The best time of year to buy a car isn’t just one single time of the year. This time can actually happen many times throughout the calendar year.
Buying a car at the right time is a strategic venture. Before you decide to buy a vehicle during a time when it should benefit you the most, you’ll want to understand what the best time is to buy the vehicle you want. Using a two-prong strategy of the type of vehicle and time of year, you’ll drive away happy with the right car.
What Type of Vehicle do You Want to Purchase?
When you’re not searching for a specialty vehicle, there won’t be a better time to buy except for the times we cover below. However, if you want to buy a convertible to drive next spring and summer, the best time to buy one is usually in the late fall or winter. Most drivers aren’t looking for convertibles or sports cars during this time, and you could get a much better deal. The same goes for large pickups. Buy these trucks during late spring and summer to get the best deals and enjoy the truck you’ll want to drive during the winter.
There’s a Day You Can Get the Best Deals Every Week
As expected, weekends are busy times at car dealerships, and you won’t usually find some of the best deals when you arrive with the crowd. The weekend could be a good time to kick some tires and take a test drive, but the best time to buy a car is on Monday. On Monday most people are at work, and you’ll find some great deals and get more attention from the staff when you arrive on Monday. Ask for some small extras when you shop on Monday and see how fast the salesperson gives them to you.
Everything has an Ending; That’s the Time to Buy
If Mondays don’t work for you, don’t despair. Head to the car dealership at the end of various times to take advantage of their need to make sales goals. Car sales teams have monthly quotas they need to meet, there are times when they need vehicles to move fast, and the calendar isn’t necessarily their friend during some of the most important times of the year.
The End of the Month is Always a Great Time to Buy
One of the best times to buy a car happens every month. Head to the dealership on the 28th or 29th of the month and see how fast sales team members work to make a deal with you. These salespeople have quotas to meet, and if they’ve got one or two more cars they need to sell, you’re putting the pressure on them by arriving at the dealership late in the month. Be ready to ask for everything you want; you’ll probably get most of it.
Look for New Cars Late in the Model Year Cycle
If you understand when the next model year of the vehicle you desire will arrive at dealership locations, you can get a great deal on the current model of that vehicle. Typically, the model year turns over in the fall, giving you some great deals in October, November, and December. Usually, dealers mark these models down at the end of the model year, giving you the price break or extras you want in your next car. You should get a lower price and a better interest rate when you shop for a car late in the model year.
Holiday Sales Can be Excellent for You
You’re looking for the best time to buy a car; car dealers celebrate nearly every holiday that comes around. You’ll find many sales, discounts, special programs, and easy financing during some holidays. Different holidays are treated differently, but most of the sales are similar. Check out the sales and which models are covered to make sure the vehicle you want is part of one of the programs. Vehicles that are not part of the holiday sales will not bring you anything extra when you’re looking for some holiday savings.
Presidents Day Gets Things Started
The first major holiday for car sales is Presidents Day. This holiday occurs in February when most consumer activity is slow. Many consumers are waiting to either file or receive their tax returns, with plans to use that return for a new car or other large purchase. Most dealerships have great programs that begin on Presidents Day and could continue through the middle of April when the tax season ends.
The Summer Holidays Are a Great Time to Buy
If you’re looking for the best time to buy a car, the summer holidays offer you three great opportunities to make this happen. Memorial Day is typically the official start of summer, and it’s a holiday when dealers will cut prices back and give you some great deals. Heading to July Fourth, some discounts are usually available during this middle of the summer holiday. The end of summer is Labor Day which accounts for more than two percent of all new car sales every year. You’ll find some great deals during this summer-ending holiday.
Should You Buy a Car on Black Friday?
While retail stores are offering their Black Friday sales for holiday shoppers, this can also be a great time to buy a car. Some locations offer great deals during this time, capturing some of that holiday buzz. If you’re looking for a new or used car to offer your loved one as a holiday gift, this is when you might want to buy that car.
Ring in the New Year With a Wonderful New Car
Before you head to the New Year’s Eve party, head over to your local car dealership and take advantage of the one time of the year when many things converge. If you were looking for the single-best time of the year to buy a car, it would be New Year’s Eve. This time gives you the end of the month, end of the year, and a holiday celebration all in one. You can find some incredible deals when you close a deal right before the calendar turns to the next year.
