan offers two deals:
- A lease option for $269 per month (for 36 months) with $3,829 down
- 2.25 APR for 36 months (for purchase)
Not all buyers might qualify. Those interested need to read the details, and buyers should reach out to their local dealer for additional information. While the low APR might appeal to buyers (especially as rates have gone up), the term is for 36 months; not all buyers might be able to afford the monthly payment under these terms.
What are Incentives?
The deals mentioned on Nissan’s site are the only two incentives offered for the Sentra. What does the term incentive mean, though? Are there many types of incentives? Investopedia explains that ‘dealership incentives’ can include cash incentives (e.g. a rebate), but the site notes that manufacturers also could offer incentives to the dealership.
Rebates or cash back can be popular incentives, and Real Car Tips highlights several other incentives that consumers might find at dealerships. These incentives include:
- Finance incentives
- Lease deals or promotions
- Loyalty programs
- Bonus cash
Currently, Nissan offers both a finance incentive (the 2.5 percent APR for buyers) and a lease deal. These are common incentives that buyers might find right now. However, different models might offer different incentives; different brands, too, could differ in what they offer.
For buyers to understand their options for lowering the price of their favorite vehicle, pursuing any incentives could be a good idea. Again, though, for special APR deals and lease deals, not every buyer will be eligible.
How Can Buyers Lower the Price of a Sentra without Deals or Incentives?
Buyers might not qualify for the current options of incentives offered by dealerships. How can buyers lower the cost of their Sentra if they don’t qualify for these deals?
One of the easiest ways to help offset and decrease the price of a new car is to offer up a trade-in to the dealership. Many buyers have a car that they use for a trade-in. The value of a trade-in lowers the car’s price and can help buyers even lower their monthly payment in the process.
How can buyers understand the value of their trade-in? KBB makes it easy for buyers to research the resale value or the trade-in value of any vehicle. The resale value, though, will always be higher than the trade-in value.
What is the difference between the resale value and the trade-in value of a vehicle? The trade-in value is the price the dealership will pay for the car, while the resale value is the price that the car owner could use in a private sale.
The resale value of a vehicle is higher than the trade-in value because the dealership needs to build in their profit. They act as the middleman between the car owner and the eventual buyer.
To find the resale or trade-in value of a vehicle, car owners will need to know either the VIN or license plate info. They also could choose to enter the make/model/year of their car. KBB also will prompt them to add in the mileage, select the appropriate trim of their car and select any features, too.
Car owners also will need to select the car’s condition. Owners should be transparent about the condition of their car. When using KBB, the goal is to get the most accurate trade-in value possible. Selecting a less than honest condition will only result in an inflated trade-in value; however, the dealership will be able to discern a car that’s in great condition from one that is in average or just good condition.
KBB will show car owners a trade-in estimate and a value range. These figures can help car owners get a fair price at the dealership. Print out the information from KBB and take it to the dealership when negotiating.
Other Ways to Save
Car buyers could be out of luck for incentives for a Sentra, but there are a few buying tips that can help buyers hopefully save some money. Here are a few other ways to score the best deal:
- Shop on Monday
- Wait until the end of the month, quarter or year to buy a car
- Shop during three-day holiday sales
Mondays are a great time to shop for a car because the dealership isn’t crowded. Buyers might get more personalized attention from the sales team. They also could get some perks (although this is never a guarantee).
The end of the month, quarter or year also are great times to buy a car. These ‘end of’ times coincide with final days of sales goals. For this reason, buyers might score a better deal on a car.
Three-day holidays will be busy at dealerships. However, Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends could mean sales. Fourth of July also is a prime time for auto sales.
While, again, deals or lower prices are never a guarantee especially if the dealership is in the midst of a supply crunch, these times of the year are the best opportunities for buyers.
The Worst Times to Score a Deal
The new 2023 Sentra hasn’t popped up yet on Nissan’s website. However, when it does become available, some buyers might rush to buy a new model.
When new models hit the dealership, buyers may flock. Dealerships won’t likely offer promotions or incentives for new models, and buyers shouldn’t expect savings for a newly released model year.
Shopping on the weekend for a car also isn’t the best option (with the exception of three day weekends). Dealerships are busy during the weekend, buyers might compete for attention, and the sales team might not be as willing to bargain.
If waiting until the end of the month, quarter or year could lead to deals, shopping early in a quarter or in the month might not. However, every dealership is different. Buyers could get lucky.
Older Models Could Be a Deal, Too
When new model years are arriving at the dealership, the previous year models become less desirable. Dealerships will want to move them off the lot. Buyers might notice that they see more deals for previous year models during the fall or winter.
Some dealerships could be more open to bargaining if they are trying to get rid of the previous model year. However, buyers could find that some popular models sold out quickly and there are no deals and no cars available.
The past few years were an interesting time for the auto industry. Buyer demand for cars was high, supply was crunched from the chip shortage (and buyer demand), and some buyers had to settle for what they could find on the lots.
Now, though, the market could start to shift back to normal. Demand also could drop if interest rates start to scare off buyers. Those who need a new car and plan to shop for a new model in the future might simply need to wait and see how prices look when they are ready to buy; in addition, buyers can visit their local dealership websites to understand any incentives that are available in their area and for the car they want.