Getting the best deal on a car, starts once you pick out the one you want. Saving money is easy if you buy at the right time and do your homework.
What is the best time of year to buy a new or used car?
Car dealers have sales goals to meet and big bonuses to earn. Usually, these bonuses are based on quarterly sales, making March, June, September, and December the best time to buy a car. Dealers need to move cars, so they will offer attractive financing packages and good deals.
It should be noted that when you buy a car from a private seller, there is unlikely to be any good or bad time to buy.
Bargain Hard
If you want to bargain hard, stay away from weekends. In a crowded car dealership, it can be very hard to get a good deal.
Do Your Homework First
Discover when new models will be released or existing models will be ‘face-lifted’, then purchase the previous generation during its final months on the showroom floor. You’ll receive a better deal on this stock because dealers are desperate to move it. However, an older model depreciates faster than a new one, despite both being of roughly similar age.
If you are after a new model, you might get a better deal if you wait a few months after launch to purchase, when there has been less showroom hype for the model.
If you are after a used car, research the market. Search for ‘completed items’ and ‘sold items’ on Ebay to see what prices the car you are after generally sells for (or fails to sell at).
Also check the [MOT history](https://car-check.co.uk) of any used car you are looking to buy. You may be able to use items flagged on the report to negotiate a discount.
Seasonal Trends
It’s important to remember that certain vehicles have different demand at different times of the year.
Due to the poorer weather in autumn and winter, there is usually a higher demand for four-wheel-drive vehicles, so there may be a greater discount in the summer.
Conversely, it may be cheaper to find a convertible in the winter than it is in the summer since convertibles are more popular in the summer.
