At some point during your overseas assignment, the question comes up: should I buy my next vehicle through Military AutoSource, or just wait and buy from a dealer back home? It’s a fair question — and one that deserves a proper comparison. When you stack MAS vs buying from a stateside dealer side by side across pricing, financing, rebates, delivery, sales experience, and overall transparency, the answer becomes clear. MAS wins on every front, and it’s not close.
This post breaks down exactly how Military AutoSource Lakenheath compares to buying from a traditional U.S. dealership — point by point, with no spin. If you’re a U.S. military service member stationed at RAF Lakenheath or anywhere in the UK, this is the comparison you need before making your next vehicle purchase.
Pricing: MAS vs Buying from a Stateside Dealer
Essentially, this is the most important difference, and it sets the tone for everything else.
At a stateside dealer: The sticker price — the MSRP — is just the starting point. Dealers add their own markup, which on popular models like the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler, or Toyota Tacoma can range from $2,000 to $10,000 or more. They call it a “market adjustment.” On top of that, you’ll encounter documentation fees, advertising charges, dealer-installed accessories you didn’t ask for, and various preparation fees. By the time you negotiate and sign, the out-the-door price often lands well above MSRP.
At Military AutoSource: Every vehicle carries zero markup, factory-direct pricing regulated by the Exchange and Department of Defense. The price always falls below MSRP — before any additional military rebates or discounts. There’s no dealer profit layered on top, no market adjustment, and no hidden fees. The price you see is the price you pay.
The structural difference is simple. Stateside dealers set their own prices and protect their margins. In contrast, MAS pricing is regulated, transparent, and consistently below MSRP. When comparing MAS vs buying from a stateside dealer, the pricing gap alone can save you thousands of dollars on the exact same vehicle.
Financing: Transparent Rates vs Hidden Markups
The financing process is where many stateside dealers make significant profit — often without the buyer realising it. As a result, this is one area where the difference between MAS and a traditional dealer hits your wallet hardest.
At a stateside dealer: The dealer submits your loan application to a lender, receives an approved interest rate, and then marks it up before presenting it to you. A lender might approve you at 5%, but the dealer tells you 6.5% and pockets the difference. This practice is legal and extremely common. You’d never know the true rate unless you applied to the lender directly. Additionally, the finance office pushes add-on products — paint protection, fabric treatment, gap insurance, extended warranties — each one adding to the dealer’s profit and your total cost.
At Military AutoSource: Through Financing Assistance, MAS applies to multiple military-friendly lenders on your behalf and presents every offer to you side by side. The rate each lender quotes is the rate you see — zero markup on interest rates, ever. MAS charges no fees for the service, and the minimum down payment starts at just $100 for overseas delivery or $1,000 for stateside. No finance office gauntlet, no add-on pressure, and no hidden rate inflation.
Consequently, over a 60- or 72-month loan, even a 1.5% rate markup costs you hundreds or thousands of dollars in extra interest. Through MAS, that hidden cost simply doesn’t exist.
Rebates: Your Savings vs Dealer Profit
This is one of the least understood differences when comparing MAS vs buying from a stateside dealer, and it might be the most costly for buyers who don’t know about it.
At a stateside dealer: When a new manufacturer rebate or incentive appears after you’ve signed your paperwork, the dealership has no obligation to tell you. Unsurprisingly, most don’t. The rebate exists, the dealer qualifies for it, but you never see a dollar. That rebate quietly becomes dealer profit. For example, if you ordered a truck in January and a $2,000 spring promotion launched in March before your truck delivered in April, the dealer would pocket those savings without a word.
At Military AutoSource: In contrast, Rebate Assurance monitors every available rebate on your specific vehicle from the moment you place your deposit to the day it delivers. Manufacturer promotions, military-specific incentives, seasonal offers, regional discounts — MAS tracks all of them. At delivery, the single best rebate gets applied to your price automatically. No asking required, no tracking promotions yourself, and no savings disappearing into someone else’s pocket.
In other words, at a traditional dealership, hidden rebates become dealer profit. At MAS, they become your savings. As a result, that distinction can mean hundreds or thousands of dollars on a single purchase.
Sales Experience: Pressure vs Partnership
The way you’re treated during the buying process might not show up on a price sheet, but ultimately it makes a massive difference in the overall experience.
At a stateside dealer: The salesperson’s paycheck depends directly on how much you spend. Bigger vehicle, more add-ons, higher financing products — all mean a bigger commission cheque. Every recommendation carries an ulterior motive. The manager negotiation dance, the finance office pressure, the “let me check with my boss” routine — it’s all designed to maximise what they extract from you. You deal with multiple people, each with a different agenda, and by the end you’ve explained your situation four times over.
At Military AutoSource: Through Sales People On Your Side, every MAS rep earns a flat commission regardless of what you buy. A $25,000 sedan or a $70,000 truck — the rep takes home the same amount. There’s zero incentive to push you toward something more expensive. In fact, MAS reps regularly suggest cheaper options, talk buyers out of unnecessary packages, and occasionally recommend against a purchase entirely if the timing or budget doesn’t make sense. You work with one person from start to finish — no handoffs, no repeating yourself, and no pressure.
Therefore, when the person advising you earns the same regardless of your decision, the advice changes completely. That’s something a traditional dealership model simply cannot replicate.
