A new company has come along that has the potential to greatly improve and simplify the way we buy cars now and in the future.

The company helps answer the question “What should I pay for my new car?” based on what dealers pay for the car and what other customers are paying for the same car.

If you know a dealer’s cost (invoice price) for a car, the MSRP (sticker price), and what other people in your area are paying for that car, on average, you then know how much you should pay.

If you could then get a written price guarantee backed by local dealers stating they will sell you the car for even less than that price, often less than invoice, it’s even better. You can then be certain that you’re getting about the best deal you could hope for — without the usual haggling and stressful game-playing.

TrueCaris the company we’re talking about here. It hasn’t been around very long but has already established a good reputation for itself in the automobile industry. It’s data and pricing information is often referenced in automotive trade papers and car magazines.

More than just providing free car pricing information like many other sites, TrueCaralso gives you a haggle-free, guaranteed price quote on brand new cars from dealers in your area. The price quotes are typically much less than average prices being paid by customers — and usually less than dealer invoice price. 

How does it work?

It’s easy enough. Select your vehicle make and model, enter your zip code, and then see the best local prices for the car or truck you want. TrueCargives you price quotes in writing from up to three dealers near you.

They show you dealer cost, average price paid in your area, factory invoice price, and MSRP (sticker price) for the exact car you want.

You simply print your TrueCar Price Protection Certificate and take it to your local car dealer to purchase your new vehicle at a significant savings off of the sticker price — usually less than dealer invoice price. It’s that simple.

Dealers will include any current rebates or factory-to-dealer cash savings in your price quotes.

The advantage of this great new service compared to other car price services is that it shows you exactly how your price quote compares against the average price being paid by other customers. With other services you can’t quite be sure your price quote is the best you can get. Not so with TrueCar.

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In any given month, some manufacturers really want customers to buy, offering very large rebates that represent a significant discount off of sticker price.  These are deals worth considering if you are in the market for a new car.

Rebates are applied at the time a customer buys a car and, in effect, reduce the amount of money needed to purchase the car although, technically, do not reduce the price as would an ordinary price discount. This may seem a trivial distinction but rebates are therefore taxable while discounts are not. In other words, you pay the same sales tax on a car with a rebate as on the same car without a rebate. Just so you know.

Oftentimes, a car manufacturer will offer rebates and low-interest loans at the same time. Customers must choose one or the other, but not both. Generally, large rebates are preferable — and the customer doesn’t have to “qualify” with a high credit score as he does with the low-interest loan.

Here are some of the best rebates being offered for October 2011. In some cases, particularly with the Ford offers, the total rebate may consist of multiple separate rebates and bonuses, such as a trade-in bonus.

• 2011 Chrysler 200 – up to $3000
• 2011 Dodge Journey – $3500
• 2011 Dodge Nitro – $3000
• 2011 Jeep Liberty – $5000
• 2011 Ford Expedition – $5000
• 2011 Ford F-150 and Edge – up to $4000
• 2011 Ford Flex – $3000
• 2012 Chevrolet Impala – $3000
• 2011 Buick Lucerne – $3000
• 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Avalanche – up to $4500
• 2011 Chevrolet Impala and HHR – $3500
• 2011 Chevrolet Colorado – up to $3000
• 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 – up to $4500
• 2011 GMC Canyon – up to $3000
• 2011 Kia Sedona – $6000
• 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor – $4500
• 2011 Mitsubishi Galant – $3500
• 2011 Suzuki Equator – $3000
• 2011 Toyota Tundra – up to $3250

You can get free price quotes on any of the above cars from Edmunds.comThe quotes will automatically include any cash-back rebates or discounts that are currently available.

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Because of shortages of both vehicles and parts created by the recent Japanese earthquake, automakers are not offering nearly the number of great incentives in June that we were seeing in the first months of 2011.

However lets take a look at where you can still find some good deals. Most of the deals expire on June 30, 2011. A few expire on July 5, 2011.

