It has been reported to death that hybrid cars and hybrid trucks are more expensive than their gas-guzzling counterparts. Sure, you want to help the environment (and maybe pocket a little saving to boot!), but you don’t want to shell out too much to do it. The cost of hybrid technology in excess of normal car prices could take up to twelve year of savings at the pump to make up for the higher price of your hybrid car. Most savvy consumers, regardless of their eco-friendliness, have found this to be prohibitive.

Fortunately, carmakers are finally coming around to the idea that consumers will buy hybrids if the price is right. The car barons are currently (May 2007) offering an average rebate on hybrid models of $1,638 (based on info from Edmunds.com). Due to these rebates, the break-even point for purchasing a hybrid is getting lower on a dollar for dollar basis.

It also doesn’t hurt that hybrids have been delivered to dealers and they’re just sitting on the lots. Dealers do not like cars sitting around not selling. As such, dealers are beginning to relax their stranglehold on sticker price only sales. We’re seeing the first signs of being able to haggle hybrid car prices (hybrid truck prices are lagging behind a bit). This is a little surprising since one would expect the ever increasing gasoline prices to increase demand for hybrids, thus decreasing the ability to negotiate prices. Apparently, dealers just want to move the merchandise.

Looking for Deals

You might not immediately recognize the lower prices of specific hybrids. Carmakers aren’t necessarily lower the base price of the cars. Toyota wants to sell more of its Prius line, but they didn’t want to offer a rebate or incentive as they believe this might devalue the brand. Instead, they lowered the prices of the various options. If you are the type that has to have every option, well, this might be the car for you.

On the other side of the coin, Ford decided to just offer a typical incentive deal and the Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids. Each comes with a $2,500 cash-back with an additional $1,000 in dealer cash. You might be able to garner low interest financing as well, provided you maintain good credit.

Not all hybrids are currently being discounted. That doesn’t mean not to look, though. You never know what might pop up.