When is the Best Time to Buy a New Car
From LoveToKnow Buy
There is no better car question than, "When is the best time to buy a new car?". Just like airline tickets, there are some key times you can focus on to get the best deal on a vehicle.
Last Few Days of the Month
Car salesmen usually have quotas. Some quotas can be monetary or a certain number of cars. Whatever the quota is, there is a bonus at stake. If you didn't think that deals could be made, then visit a car dealership on the last few days of the month. The salesmen are often told to make deals if it makes sense for the business. The deals can be anywhere from money directly off the car, more money for a trade in, additional features added to the car at no cost, or a free warranty. The salesmen are doing nothing wrong; they are often told to do so to make the sale.
This doesn't mean you can get an outrageous deal. You still have to be smart about it because the salesmen may push you harder to close the sale or take your first negotiation pretty quickly. You should only go at the end of the month of you are positively going to buy a car. If not, but you want to shop, consider going earlier in the month and waiting for the last few days to make the buy.
End of the Year Events
If there are cars remaining from the last model year, then car dealers are looking to unload the older models to make room for the new models. November and December tend to be slower months to sell cars and might give you some good deals to get those cars off the lot.
Last of the Models
As the new models start to roll in, dealers often look to get rid of the older models as quick as they can. Even though the older cars are already considered a year old as soon as you drive away from the dealer, you can usually get a great discount on them. If you aren't looking for a decked-out car or a car with fancy features, then you may be able to find some leftovers that no one was really interested in. You might fare better at getting a discount with these cars because they are harder to get rid of.
When are the Special Sales?
This is where a little research comes in handy. Manufacturers sometimes give dealers the ability to give you rebates and incentives and even great financing. If you notice, these deals are usually around some special holiday or event. When a big holiday is coming up (like Fourth of July or Memorial Day), keep an eye on the papers to see if there are any dealers giving any special rates or rebates.
Local dealers can offer special sales on their own, especially if they are trying to get rid of certain models or cars. You can keep an eye on the local cars sales to determine when is the best time to buy a new car.
It's Who You Know
If you've done your research and you can't wait for the special deals, then rack your brain for anyone you know who works at a dealership. Going to your friend could be a double-edge sword in that you are bringing your business to them so they get the commission and they may give you a deal. But then again, they may be offended that you thought they would give you a deal just because you're friends or you know them. Use this strategy at your own risk.
So When is the Best Time to Buy a New Car?
The bottom line is that the answer to "When is the best time to buy a new car?" is when you need one or start looking for one. Definitely use the month, year, and model techniques, but don't expect a monstrous discount just because you used those strategies. You want a deal, but the salesperson wants a good commission.
Learn More
This page has been accessed 897 times. This page was last modified 00:40, 31 January 2009.
© 2006-2009 LoveToKnow Corp.
Print this page
Follow ltk on twitter
Visit us on facebook