BMW is offering low APR interest rates (1.9%-3.9%) on the 2012 1-Series, 7-Series, X5, and X6 models. The company is also offering 0.9%-3.9% APR loan rates on 2011 models of the 3-Series, X5, Z4 7-Series, M3, 5-Series, 1-Series M, and X3. There is also a $3500 “Eco Credit” on some diesel models including the 2011 335d sedan, as well as special “Option Credits” available on many models (BMW doesn’t like to call them “rebates” — it sounds too cheap). Up to $2000 in factory-to-dealer cash is available on selected 7-Series models. Additionally, BMW is offering many excellent promotional lease deals in nearly every model line.

Chrysler has announced a few rebates and a number of low-interest loans, including 0% APR rates, across its 2011 model lines. These deals expire on August 1, 2011. Up to $1500 rebate or 0% APR loan is available on the Chrysler 200, 300, and Town & Country. 0% APR is also available on the Dodge Grand Caravan, Nitro, Avenger, Caliber, Journey, Dakota, Jeep Liberty, Compass, Patriot, and Ram trucks. Jeep Liberty has a $3000 rebate offer. Up to $3000 is also available on the Dodge Grand Caravan, Nitro, Avenger, Caliber, and Journey. There is a nice $4500 factory-to-dealer rebate on the Dodge Dakota.

Ford also has a number of 0% APR loan rates — on the 2011 Ford Ranger, Super Duty trucks, E-Series, Fiesta, Flex, Focus, Mustang, Fusion, and Taurus. Lincoln has 0% APR rate offers on the Lincoln Town Car, Navigator, MKS, MKZ, and MKT. Rebates up to $3000 are offered on the F-150 and Lincoln Town Car. Smaller rebates are offered on many other models. Large factory-to-dealer rebates are offered on the Mercury Grand Marquis ($5500), as well as the Mariner, and Milan (up to $3500).

Honda, which was seriously affected by the earthquakes in Japan is only offering a few low interest rate loans on some 2011 Acura and Honda models. The company is also offering a number of special lease deals on certain models and styles, such as the Honda Crosstour, Accord Sedan, CR-V, Odyssey, and Pilot. As you may know from reading this web site in the past, Honda lease deals are always great deals, if you like the model and style being offered. The 2011 Acura ZDX gets $2000 in factory-to-dealer cash. 

Hyundai/Kia is also in the 0% APR loan rate game with zero-percent deals on nearly every model, including both 2011 and 2010 models. In addition, there are a number of attractive rebates — $1000 on the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe and $2500 on the 2010 Hyundai Sonata. Smaller rebates are available on other models.

Jaguar has 0% APR loan deals on the 2011 Jaguar XF, XJ, and XK.

Mitsubishi has 0% APR rates on nearly every model, including the 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse and Eclipse Spider.

Saab is offering 0% APR rates on the 2010 and 2011 Saab 9-3 and 9-5. In addition, the 2011 9-3 and 9-5 get $3000-$4000 factory-to-dealer cash.

Toyota, also hit hard by the Japanese earthquakes, has 0% APR deals on the 2011 Toyota Camry, Tundra, Corolla, Venza, Avalon, Highlander, and Sienna. A $2500 rebate is offered on the Toyota Tundra truck, as well as up to $2500 in factory-to-dealer cash.

Volkswagen/Audi has low-interest rate deals, including a few 0% APR rates, on nearly every 2011 Audi and Volkswagen model, and the 2012 Audi A7, Volkswagen CC, and Eos.  Leftover Audi 2010 models get some very large factory-to-dealer cash, up to $9500 but averaging about $4000-$5000.

Volvo has 0% APR deals on the 2012 S60 and most 2011 models except the XC70 and XC-90 (which have 2.9% rates).

You can get free price quotes on any of the above vehicles from Edmunds.com.The quotes will automatically include any cash-back rebates or discounts that are currently available.

General Motors

The deals apply to most new 2011 models as well as leftover 2010 models. All deals expire on February 28, 2011.

