Key Takeaways:
- New Year’s Eve and Christmas Eve are the best holidays for car buying.
- Prefer shopping in the fall for better discounts on existing stock before new models come in.
- Monday or Tuesday can be the best time to shop every week but it depends upon the location.
Buying a car is one of the biggest investments you can make, so it’s essential to save as much money as you can. In this article, you will find that the Guides Auto team will tell you the best times of the week, month, and year to buy a car. It’s in our hands to break down the holiday deals.
The Perfect Time to Buy a Car
Most people are aware of local car dealership commercials that urge people to take advantage of clearance sales, but some car-shopping holidays are better than others. Typically, the best holidays to buy a car are Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, Memorial Day, and Black Friday.
New Year’s Eve and Christmas Eve
If you can, hold out until New Year’s Eve to buy a car. As stated, the end of the year is when car salespeople are trying to achieve their sales goals for the end of the year, the quarter, and the month.
This is the reason why the Christmas season—mainly December 24 and December 27 to 30, according to Carfax—is another prime time to go to dealerships. During this time, foot traffic is lower.
Memorial Day Weekend
Memorial Day weekend is a decent time for car shoppers. It’s the holiday weekend that introduces the summer sales. At this time, car dealerships have the largest inventory of outgoing models.
Black Friday
As Black Friday falls near the end of the year, you should be introduced to the good deals. And because it takes place at the end of the model year, you will get more discounts on the current models.
Labor Day
Labor Day doesn’t rank as one of the decent holidays for deals; it brings more car inventory and competitive pricing quotations. It means more choices than at the end of the year.
Fourth of July
Similarly, the Fourth of July has a nice selection of new and current-year cars on the lot. This is best if you have a particular car or car options in mind.
Presidents Day
You can avoid President’s Day weekend because it takes place during the slowest time of year. It is observed that the average discount off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price in February is about 5.7%, which is the worst markdown of the year. End-of-year holidays are helpful in getting better deals.
Current State of the Car Market: Is it a Good Time to Buy a Car?
It’s particularly essential to look for the best times of year to buy because the auto market is hardworking with inflation, supply-chain issues like the microchip shortage, and more.
“Projections for car prices in 2023 are confusing, at best,”.The industry is still recovering from the production issues and shortages caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. There is a small proof that prices are starting to ease, but things are still a bit inflated for the moment.”
According to Kelley Blue Book’s perceptions, the average new car in the U.S. sold for $49,507 in December 2022, the highest record at that time. While prices fell for the next two months, February’s average of $48,763 was still 5.3% higher than the figure in February 2021.
KBB also noticed that in December 2022, the average used car in the U.S. cost $27,143, down $1,050 from the same time in 2021. Costs dropped again in January, dipping to $26,510.
How to Get the Best Deal on a Car
To save money, don’t just rely on buying during a peak car shopping period. Mindset and knowing how much you can afford will make you budget-friendly. This can also help you avoid having the car salesperson talk you into something that’s wrong for you.
You’ll also have greater power—no matter how decent a deal is—if you get preapproved for an auto loan from your credit union or your bank and compare the offer to dealer financing. Save yourself from print and ask about other incentives, rebates, and financing deals.
If you have a less-than-desirable credit score, try to improve it before you go car shopping. It’s beneficial if it’s January or February, when discounts and lower sticker prices are at their maximum.
If you plan to trade in your current car, here are some things you can do before stepping foot into a showroom:
- If you have an auto loan, ask your lender what the payoff amount is.
- Get an estimate of your car’s trade-in value.
- Collect service records.
- Other paperwork for your car.
- Get your car detailed.
Conclusion
We have a lot of options for questions: What is the ideal time to buy a car? Your best option is to buy between October and January 1. December is best for deals, discounts, rebates, and other incentives as well. This is because car salespeople are excitedly working to meet their monthly, quarterly, and yearly quotas.