The Best Time to Buy a Car
Are you planning on buying a car soon? If so, you might be wondering when you can score the best deal on your new ride. Let’s go over when the best time to buy a car is and what makes it such a great time to buy.
The End of Everything
The best time to buy a car is usually at the end of the model year, calendar year, month, or quarter. So why is the end typically the best time? Let’s go over each of these.
End of Model Year
Is there a car model that just came out that you absolutely love? Unfortunately, it might be smarter to hold off on purchasing it until the next model year comes out. When dealers get an influx of the newest model, they want to get the older models off their lot, thus resulting in possible deals.
New models typically come out in the fall, which leads into a great time to buy a car since it’s almost the end of the year.
End of Calendar Year
October, November and December are normally the best months to buy a car. Dealerships have yearly quotas and if they haven’t met their quota yet, they will work very hard to reach it. This results in deals that you maybe wouldn’t be able to get during the other months of the year. Also, as stated above, dealers like to get cars off their lot to make room for all the new models.
End of the Month
Similar to needing to meet a quota at the end of the year, salespeople have monthly quotas to meet. With the end of the month approaching, they might be in a time crunch to get their numbers. Salespeople may pay more attention to you at the end of the month and might even be more willing to offer you a better deal.
End of the Quarter
Again, salespeople will have a quota to meet each quarter so the end of the quarter can make a great time to buy a car. Unfortunately, you never know if the dealer you are looking at has already met their quota, but it can still be worth trying to land a deal during this time.
Weekdays
Due to most people’s schedules, the weekend is usually the most ideal time for them to visit a car lot. However, it is better to plan your visit on a weekday, not the weekend. This is because since most people work during the week, the weekend is the busiest time for car lots.
If you are wanting to have a more personalized experience with less people around, going on a weekday is your best choice. Yes, you might have to take some time off work to do this, but you will most likely spend less time waiting around at the lot. The dealers financing office can easily become overwhelmed on the weekend, causing you to wait longer.
Aim to go to a car lot in the middle of the week if you are wanting to avoid the crowds and the lines.
Best Holidays to Buy a Car
There tends to be greater deals during holidays. Keep your eye out for deals and discounts during the following holidays and three-day weekends:
- Presidents Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Black Friday
- Christmas through New Years Eve/Day
Find the Best Time for You
At the end of the day, you must find the time that works the best for you. If you plan on buying a car soon, frequently look online for any deals that you might be interested in. If you’re able, purchase your next vehicle during one of the times listed above to help you score a better deal.
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