When is The Best Time to Buy a Car?

May 11, 2021

A lot goes into a car deal; finding what make and model you are most interested in, should you buy new or used, shopping dealer sites, and more. One of the most often overlooked questions in the car buying process is probably “when is the best time to buy a car?” Below we will look at the when-to-buy aspect and share our tips and tricks to plan your car purchase at the right time to get you the maximum discount.

When is the Best Time to Buy a Car?

End of Month

At the end of the month, dealers might be a few cars shy of hitting their monthly goal to receive that bonus from the manufacturer. This is one of the better times to shop for a new car because the dealer is just trying to meet their quota. They’ll be looking to negotiate on price to make the sale.

End of the Year

According to Edmunds.com, the best time to buy or lease a car is during December’s year-end sales events that all manufacturers will be promoting at the time. Manufacturers are wanting to make room for the next model year and are encouraging dealers to make as many sales as possible.

Least Discounted Months

• January
• February
• March
• April

Better Discounted Months

• May
• June
• July
• August
• September

Most Discounted Months

• October
• November
• December

When is the Best Time of Year to Buy a Car?

Now you may be asking yourself, “when is the best time to buy a used car?” For the most part, the answer is the same as above. End of the month, end of the year, end of the model year, etc. While the discounts may not be spurred by the same manufacturer discounts, the dealerships themselves have sales numbers used car-wise that they are wanting to meet just as much as their new car sales.