You've probably noticed that a lot of car dealerships
celebrate President's Day with
sign and drive lease
deals, discounts on newer models, and other hard-to-resist offers. That
might get you wondering: when is the best time to buy a new car? During which
time of the year will you get the best savings?
Just like with clothing stores -- clothes that are about to
go out-of-season are usually discounted -- car dealerships work on a calendar
format, too. Though every dealership will have its own big sales, there are a
few times per year that most places offer good deals.
At the End of the Year
A lot of dealerships offer holiday bonuses to their
salespeople, so toward the end of the year, not only will they be trying to
meet monthly or quarterly goals, they'll be trying to boost their year-end
sales reports as well. This means that fees and taxes on year-end inventory
could be reduced, so this is a good time to go see what kind of bargains you
can get.
At the End of the Season
Some dealerships do clearances on body styles that are
seasonally popular, such as convertibles and sports utility vehicles, at the
end of that season. That means that December-January is the best time to go
looking for summer-appropriate vehicles, since not so many people are looking
for those vehicles during the winter months. On the flip side, you probably
won't get a discount on a convertible during the summer.
Keep in mind that new models usually roll out at the end of
the summer or the beginning of the fall. When new models roll out, that means
dealerships are getting new inventory, and they have to make room. Go shopping
in August or September to see what brand-new vehicles are being offered at a
discount in order to make room on the lot!
At Grand Openings
A car dealership obviously can't survive without enough
traction, so their grand opening events are extremely important -- they need to
move a lot of vehicles! Find out when dealerships in your area are just opening
and pay a visit within a month. They'll almost certainly be offering some
housewarming sales!
At the End of the Day
Maybe you're not looking to wait for a certain time in the
year -- just a certain time of the day. If that's the case, go toward the end
of the day if you already know what you want. Since many salesmen are already
toward the end of their shifts, they won't mind sticking around to make one
last sale -- but they may just want to get it over with. This is the best time
to negotiate!