Note: costs mentioned below are given in US dollars as a general point of reference — actual prices vary by country, currency, and local market.
Price Drop Alerts trigger when a saved vehicle's price falls by your chosen threshold — a default of 3% or $500, whichever is lower — based on dealer-submitted pricing feeds refreshed every 24-48 hours. Alerts are limited to real listed-price changes, not financing or lease promotions, which are shown separately so the two aren't confused.
At a glance
| Setting | Default |
|---|---|
| Trigger threshold | 3% or $500 drop, whichever is lower (adjustable) |
| Data source | Dealer-verified pricing feeds |
| Feed refresh | Every 24-48 hours |
| Scope | Listed vehicle price only, not financing/lease terms |
| Max alerts | One per vehicle per 7 days, even with multiple qualifying drops |
How the threshold works
You can leave the default (a 3% drop or $500, whichever is the smaller, more sensitive number) or set a custom dollar or percentage threshold per saved vehicle. A $30,000 vehicle with the default threshold would alert at roughly a $500 drop rather than waiting for a full 3% ($900) move, since $500 is lower in that case.
Where the pricing data comes from
Alerts rely on dealer-submitted, verified pricing feeds — not scraped or estimated figures — refreshed on a 24-48 hour cycle. If a dealer's feed is delayed or stale, the vehicle is flagged "Pricing pending confirmation" rather than silently using outdated numbers.
What is and isn't covered
- Covered: changes to the vehicle's listed price.
- Covered: a new manufacturer rebate applied directly to the listed price.
- Not covered: financing rate changes, lease specials, or trade-in offers — these appear in a separate "Financing & lease specials" section to avoid confusing an APR change with an actual price cut.
Frequency limits
Even if a vehicle's price moves multiple times in a week, you'll get at most one alert per vehicle per 7 days, showing the net change since your last notification rather than one email per individual price update.
Dealer pricing can vary by dealer for the same trim; the alert is tied to the specific listing you saved, not to a national average, so a price drop at your saved dealer doesn't necessarily reflect the wider market.
Frequently asked questions
What's the default price drop threshold?
How current is the pricing data?
Will I be alerted about a lower financing rate?
Can I get more than one alert a week for the same car?
Can I set my own threshold?
Sources & further reading
Figures, prices and policy details were current at the last-updated date above. Automotive pricing, incentives and regulations change frequently — verify time-sensitive details with the linked primary sources. Read our editorial policy and fact-checking standards.
