Best Time to Buy Used Cars

1. Around the Holidays

One of the best times to buy a used car is around certain major holidays. You’ve most likely seen your local dealership promote some sort of holiday deal. It’s extremely common for dealerships to offer deals around Presidents' Day, Black Friday, and Christmas.

If you’re looking for a great deal on a used car, you’ll want to check out what your local dealer is offering around the holidays. Additionally, you’ll have more luck finding a larger variety of used cars to choose from, if you start looking the weekend after a major holiday.

2. At the End of the Month, Quarter, or Calendar Year

No matter where you look, salespeople and dealerships have certain quotas they need to meet each month, quarter, and year. So, towards the end of those periods, they’re going to be trying to meet that quota by any means possible. They may even have used car deals in place to help them meet their sales goals.

If you can, you should look to buy a used car at the end of any of these periods—especially at the end of the calendar year. By that point, dealerships will likely have a much wider selection of used cars in stock, thanks to trade-ins and lease returns.

3. When New Models Drop

When an automotive brand drops a new or a redesigned vehicle model, plenty of hopeful car buyers will flock to it. That’ll typically mean an increased number of returns or trade-ins of previous models. That opens the door for a much larger selection of used cars for you to choose from.

Around this time, dealers are also going to want to move their used inventory to make room for these new vehicle models. So, when you know a new model is coming out, you’ll want to start your search for a used car.

4. Weekdays

If you visit your local dealership on a weekday, especially earlier in the week, you’re most likely going to find the showroom quiet and without many other car buyers. That means that the salespeople will have more time to dedicate to you, keeping their focus on finding you the best deal possible.

Local banks and lenders are also likely going to be open, so you may have a much easier time financing a used car on a weekday.

5. During the Winter Months

As it gets colder outside, people are less inclined to visit their local dealership and spend the day walking around a car lot and taking test drives. So, as winter hits, demand for vehicles drops significantly.

This is a great time for you to swoop in and get the used model of your dreams. Not only will the inventory likely offer more variety, you won’t have nearly as much competition for that used model you’ve had your eye on. If you make your move before spring or summer, you should have no problem getting behind the wheel of your favorite used car.