There are starting prices, but the negotiating process is so arcane and twisted that it really only establishes a rough ballpark. Car salesmen are notorious for

There are starting prices, but the negotiating process is so arcane and twisted that it really only establishes a rough ballpark. Car salesmen are notorious for slipping in extra charges and making "math mistakes" that they benefit from if you don't catch them before signing your agreement to them. They will push very hard to let their lending partners finance a car loan for you, offering incentives which lower the apparent price, but which generally end up costing the buyer more in the long end. Their business is built on cheating their customers, and it's disgusting. They can get away with it because many buyers don't have much in the way of alternatives. Car buying in the US is a really miserable experience. I'd be cheering for Tesla to succeed if for no other reason than that it helps to put the existing dealerships out of business.