'Most Dealerships Have This:' Toyota Salesman Says You Can Get New Cars Under $15,000. You Just Have to Ask for Back Line Specials

An Oklahoma Toyota salesman argues that it’s easy to get a deal on a car under $15,000. Of course, buyers have to be willing to ignore some rough edges.

TikTok creator Jeb (@jeb.sells.toyotas) posted a video with his sales pitch over the weekend.

"So, I see a lot of comments and a lot of people talking about ‘Vehicles are so expensive,’" he says to start the video. "Most dealerships have this. I know mine does. I think we go a step further than what other people do."

Toyota Salesman Introduces Viewers to the Back Line Special

He continues, "These are what we call our back line special pieces. These are vehicles that have some outside deformities. Chips, paint, stuff along those lines that we don’t want to fix, but we make sure are mechanically sound."

So what’s the pro of buying a vehicle like that? "Generally, all these vehicles are under $15,000," he says. "They are cash vehicles. They’re usually a little higher mileage. Or, they have issues with the paint."

Jeb offers up a few examples. The first is a Highlander with paint damage, the second is a Prius with body damage, and the third is a GMC Yukon with some exterior wear and tear. But all three are "mechanically sound," Jeb promises viewers.

"Most dealerships have these types of vehicles that are generally a lot cheaper than what is certified," he says. "I mean, we have plenty of options in different price ranges. There are cheap vehicles out there. You just have to know, ‘I’m not going to be able to finance this vehicle unless I go through a private bank.’"

The Truth About the Car Dealership Back Line Special

The video's comments section reacted to the idea of a back-line special. One fellow car salesman wrote, "Around here it’s referred to as ‘skid row.’" Jeb replied, "That’s one name for it."

A second person argued, "For $15,000 cash, I can buy a cream puff. Those cars are junkers." In response, Jeb wrote, "You can’t drink champagne on a beer budget."

On a Reddit thread posted to r/askcarsales five years ago, users discussed what happens to trade-in vehicles that are either very old or have obvious problems. One car dealer said, "If it’s a car that they won’t retail, they either send it to auction, sell it to a wholesaler, or if they have their own Buy Here Pay Here lot, it might get sent there."

Some experts warn against buying a damaged car even if you’re light on cash. That’s because the car could soon need repairs to keep running. And the cost of those repairs might exceed what you would’ve paid for a reliable car in the first place.

Others agree with Jeb. One Reddit user on a thread posted to r/carguys last year said sometimes it’s the best option. 

"As long as it was repaired well enough, you’ll be fine," the person wrote. "So many people say a crashed car never drives the same. If it is shoddy work, yes, but if it’s good work you’ll never know."

Motor1 contacted Jeb via TikTok comment and direct message for comment. We also contacted Toyota via email for comment. This story will be updated if either party responds.