Getting your hands on the car of your dreams while scoring the best deal is your goal. But is the timing right? Should you wait a few more weeks before buying? How can you know?
In this easy-to-follow guide, we’ll talk about the best time to buy a car. We’ll also look into buying a vehicle out of state or online and shipping it to a destination of your choice.
By the end of the post, you should have a pretty clear idea about how to best time your purchase and maximize savings.
Buy late in the year
Buying a car during the last months of the year increases your chances of getting a good deal. Thus, October, November, and December are the best months to look for cars.
Car dealerships usually have sales quotas to achieve throughout the year. These quotas are broken down into quarterly sales goals.
When year-end approaches, both sales personnel and dealerships are determined to achieve their sales targets. And your purchase might bring them one step closer towards reaching their goals. They wouldn’t prefer you to come back a few days later, as that won’t help the current sales numbers. So use it to your advantage.
If you do not have the luxury to wait until the end of the year, aim to buy at the end of any quarter. Sales numbers are very important for dealerships, and they will be eager to close a deal before a quarter is over.
So, if you can be patient – the time is your ally. And your bank account will thank you later.
Buy late in the month
The end of any month can also be a good time for car shopping. Now, be careful not to wait until the last day of the month as it may have the opposite effect.
Make your purchase during the 26, 27, and 28 of any month. Following the same logic, the best days to shop in February are the 23, 24, and 25th. If you combine the first and second tips, you will get the perfect months and days to buy your car: 26, 27, 28 of October, November, and December. BAM!
But this is not all. Let’s explore the best times during a day you can get the best deals as well as a few other options throughout the year that may work in your favor.
Buy late in the day
The cost of any car can fluctuate even during the day. And the trend of buying late keeps occurring. Hence, if you choose to purchase your car in the evening, your chances of getting a better deal will rise.
According to bestride.com “A new Google/TNS survey unveils some interesting trends in foot traffic during the day. Their analysis shows that the vast majority of consumers are walking through the door at or near lunchtime. For you as a shopper, visiting a dealership just after opening, or later in the evening may allow you more opportunity to ask questions, understand your options, and even get a better deal.”
As you can see, getting a better deal is highly correlated with the amount of foot traffic. That is why it is always smart to shop for a car either early in the morning or later in the evening. Our advice, try to avoid the lunch hour because that’s when the majority of people take their break, which they may spend car-shopping.
And guess what? The more people are interested in buying a certain car at the same time, the less their chances of getting a great deal are. So try to shop for a car before the lunch break or wait until the end of the day and walk through dealership doors as late as you can.
Buy early in the week, avoid weekends
Seems like we have finally put a “stop” to the “buy late”. And it makes sense. More people are available on weekends and have time to visit car dealerships. It will be hard to navigate your way to a great deal when there’s so much foot traffic. What’s the best solution? Avoid weekends altogether. Go to a car dealership early in the week instead.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are the best days of the week to score the best deal, so keep it in mind. If you pick these weekdays, most likely you’ll get better attention from salespeople too. And when that happens, it is time you show off your negotiation skills.
Mondays, in particular, are slow, so that puts you in a good position when it comes to negotiating favorable terms.
Extra tips
- Shop at auto shows
If you want to buy a new car instead of a used one, go to auto shows such as the Chicago Auto Show or other special car events to scout for great car deals.
- Look for previous year models
August 31 is the day car manufacturers change their model year, yielding deep discounts on previous year models. If you go to a car dealership when a new model is out, you will get the chance to enjoy great discounts on older models.
- Buy a car in winter
The cold weather keeps people away from car dealerships (and anywhere else for that matter). But that is exactly why winter is the perfect time to buy. There will be lots of discounts to choose from. Just remember not to buy an SUV during winter. The same goes for convertibles, but during the summer season.
- Buy a car when you don’t need one
Now, this may sound a little odd but think about it. If you are not in a rush to buy a car, you will not be tempted, and dare we say desperate, to get a deal. Going to a car dealership when you don’t need a car immediately, you will be more open-minded and relaxed. Your negotiations skills will also be at their finest.
- Shop during holidays
We call these deals holiday sales perks. Be on the lookout for special discounts during Memorial Day, Black Friday, Labor Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. Any special holiday or 3-day weekend will be your best ally.
Buying a car online or out of state
In case you are buying a car out of state or online, all the above info is valid. Did you know that besides buying a car online you can also arrange to ship it online? Here is an awesome Online car buyers’ and shippers’ guide.
Shipping a car you bought online may seem like a daunting task if you have never done it before. But when you hire the right company, the “task” won’t be so stressful anymore.
Here is how you can find a reliable and trustworthy shipping company:
- Research. Double-check the company’s credentials by reviewing its USDOT and MC numbers. Make sure to read reviews to learn about other customers’experience.
- Request quotes in advance so you can compare prices but be careful not to fall into the trap of picking the cheapest option. What you should look for are fair prices and helpful staff.
- Inquire about the shipping company’s insurance.
- Ask what services the company offers. Opt for enclosed car carrier in case you need to ship luxury or classic cars.
Give us a call at (818) 850-5258 or chat with one of our agents online. Our logistics experts are always happy to help you ship your car and answer any auto transport-related questions. Thank you.
