This year, limited dealer inventory has sent transaction prices on most new vehicles well above the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). Cars and trucks are in demand and selling quickly, even with an Additional Dealer Markup (ADM) tacked onto the window sticker.

So how does one avoid paying an ADM—or better yet, get a discount below MSRP? It’s possible if you’re considering a Ford.

Custom Order a Ford

Lately, Ford has been making a big push towards custom orders. Instead of buying a vehicle off the dealer’s inventory, the idea is that consumers would order their exact vehicle and wait several months for the vehicle to be built and delivered.

Custom orders are still sold through Ford dealerships, but some dealers are willing to sell a custom ordered vehicle at MSRP without an ADM—because, generally, the custom order doesn’t come out of the dealer’s regular allocation of inventory. In other words, a custom order is an extra vehicle the dealer could sell that they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.

The downside of custom ordering, of course, is the long wait. But if you plan ahead, you could save thousands compared to paying an ADM for an in-stock vehicle.

Price Protection

Another benefit of ordering: Ford offers price protection. Should Ford increase the MSRP of an ordered vehicle in the future, a dealer can submit a price protection request, in which Ford later reimburses the dealership for the difference.

Some dealers may be willing to front the money and sell the vehicle to you at the order MSRP, while others may send you a check for the difference after the sale. Some will keep the price protection money all to themselves. Be sure to confirm with the dealer!

Ford Custom Order $500 Bonus

Currently, Ford is offering a $500 Bonus Cash Offer on custom ordered Mustang, Bronco Sport, Escape, Edge, and Explorer models through July 5, 2022. Here’s the fine print:

*Place a new vehicle retail order for a 2022 Ford Mustang®, Bronco® Sport, Escape®, Edge® or Explorer® through a local authorized Ford Dealer on or before 7/5/22 and receive a $500 Bonus Cash offer. Offer not available on F-150®, F-150 Lightning™, Super Duty®, Ranger®, EcoSport®, Expedition®, Escape Hybrid, Maverick®, Mustang Mach-E®, Bronco® SUV, Transit®, Transit Connect®, Mustang Shelby® GT500®, Mustang Mach 1, Ford GT, F-150 Tremor®, F-150 Raptor® or E-Transit™. Offer terms and conditions subject to change without notice. See dealer for complete details and eligibility.

This incentive is not available for in-stock inventory. Yet another reason to order and plan ahead!

Lock in Incentives with a Custom Order

Should Ford’s lease or purchase incentives change for the worse, you may be able to request the incentives that were available at the time the vehicle order was placed.

As an example of how incentives can change, Ford Options Bonus Cash for 2022 Mustang Mach-E in certain regions was $2,000 in April 2022, but dropped to $500 in May 2022—a considerable difference!

Obtain an X-Plan PIN for Additional Discount

Some Ford dealers may accept X-Plan pricing on custom ordered vehicles. X-Plan pricing is below MSRP and available to employees of partner companies, as well eligible Ford stock shareholders and Mustang Club of America members (more details here). Check with Ford dealers in your area to see which ones accept X-Plan pricing.

Caveats to Watch Out For

While custom ordering a Ford could be a good option, it’s important to proceed with caution during the order process. Not every Ford dealer is versed with custom orders, and not all will sell you the vehicle at MSRP. Your experience could vary depending on the dealership, or even the salesperson, you work with.

For example, consider this experience shared by Leasehackr member @jeisensc. He submitted an order for an Escape Plug-in Hybrid on the Ford website, but the dealer never proceeded to convert the lead to an actual order, much to his frustration. It’s always a good idea to get written confirmation from the dealership that the order has been accepted—as well as written confirmation of the terms and pricing of the vehicle.

Additionally, note that Ford may close order banks early — for example, 2022 Mustang Mach-E, and most versions of 2022 F-150, can no longer be ordered. Customers interested in those models will have to wait for the order books to be reopened for the 2023 model year.

Have you ordered a Ford lately? Share your experiences and join the conversation today on Leasehackr Forum.