Ford is once again offering preorder discounts, this time for customers willing to wait for a 2023-model-year vehicle. However, a closer look finds that these 2023 Ford order incentives are worth half of what was offered last year and the list of eligible models has some important exclusions worth knowing about.
How 2023 Ford Order Discounts Work
According to a bulletin sent to dealers, Ford is offering a $500 Retail Order Bonus Customer Cash Certificate on select 2023 models. For reference, Ford doubled its custom-order discount to $1,000 last summer on 2022-model-year vehicles. The discount remained virtually unchanged until the program ended last month.
To get the deal, Ford says you'll need to place an order within a specified period. While the Ford custom-order discount is set to expire on January 3rd, 2023, the current deal is limited to order dates ranging from August 2nd through September 5th, 2022. The regional deal is available in over a dozen different regions.
2023 Ford Models With Custom Order Bonuses
As before, not every Ford is eligible for a custom order discount. For example, even though Ford opened orders for the 2023 F-150 Lightning, only the normal F-150 pickup offers the $500 cash incentive. Other limited-production vehicles like the F-150 Tremor, F-150 Raptor, and upcoming F-150 Raptor R aren't listed either.
In fact, we're seeing just five 2023 Ford models eligible as of this writing. These include the 2023 Bronco Sport, 2023 Edge, 2023 Explorer, 2023 Ranger, and the F-150. Like last year's Ford custom-order bonus, we expect that popular vehicles like the 2023 Bronco, Maverick, and Mustang Mach-E will remain excluded.
Are 2023 Ford Order Incentives Worth It?
While $500 may not seem like much, it's important to note that Ford eliminated virtually every rebate deal months ago. If you can't avoid waiting for the car or truck you want, Ford's preorder discount could be worth it. In addition, our analysis finds that the $500 order discount can be combined with other incentives.
As we reported previously, Ford already launched a rate-lock deal on select 2023 models with the option to lock-in rates as low as 2.9% APR for up to 180 days. Although rebates normally can't be combined with promotional financing, the fine print states that these 2023 order incentives can be stacked together.
If you're looking to lease your 2023 Ford, there's a separate $500 Retail Order RCL Cash incentive that can get you the same savings as the aforementioned deal for buying. In some cases, placing an order could get you better pricing than buying or leasing a new Ford off of a dealer's lot, though results may vary.
Buy A 2023 Ford Now Or Wait?
We recommend considering all your options to get the best deal possible. Many major car brands have introduced new car price protection programs, but Ford's order incentives are some of the most elaborate that we've seen to date. With no end in sight for a global chip shortage, these deals could be well worth it.
It's also worth noting that these incentives could change, for better or worse. In the case of the 2023 Maverick, Ford actually dropped the popular truck from the new rate-lock program when it became apparent that a delay would result in 2023 Maverick orders opening after the program deadline had already passed.