Is the Invoice Price of a Car the Naked Car Price?
2 Answers
Generally, the invoice price of a car is the naked car price. The relevant introduction of the naked car price is as follows: Introduction 1: The naked car price usually refers to the price of a commodity car without any non-standard accessories installed after leaving the factory (relative to the standard configuration when the car leaves the factory), which is the selling price at the 4S store. Introduction 2: The on-the-road price generally refers to all the expenses incurred by consumers from purchasing a car to licensing it. In addition to the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of the vehicle, the on-the-road price also includes purchase tax, vehicle and vessel usage tax, car insurance fees, and licensing fees. If the car is purchased on loan, the on-the-road price also includes 4S store service fees, GPS fees, car loan interest, and other expenses.
I remember when I bought my first car, the salesperson said the invoice price was the same as the base car price. But the invoice actually showed a figure 8,000 yuan lower than what we negotiated. I later learned this is a common dealer tactic—reducing the invoice price helps buyers pay less purchase tax. The base car price refers to the pure vehicle cost without any additional fees, while the invoice price can be flexibly adjusted, sometimes including add-on services. During my second purchase, I insisted on matching the invoice price with the base car price. Though it meant higher taxes, it led to fairer valuation when reselling. As someone who changes cars frequently, I think new buyers should pay attention to this detail to avoid potential issues affecting insurance coverage. If insurance claims are based on the invoice price, an artificially low figure might result in insufficient compensation for losses.
