Costco Auto Program vs a car broker: how each one gets your price
The Costco Auto Program gives a member one prearranged price at one participating dealer. A car broker gets several dealers to quote the same car, then negotiates the whole deal for you. They are different services, and you can use one to check the other: send us your Costco price and we will beat it or tell you it is already a good deal.
Two ways to a price
One dealer's set price, or several dealers competing.
Costco Auto Program
One prearranged price at one participating dealer. Costco does not negotiate individual deals.
Who it suitsA member who wants a set price and is flexible about the exact car
Car broker
Several dealers quote the same car, then one specialist negotiates the whole deal and delivers it.
Who it suitsOne specific car, a lease, or a car brought to your door
What is said about Costco's program comes from its own site, read in October 2026.
Key takeaways
Everything said about Costco's program below comes from its own site, read in October 2026.
How the Costco Auto Program works
The program is a member benefit that, by its own account, has offered prearranged pricing for more than 35 years. In its own words, the site is "operated by a third party, not by Costco". Its privacy policy names the operator as Affinity Auto Programs, Inc., an independent company.
You are sent to a dealer. You enter your ZIP code and the vehicle, and the program points you to one of its approved dealers, where a named dealer contact handles Costco members.
The price is set in advance. The vehicle is offered at a price prearranged between the program and that participating dealer, subject to availability.
Costco does not negotiate your deal. The site states that Costco and its affiliates do not sell automobiles and do not negotiate individual transactions.
Dealers pay to take part. The site discloses that participating dealers have paid a participation fee.
New and pre-owned. The program covers new vehicles and pre-owned ones.
Some vehicles are outside it. Certain vehicles may be excluded, and the site says actual savings vary by vehicle, dealer and location.
There are extras. The member price can be combined with manufacturer incentives, and members get 15% off parts, service and accessories at participating service centers, to a maximum of $500 a visit.
The program's site speaks of buying or leasing through it. Because the prearranged figure is a price for the vehicle and Costco does not negotiate individual transactions, the rest of a deal is settled between you and the dealer: the lease terms, the trade-in and whatever is offered in the finance office.
How a car broker works
021 Auto Leasing is a California-licensed auto broker (license #82402). You tell us the car you want, on any make and model. We find it, get several dealers in a network of more than 400 to quote that same car, negotiate the whole deal and deliver it. One specialist handles the search, the negotiation, the paperwork and the delivery.
Before you agree to anything you get one written quote: payment, drive-off, term, miles, taxes, fees and our fee. Nothing is hidden, and you pay only once you have the keys.
Costco Auto Program vs a car broker, point by point
Who sets the price. Costco: a price agreed in advance between the program and one participating dealer. Broker: several dealers quoting the same car against each other that week.
Who negotiates. Costco: the price is fixed in advance, and the program does not negotiate individual deals. Broker: your specialist negotiates the whole deal.
Which cars. Costco: what the participating dealer has or can get, with some vehicles excluded. Broker: any make and model, from everyday cars to exotics.
Lease or buy. Costco: its site covers both. Broker: lease, finance or cash, and we can show the same car at different terms and mileage allowances side by side.
Where it happens. Costco: at the participating dealership. Broker: from your phone, with the car delivered to your door anywhere in California or picked up at the nearest dealership.
What you pay for the service. Costco: included in your membership, and the dealer pays the program. Broker: our fee is a line on your written quote, so you compare totals before you say yes.
After the sale. Costco: the parts and service discount at participating service centers. Broker: we also handle your lease end, and can take your current car in trade through a dealer in our network.
Use one to check the other
A Costco price is a good starting point.
1
Get the Costco price
Ask the dealer contact for the complete quote in writing.
2
Send it to us
The whole quote, not only the price of the car.
3
Dealers compete
Several dealers quote the same car.
4
You know
We beat it, or tell you it is already a good deal.
Which one fits you
The Costco Auto Program fits a member who wants a set price without haggling, is flexible about the exact car, and is happy to buy at the participating dealership.
A broker fits when you want dealers competing for your deal, when you want one specific car, when you are leasing (a lease has more moving parts than a price), or when you would rather have the car brought to you. Most cars we deliver come without dealer add-ons.
Use one to check the other
If you already have a Costco member price, you have a good starting point. Ask the dealer contact for the complete quote in writing, then send it to us. We will beat it or tell you it is already a good deal. Either way you know before you sign.
A complete quote shows more than the price. For a lease it shows the payment, the amount due at signing, the term and the miles; how to read a lease quote goes through each line, and Check my quote flags add-ons and extra fees in it.
AAA and other member programs
The Automobile Club of Southern California offers its members a car buying service that sends them to a certified dealer near them. Programs like it work on the same idea as Costco's: a member price at a chosen dealer. The comparison above applies to them too, and so does the offer: send us the quote.
How 021 helps
We have delivered more than 1,200 cars across California. Tell us the car, and several dealers quote it. You get one written number and one specialist, and in-stock cars can go from inquiry to keys in under 48 hours. See how our car buying service works, read what a car broker does, or tell us the car you want.
021 Auto Leasing is not affiliated with Costco Wholesale Corporation or the Costco Auto Program. Costco is a trademark of Costco Wholesale Corporation.
What a complete quote shows
Compare totals, not one number.
Our written quote carries every one of these before you agree to anything.
- PaymentThe monthly figure, with tax.
- Drive-offWhat is due at signing.
- Term and milesHow long, and how many miles a year.
- Taxes and feesEach one listed.
- Our feeA line on the quote, nothing hidden.
Common questions
Is it worth buying a car through the Costco Auto Program?
Can you negotiate with the Costco Auto Program?
Does Costco have a car leasing program?
Is it cheaper to buy a car through a broker?
How much does the Costco Auto Program cost?
Who runs the Costco Auto Program?
021 Auto Leasing is a licensed California autobroker (license #82402). All new cars arranged for sale are subject to price and availability from the selling franchised new car dealer.