The Four-Square Worksheet: What It Is and How Dealers Use It to Control the Deal
"Negotiating at a dealership is like playing chess with someone who wrote the rulebook—and changed it halfway through." - Chase Jordan
The Four-Square Worksheet: What It Is and How Dealers Use It to Control the Deal
📋 What Is the Four-Square?
The Four-Square is a negotiation tool used by nearly every car dealership in North America.
It’s not a conspiracy—it’s a strategy.
And if you don’t understand it, you’re likely to walk away confused and overcharged. We have clients call us just to avoid it!
The worksheet is a simple-looking piece of paper divided into four boxes:
Price of the vehicle
Trade-in value
Down payment
Monthly payment
Looks harmless, right? 😇
Let’s break it down. 🥊
🎭 The Real Purpose of the Four-Square
Dealers don’t use the Four-Square to help you.
They use it to help them.
By spreading out the numbers, they:
Control the narrative
Shift your focus to payments
Hide inflated costs or under-valued trade-in offers
⚡️ Example: If they want to keep your monthly payment low, they’ll bump your trade-in down or extend your loan term.
It’s a shell game with numbers.
🕵️♂️ Why It’s a Problem
Most buyers don’t negotiate all four squares at once.
Instead, they focus on just one:
“I want $400/month.”
“I need $5,000 for my trade.”
“I’m not putting more than $2,000 down.”
This gives the dealership freedom to inflate other areas to protect their profit and they do!!
✅ Deal Guard’s Breakdown of the Four Squares
Here’s what each box means—and how to take back control:
1. Price of the Vehicle
Don’t negotiate based on MSRP.
Ask for the out-the-door price with taxes, fees, and add-ons if any. Then have them remove the add-ons!
Compare this price across multiple dealerships. Compare Apples to Apples the best that you can.
2. Trade-In Value
Always get your trade appraised by 2–3 third parties (like CarMax, Carvana, or a local buyer) before dealing with dealers.
Don’t let them lowball your trade to make a “deal” on the car.
Also, always negotiate the car before the trade. Keep the trade out of the deal upfront.
3. Down Payment
This affects your monthly payment, but don’t let it become the only focus.
Your down payment shouldn’t be used to hide a bad price.
4. Monthly Payment
Don’t talk payment until you’ve nailed the sale price.
Ask for term length and interest rate in writing. Compare them with your local bank or credit union. Make sure the dealership stays competitive.
Payments mean nothing without knowing how they were calculated.
🧠 Pro Tips
🚫 Never negotiate all four boxes at once. Control one at a time start with base price of the car.
💬 Ask to see the price breakdown behind any payment. Line by line and be critical.
🧾 Don’t sign anything until every number checks out.
📸 Take a picture of the worksheet to compare later.
🔐 How Deal Guard Protects You
At Deal Guard, we:
Demand full transparency in every square
Review worksheets and breakdowns line-by-line
Leverage competitive offers to pressure dealers
Never let our clients fall for payment games
With us, you’ll never sign a Four-Square sheet without knowing exactly what every number means.
👉 Get your Deal Guard advocate today
⚡ Final Takeaway
The Four-Square isn’t evil—it’s just stacked against you.
If you know how it works, you can flip the script and come out ahead.
Or better yet—let Deal Guard do it for you.
👋 From Chase:
🚗 Why play games you didn’t sign up for?
At Deal Guard, we read the fine print, ask the tough questions, and stop the number-juggling nonsense before it starts.
Want the confident, stress-free way to buy your next car? Visit GETDEALGUARD.COM and let us go to work for you.
Or if you’re just here to learn and laugh a little, check out FUNNEWCAR.COM—car shopping is better with jokes.
Talk soon,
Chase Jordan
