When is the Right Time to Buy a New Car?

If you've been thinking about trading in your old car for a new set of wheels, but dread negotiating with aggressive sales staff who may not have your best interest in mind, you can make your experience less stressful and even drive away with a great deal if your timing is just right.


Obviously, any time you genuinely need and can afford a car, such as when your current one is unreliable or costing more in repairs than its worth, its probably a good time to shop for a new vehicle. But there are also certain times of the week, month, and year when you are more likely to encounter a salesperson who will be willing and able to significantly drop the price and offer extra features and incentives.


Although there is a long-standing debate as to the absolute best time to buy a car, there are quite a few ideal times where you can end up with the car of your dreams without much of a hassle and without breaking the bank.


The most popular time to get a bargain on a car is at the end of the month. This is typically the deadline for salespeople to meet their quotas and earn bonuses so they will be more motivated to sell and more willing to negotiate generously.


Another good time to buy is at year end when annual sales goals must be met, when sales are down as people spend their cash on Christmas, and when new car models are being introduced, resulting in prices being slashed on older models.


Sales staff also tend to be more desperate for sales and more cooperative when business is slow such as when there's bad weather, in the middle of the month, on Mondays after the weekend rush, or any time when few or no customers are on the lot.


Surprisingly, the weekend can be one of the worst times because its when most people shop and sales staff will have plenty of other prospects. But if you must go on a weekend, show up early Saturday before other customers arrive when employees will be most motivated to get started towards winning weekend sales competitions.


Also, research what vehicles are lagging in sales. When a car has not been selling, this can be the best time to negotiate a deep discount. Another time you may find success is near closing time. A salesman may not want to be kept late for hours at work and may be more conducive to making an attractive offer to close the sale quickly.


Since buying an automobile can be an expensive investment, when youre in the market for a new car dont forget that when it comes to what youll end up paying, timing can make all the difference.