The best month of the year to purchase a car is December.
You must first comprehend the method and mindset of the humble car salesman in order to comprehend why December is the very ideal month to purchase an automobile.
They are subject to quotas just like other salespeople. They frequently take the form of yearly, quarterly, and monthly targets for the quantity of cars they must hit.
This implies that depending on the automobile you buy, their dealership may reach their sales target and the salesman may receive a handsome annual bonus, or they may not, depending on whether you buy the car.
See if you can negotiate a car deal on December 31st, New Year’s Eve, to get the greatest possible offer possible.
If you go to the dealer on New Year’s Eve rather than any other day, TrueCar estimates that you could wind up saving up to 8.3% on the cost of a new automobile. This is due to the fact that today is the final opportunity a dealer has to meet both their quarterly AND annual targets. They want to get the automobiles out the door as fast as possible since they have a sizable bonus on the line.
Consider that you were considering a nice used car that was priced at around $20,000. If you entered on New Year’s Eve, you would have saved $1,660 just by entering that day. Imagine how much money you could make if you used effective bargaining strategies to multiply it.
Bonus: Finding a fantastic price on a car is an excellent way to start regaining control of your budget. However, there are numerous more actions you can take (and some of them are even easier). For further information, see my Ultimate Guide to Personal Finance.
In This Article...
Which month is ideal for purchasing a new car?
What Month Is Best for Buying a Car? In addition to specific days of the week or holidays, some months are preferable to others for leasing or buying new or used cars. Generally speaking, the best months to visit an auto dealer are May, October, November, and December.
What month is the cheapest to purchase a car?
Accounting is everything: They want to carry as little inventory into the next year as feasible. Dealers will go to any lengths—and occasionally lose money on a deal—to achieve their December or calendar-based sales goals. the most effective purchasing days? December’s final week, ideally December 30 and 31.
Which month’s MSRP has the biggest discount?
The largest average discount off MSRP and the highest incentives are found in December, per Edmunds research. Both automakers and dealerships want to end the year on a high note. They are motivated because they also need to free up space by getting rid of the older model-year vehicles.
When do automobile costs go down?
The COVID-19 epidemic caused car costs to rise to an all-time high between 2021 and 2022. In reality, pre-pandemic pricing for used cars were 41% higher on average in November 2021. Thankfully, costs are now starting to decline. According to recent industry data, the cost of secondhand cars decreased by 24% between April 2022 and May 2022.
Is 2022 a wise time to purchase a car?
Rising used car costs may make 2022 an excellent year to buy a car for individuals who have a car to trade in, even though they are terrible for those who cannot afford a new car. A high trade-in value indicates additional capital, which may lower the finance portion of buying a new car.
What phrases should you never use with a car salesman?
10 things not to say to a car salesperson
- “I adore this vehicle.
- “I don’t know a lot about automobiles.
- “My exchange is outside
- “I object to being transported to the dry cleaners.
- “My credit rating isn’t very excellent.
- “I have cash on hand.
- “Today I have to purchase an automobile.
- “I need to pay less than $350 each month.
On a new car, what percentage is negotiable?
One rule holds true whether the vehicle is brand-new or previously owned: You can save a lot of money by successfully bargaining the purchase price down.
How much you can cut from the suggested retail price will make the most difference:
- new vehicles Starting with 5% off the invoice price of a new car and negotiating from there is thought to be appropriate. You should ultimately pay anywhere between the invoice price and the sticker price, depending on how the negotiation proceeds.
- played cards. Used cars typically provide you more leeway. You can start by asking for a larger price reduction and then negotiate from there, depending on how much knowledge you already have about the value and condition of the car.
In either case, it is crucial to search about and be ready to leave if you don’t find the ideal offer that suits your needs. Although the dealer may try to entice you with the allure of the package, your bottom line ultimately depends on the car’s pricing. Walk away if the price is too high. There will probably be another chance to purchase a car in the future.
How much may I negotiate off the MSRP?
Any negotiations should center on the dealer cost. A reasonable deal for a typical automobile is 2% over the dealer’s invoice price. In contrast to a slow-selling model, there may be more space for negotiation with a hot-selling vehicle. Salespeople typically make an effort to negotiate using the MSRP.
Should I wait until 2022 to purchase a used car?
According to KBB, “the second half of 2022 is starting to seem better for buying a vehicle if you can afford to wait. Particularly in the used market, inventory is gradually starting to increase again. According to several observers, the microprocessor scarcity should end by the fall.