Delivery: One Option vs Two
In reality, buying from a stateside dealer while stationed overseas creates a logistical headache that most people don’t fully think through until they’re in the middle of it.
At a stateside dealer: You get one option — the vehicle sits at the dealer until you come back to pick it up, or you arrange someone else to collect it. If you want to drive while still stationed overseas, you’d need to buy separately and handle international shipping, customs, compliance conversions, MOT, and road tax on your own. That process can cost $1,500 to $3,000 or more in shipping alone, plus hundreds of pounds for UK road compliance.
At Military AutoSource: You choose between overseas or stateside delivery — both with shipping included in the price. For overseas delivery to your base near RAF Lakenheath, MAS handles full UK road compliance including headlight conversion, rear fog light, MOT, and road tax. For stateside delivery, your vehicle arrives at the closest dealer to your chosen U.S. address. If your plans change mid-order, MAS works with you to adjust the delivery option based on where your vehicle is in the pipeline.
Clearly, two delivery options, both with included shipping, versus one option with no overseas support. For U.S. military personnel stationed in the UK, the flexibility MAS offers is a clear advantage.
Transparency: Full Visibility vs Guesswork
Perhaps the most fundamental difference when comparing MAS vs buying from a stateside dealer is how much you actually know about what you’re paying and why.
At a stateside dealer: The pricing process is deliberately opaque. Dealers don’t show you their invoice cost or reveal how much markup they’ve added. Similarly, the real interest rate the lender approved stays hidden behind whatever inflated number the finance office presents. On top of that, any rebates captured on your vehicle go unmentioned. In short, every layer of the transaction contains hidden margin designed to benefit the dealer at your expense. You’re negotiating in the dark, and the dealer has all the information.
At Military AutoSource: In contrast, every aspect of the transaction is transparent. Pricing is regulated below MSRP by the Exchange and DoD — not set by an individual dealer. Financing rates come directly from lenders with zero markup. Rebates are tracked and applied automatically through Rebate Assurance. Your rep earns a flat commission regardless of what you buy. Delivery costs are included, not added later. There are no hidden fees, no surprise charges, and no information asymmetry working against you.
Furthermore, MAS operates under Exchange and DoD oversight specifically because transparency and fair pricing are requirements, not suggestions. For military families making one of the biggest purchases of their lives while stationed thousands of miles from home, that transparency isn’t a bonus — it’s essential. And it’s backed by a Lowest Price Guarantee that invites you to verify the pricing yourself.
The Full Comparison at a Glance
Vehicle pricing. Stateside dealer: MSRP plus markup and fees. MAS: regulated below MSRP, zero markup, no hidden fees.
Financing. Stateside dealer: lender rate marked up, finance office pressure, add-on products pushed. MAS: multiple lenders, zero markup on rates, no fees, no pressure.
Rebates. Stateside dealer: new rebates become dealer profit. MAS: Rebate Assurance tracks and applies the best rebate automatically.
Sales experience. Stateside dealer: commission based on what you spend, multiple people, pressure to upsell. MAS: flat commission, one person start to finish, no pressure.
Delivery. Stateside dealer: pickup stateside only, no overseas option. MAS: overseas or stateside delivery, shipping included, UK road compliance handled.
Transparency. Stateside dealer: hidden margins at every stage. MAS: Exchange and DoD regulated, full visibility on pricing, rates, and rebates.
Warranty. Stateside dealer: manufacturer warranty only (typically 3yr/36k). MAS: 7yr/75k bumper-to-bumper warranty included in your quote, upgradeable to 10yr/100k, worldwide coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MAS really cheaper than buying from a stateside dealer?
Yes. MAS pricing is regulated below MSRP with zero markup and no hidden fees. Stateside dealers typically charge MSRP plus markups of $2,000 to $10,000 on popular models, plus documentation and advertising fees. As a result, on the same vehicle, MAS pricing consistently comes in lower.
Can I buy from a stateside dealer while stationed in the UK?
Technically yes, but you’d need to arrange pickup or shipping yourself, handle all logistics, and wouldn’t have access to MAS programme benefits like Rebate Assurance, zero markup financing, the Lowest Price Guarantee, or the bumper-to-bumper warranty. In other words, MAS handles everything from your overseas location.
Do stateside dealers mark up interest rates?
Yes — this is a common and legal practice. Dealers often add 1% to 2% on top of the lender’s approved rate and keep the difference. Through MAS Financing Assistance, you see every lender rate exactly as quoted with zero markup.
Why would I choose MAS over a dealer back home?
MAS offers regulated pricing below MSRP, zero markup on both the vehicle and financing, automatic rebate protection, worldwide bumper-to-bumper warranty, two delivery options with shipping included, and a no-pressure sales experience with flat commission reps. Consequently, stateside dealers cannot match this combination of benefits for U.S. military stationed overseas.
Ready to See the MAS Difference?
Davide at Military AutoSource Lakenheath can show you exactly how MAS pricing compares on any vehicle you’re considering. He’ll walk you through every programme benefit, answer any questions, and give you a transparent quote — so you can see the numbers for yourself.
Contact Davide today: Call or WhatsApp +44 7736 754145 — whichever you prefer.
Certain restrictions apply — speak to Davide for full details on eligibility.
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Military AutoSource Lakenheath — Proudly Serving Those Who Serve for Over 60 Years.
