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The Best Time to Buy a Car

Keep an eye out for "aged inventory," which refers to any inventory that has remained unsold for a period of time.

The best times to buy a car are Black Friday, Black Friday Weekend, Christmas Eve, Memorial Day, Memorial Day Weekend, New Year's Day, New Year's Eve, end of the first quarter, end of the second quarter, end of the third quarter, end of the fourth quarter, and end of year.

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Cars are almost never on sale—about 10% of the year, or an average of 1-in-10.1 days.

almost never on sale
10%
of year on sale
12
sale periods
36
sale days
Check prices at Carvana

The best months to buy a car are January, March, May, June, September, November, and December.

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The best holidays to buy a car are Christmas Eve, Memorial Day, New Year's Day, and New Year's Eve.

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the best time to buy a car
Tayler Riouff's Profile Picture
Tayler Riouff
Managing Editor

FAQ

Let's recap by answering some key questions:

When is the best time to buy a car?

The best times to buy a car are Black Friday, Black Friday Weekend, Christmas Eve, Memorial Day, Memorial Day Weekend, New Year's Day, New Year's Eve, end of the first quarter, end of the second quarter, end of the third quarter, end of the fourth quarter, and end of year.

Black Friday

Cars are typically on sale during Black Friday due to the high demand during the holiday season and the desire for retailers to attract more customers with competitive deals.

Black Friday Weekend

Cars are typically on sale during Black Friday Weekend due to the high demand during the holiday season and the desire for retailers to attract more customers with competitive deals.

Christmas Eve

Cars are often put on sale during Christmas Eve because it is a popular time for people to purchase expensive gifts, and car dealerships want to take advantage of the holiday shopping season.

End of the First Quarter

Cars are often on sale at the end of the first quarter because dealerships and manufacturers aim to meet their annual sales targets by offering discounts and promotions to attract customers.

End of the Second Quarter

Cars are often on sale at the end of the second quarter because dealerships and manufacturers aim to meet their annual sales targets by offering discounts and promotions to attract customers.

End of the Third Quarter

Cars are often on sale at the end of the third quarter because dealerships and manufacturers aim to meet their annual sales targets by offering discounts and promotions to attract customers.

End of the Fourth Quarter

Cars are often on sale at the end of the fourth quarter because dealerships and manufacturers aim to meet their annual sales targets by offering discounts and promotions to attract customers.

End of Year

Cars are often put on sale during the end of the year because dealerships are trying to meet their sales quotas, which incentivizes them to offer discounts and promotions in order to sell more vehicles before the new year.

Memorial Day

Most workers are off on Memorial Day, so car dealers want to take advantage of the three-day weekend by offering great deals.

Memorial Day Weekend

Most workers are off on Memorial Day, so car dealers want to take advantage of the three-day weekend by offering great deals.

New Year's Day

Cars are often on sale during New Year's Day as retailers try to capitalize on the holiday shopping season and meet sales quotas.

New Year's Eve

Cars are often on sale during New Year's Eve as retailers try to capitalize on the holiday shopping season and meet sales quotas.

How often are cars on sale?

Cars are almost never on sale, approximately 36 days each year, spanning 12 distinct sale periods—that's 10% of the year.

What are the best months to buy a car?

The best months to buy cars are January, March, May, June, September, November, and December.

What are the best holidays to buy a car?

The best holidays to buy a car are Christmas Eve, Memorial Day, New Year's Day, and New Year's Eve.

What's the best place to buy a car?

The best place to buy a car is at Carvana, Auto Trader, and TrueCar.

  1. "WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO BUY A CAR?" (Credit Union of South Carolina)
  2. "Best Time To Buy A Car: Shopping On These Days And Months Will Save You Tons Of Money" (Investor's Business Daily)
  3. "Best Time To Buy A Car" (Forbes Advisor)
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