I got a great price on a 2017 Honda Civic by looking outside of where I live in Austin. But the offer I found was a LONG way from home!
That’s where miles and points saved the day and helped me get an incredible price. I’ll explain how I used miles and points to save Big Money on a car!
A few weeks ago, my 11-year old-Honda Civic was totaled. So I was in the market for a replacement. I have never bought a new car. Because new cars lose value as soon as you drive them off the lot.
But I was able to get a brand new 2017 Honda Civic for the price of a used 2016 model! And I used miles and points to make it happen!
Finding the Best Deal on a New Car
I love finding great deals. So when it came to buying a car, I always bought used. But this time around, I took a different approach.
I wanted to replace my Honda Civic. I used cars.com to do my initial research for a used 2016 model. But they were still very expensive.
I knew dealers would have new 2018 models and would want to get rid of their “old” 2017 Honda Civics. So I searched within ~200 miles of where I live in Austin. I checked out the dealers’ websites for “special internet offers” to find the best price.
I was able to find an amazing package through a dealership in Fort Worth for ~$4,000 less than the retail price on a brand new 2017 Honda Civic! And it was the same cost as a used 2016 Honda Civic, which is what I originally intended to get.
So I took the offer I had and shopped it around to Honda dealers within 200 miles of Austin (did I mention I love finding a good deal?). A couple of dealers told me I got a steal. And no one came closer than within a few $100 of the price I was quoted. So I took it!
Saving Money With Points and Miles
Using miles and points, I was able to give myself the flexibility to find the best deal, even if it was 200+ miles away!
I booked a last-minute award ticket from Austin to Dallas-Fort Worth with American Airlines miles. This saved me $250 in airfare! And I used 15,000 Club Carlson points to stay in Fort Worth the night before I picked up my new car.
The next morning, I took an Uber to the dealer to pick-up my new car. And I was able to get a better car than I originally planned on buying for the price I wanted to pay. The only extra cost was an Uber ride and the taxes & fees on an award ticket!
Having Fun With the Process
So was it worth it to put in all that time and effort to get a good price on a car? Yes! Not only did I save a bunch, but I loved the process. I love free flights, hotels, and road trips! That’s a win-win-win for me!
Plus, I needed a car. And I wouldn’t have felt good if I knew I could get a better price with a bit more effort. Miles and points motivated me to put in the extra legwork. Because there was little added cost.
I was thrilled. And that’s the point! You can use your points for whatever makes you the happiest! What better reward is there?
Bottom Line
Recently, my 11-year old Honda Civic was totaled. 🙁 So I was looking for a replacement. I wanted a nice used Honda Civic. Because I’ve never bought a newer-model car in my life!
I soon realized that used 2016 Honda Civics were still expensive. So I looked for offers on the 2017 models. And I was able to find a new 2017 Honda Civic for the same price as a used 2016 model!
But the car was over 200 miles from where I live. That’s when miles and points came to the rescue! I saved $250 on airfare by booking a last-minute award ticket. And I got a free hotel near the dealership. So picking up the car was easy.
What is the thriftiest way you’ve saved money using miles & points?