If the auto-buying market improves in the second half of 2022, then 2023 might be the best year to purchase a new or used car. In a perfect world, the chip shortage would disappear, output would rise, cars would be more readily available, and costs would decline.
What day of the week is ideal for buying a car?
Monday is the best day of the week to purchase a car. Shopping for a car at the beginning of the week has benefits over waiting until the end of the month or the end of the quarter. According to studies, Mondays are the best day of the week to look for a car because the prices are the lowest.
In 2023, will new automobile prices decline?
Paris predicts that car prices may “slightly decline this summer. But by the end of the year, the sector is probably going to grow. Paris adds that as supply limitations loosen, production should stabilize in the second half of 2022.
Consumers and investors alike are optimistic that this will result in output that is boosted and stabilized without supply-chain-related delays. If that’s the case, car prices might start to drop in the not-too-distant future. J.D. Power predicts that “by late 2022 and into 2023, used-vehicle values will start to decline to more typical levels.
KPMG Consulting anticipates a significant decline in used automobile pricing. They predict a 20%–30% decline in used automobile prices sometime in the months after October 2022.
The second half of the year is “starting to look better for auto purchasers,” according to Kelley Blue Book, as inventory is “slowly beginning to improve, particularly in the used market.”
Prices for used cars decrease in January?
Between Thanksgiving and the first week of January, used car purchases are at their most advantageous.
Prices for used cars typically follow a predictable cycle, peaking in the summer and then falling precipitously until they reach their lowest point around January 10.
Because fewer individuals are shopping for a used automobile during the end-of-year holiday season, used car prices often fall near the end of the year.
Another reason is because used cars technically age a year on January 1st, which alters how much buyers value the vehicle.
On a typical $16,000 car, timing your used car purchase may enable you to save $800.
When should you financially purchase a car?
Fortunately, there is a fundamental guideline that one can adhere to when purchasing a car: the down payment is equal to 20/4/10.20. One should be prepared with 20% of the car’s on-road pricing as a down payment. The loan term, which is 4, should not exceed 4 years.
Why is December the ideal month for car purchases?
According to Edmunds’ automotive specialists, December offers the biggest discounts and incentives for car purchasers of the entire year. December is the greatest month to discover a good deal on a car because dealerships are scrambling to meet quotas for the end of the year and buyers are hoping to purchase a premium vehicle at a lesser price.
Will auto costs decline in 2022?
J.D. Power predicts that used vehicle values will start to decline to more typical levels by late 2022 and into 2023 as new-car inventory starts to stabilize.
We do anticipate a decline in used-car values as new-car production and inventories start to increase, according to Paris.
We anticipate that many of the hangover characteristics will start to fade this year, leading residual values to start returning to normal ranges.
According to Paris, by 2024, residual values on 3-year-old automobiles will decline from their current level of 68% to a “historically high new normal” of 54%.
According to an Automotive News article from December 2021, consultancy firm KPMG believes a sharp decline in used car prices will come before the inventory of new cars stabilizes. The company apparently anticipates a 20%–30% decline in used automobile costs somewhere in the months after October 2022. While consumers who put off buying a used automobile will be relieved by the anticipated decline, those who financed a car during the current price spike and need to trade it in may suffer as a result.
Those who can afford to wait should wait to purchase a used car till the cost decreases. However, people who can’t wait to make a buy should prepare in advance, be adaptable, and be aware of the consequences of taking on a greater loan amount or longer loan terms to cover the purchase.
- Gain from your trade-in: For buyers who have a car to trade in, rising used-car values, especially on older models, might be a pleasant surprise. The average trade-in equity is anticipated to be $10,083, up 37% from a year earlier, according to J.D. Power’s July prediction. Consider using your trade-in equity toward the down payment on a used automobile to lower the total amount financed rather than rationalizing a more expensive purchase to avoid the dangers mentioned above.
- Avoid taking out lengthy loans: Higher average monthly automobile loan payments reflect the effects of increased used-car prices: In the first quarter of 2022, the average monthly payment for a used automobile was $503, up from $413 for the corresponding period in 2021, according to Experian. Although a long-term auto loan can lower a buyer’s monthly payments, it also has disadvantages, such as a higher overall cost of financing the automobile and a higher chance of being upside down (that is, owing more on your car than it is currently worth). When used-car values begin to decline in the upcoming years, that risk becomes more of a worry.
- In advance: The conventional wisdom about car purchases is still valid even during the inventory shortage. Set a spending limit and adhere to it; compare prices from dealerships and private sellers to obtain the greatest bargain. The inventory constraint makes it more crucial than ever to keep your options open and be prepared to buy as soon as you find the ideal vehicle.