Following are examples of some of the best current GM new-car deals:

2011 Buick Lucern – $4000 rebate or low interest rate loans

2011 Buick Enclave – $2000 rebate, or 0% APR loan rate up to 60 months — $399/month, 39 months lease deal

2011 Buick Lacrosse CX - $309/month, 39 months lease deal

2011 Buick Regal CXL – $249/month, 39 months lease deal

2011 Cadillac (most models/styles) – 1.9%-4.9% loan rates — $7000 factory-to-dealer cash on DTS and STS models

2011 Chevrolet – rebates $1500 to $3500, or 0% APR loans on most models — up to $5000 factory-to-dealer cash on Corvette, Impala, HHR (up to $2000 on Aero, Colorado, Malibu)

2011 GMC – rebates $1500-$2500 on most models, or low-interest loans (including some 0% APR) on many models

2010 Buick Lucern – $4500 rebate, or low-interest loan rates

2010 Buick Enclave, Lacrosse – $2000 rebate, or 0% APR loan

2010 Chevrolet trucks – $5000 on most models

2010 Chevrolet Corvette, HHR, Impala – up to $4000 rebate or 0% APR loan rate

2010 GMC – up to $5000 rebate or 0% APR loan rate on most models

2010 Cadillac DTS, STS – $10,000 factory-to-dealer cash

2010 Cadillac Escalade – $8000 factory-to-dealer cash

2010 Cadillac Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, and CTS – up to $7000 factory-to-dealer cash

These are excellent deals being offered by General Motors for January 2011, as well as for February.

You can get free price quotes on any of the above General Motors vehicles from Edmunds.com.The quotes will automatically include any cash-back rebates or discounts that are currently available.

This means that manufacturers have heaped some pretty incredible deals on those types of vehicles to help boost sales, and clear out old inventory. Deals are even better on left over 2008 trucks and SUVs.

If this is the kind of vehicle you need or want, now is an excellent time to buy.

Most of the deals end on April 30, 2009 and, as we always remind, some deals are not available in some parts of the country.

Here is a sample of some of the best cash-back rebate deals on large trucks and SUVs (2009 and 2008 models):

• 2009 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 – $3500
• 2009 Ford F-250/350/450 – $3500
• 2009 Ford Ranger – $4000
• 2009 Lincoln Navigator – $4000
• 2009 Nissan Armada – $6000
• 2009 Nissan Titan – $5500
• 2008 Nissan Titan – $6000
• 2008 Ford F-150 – $7000
• 2008 Ford Expedition – $5000
• 2008 Ford Explorer – $5000
• 2008 Ford Ranger – $4500
• 2008 Ford F-250/350/450 – $8000
• 2008 Lincoln Navigator – $7000
• 2008 Cadillac Escalade – $8500
• 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer – $7250
• 2008 Chevrolet Silverado – $7000
• 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe – $6000
• 2008 GMC Sierra – $7000
• 2008 Hummer H2 – $8000
• 2008 Hummer H3 – $7000
• 2008 Toyota Tundra – $6000

You can get free price quotes on any of the above trucks and SUVs from Edmunds.com. The quotes will automatically include any cash-back rebates or discounts that are currently available.

Just so that we understand, incentives can be in the form of factory-to-customer rebates (cash-back), low-interest loans, subvented lease deals, and dealer discounts backed by factory-to-dealer cash.

So far in 2009, the companies with the largest incentive deals are Land Rover with a whopping average of almost $6000 per vehicle, and Infiniti and BMW with over $5000 per vehicle. Mercedes, Kia, and Jaguar had over $4000 per vehicle, and Lexus at about $3500.

A couple of companies, Jaguar (XJ Sedan) and Land Rover (Range Rover), are offering an amazing chunk of dealer cash —  $10,000 per vehicle — money that is given to dealers  to do with as they like to help move cars. Much of the money will be given to customers in the form of price discounts. These people really want to move cars.

 Incentives have also been heaped heavily on large-size picku[p trucks, such as the Dodge Ram, Nissan Titan, Chevrolet Siverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Ford F-150, and Toyota Tundra. It is interesting to note that the Ford F-150 has been the best selling truck, in fact the best selling vehicle, of the past few years. Now it needs help from Ford in the way of rebates and discounted loans.