The Best Time of Year to Buy a Car (Hint: It’s Not Black Friday)

Everyone loves the idea of scoring a car deal during flashy Black Friday sales or end-of-year blowouts. The commercials make it seem like dealerships are practically giving cars away — shiny new vehicles wrapped in giant red bows, low-interest financing, and “once-in-a-lifetime” deals.

But here’s the truth: while Black Friday can offer some savings, it’s not actually the best time of year to buy a car if your goal is to save the most money. In fact, some of the biggest discounts, incentives, and negotiation opportunities come at less obvious times of the year.

Timing your purchase right can easily save you thousands — sometimes as much as 10–20% off the sticker price. To help you plan your next big purchase wisely, we’ll break down the real best times to buy a car, why those periods matter, and how to maximize your savings even before you walk into a dealership.

Why Timing Matters More Than You Think

Car pricing is heavily influenced by supply and demand, manufacturer incentives, and dealership sales targets. Dealers have quotas — monthly, quarterly, and annual — that they’re under pressure to meet. When those deadlines approach, they become far more motivated to negotiate.

Additionally, automakers release new models every year, usually between late summer and early fall. When those new models arrive, dealers scramble to clear out the previous year’s inventory, leading to generous discounts on outgoing models. This cycle of supply turnover creates predictable windows for serious buyers to take advantage of markdowns, rebates, and financing deals.

So while timing isn’t everything, it’s close. Knowing when to buy can be just as important as knowing what to buy.

The Myth of Black Friday Car Deals

Black Friday gets all the hype for retail deals, but it’s not necessarily the jackpot for car buyers. While dealerships do advertise discounts during the Thanksgiving weekend, these deals often rely on financing incentives rather than significant sticker price reductions. In many cases, the “savings” are tied to strict loan qualifications or limited stock availability.

Yes, you might get a few hundred — or even a thousand — dollars off, but the true deep discounts usually appear during less publicized times. The hype of Black Friday can also make buyers rush their decision, reducing their ability to negotiate effectively or compare offers from multiple dealerships. In short: Black Friday deals may sound great, but they often don’t match up to what you could save by waiting a few more weeks or months.

The Absolute Best Time: The End of the Calendar Year (Late December)

If you want to pinpoint the single best time to buy a car, it’s the final week of December. Why? Because it’s when dealerships are under maximum pressure to clear inventory before the new year begins. They’re trying to hit end-of-month, end-of-quarter, and end-of-year sales goals simultaneously — a triple deadline that makes them far more willing to cut deals.

Automakers also offer hefty rebates and bonuses during this time to help dealers move unsold stock. Salespeople are motivated too, often earning year-end bonuses tied to hitting targets. As a result, they’re more open to negotiation and more flexible with pricing.

During this period, you can often combine manufacturer incentives with dealer markdowns, effectively stacking discounts. It’s not uncommon for buyers to save 15–20% off MSRP, especially on the outgoing year’s models. If you’re flexible on color, trim, or specific features, you can secure some of the best deals of the entire year.

The Runner-Up: Late Summer and Early Fall (Model-Year Changeover)

Every year around August through October, car manufacturers start rolling out new models. That means dealerships are eager to clear out the previous year’s inventory to make room for the new arrivals. This period is known as the “model-year changeover,” and it’s the second-best time to buy a car after late December.

If you don’t mind driving the “previous year’s” model, you can often save thousands simply because the car will technically be one model year older — even if it’s brand new. The vehicle itself might be identical to the new version, but that model-year difference means instant depreciation for dealers, and they’ll pass part of that savings to you to move it off the lot quickly.

For example, in early September, a 2025 model might arrive while 2024 models are still sitting unsold. Dealers might knock $3,000–$5,000 off the 2024 version just to make space. The car hasn’t changed much, but the discount can be substantial.

Other Smart Times to Buy a Car

While late December and early fall are the two most powerful buying windows, there are several other strategic times throughout the year when you can save money — if you understand how dealerships operate.

1. End of the Month

Most dealerships have monthly sales quotas. Salespeople earn bonuses and commissions based on how close they come to hitting their targets. That means, during the last few days of the month, they’re often willing to take smaller profits on individual deals to boost their numbers. If you walk in near the end of the month — especially if business has been slow — you have strong negotiating leverage.

Pro tip: visit on the 29th or 30th of the month. Sales managers are often more open to discounting because they need to report sales totals by the end of the month. This is especially true for dealerships that are just a few units away from meeting their quota.

2. End of the Quarter

Quarterly sales goals create another opportunity for discounts — usually in March, June, September, and December. These deadlines often come with manufacturer bonuses for dealerships that meet or exceed their quotas. To secure those bonuses, dealers may offer bigger discounts or rebates during the final weeks of each quarter.

Combining end-of-month and end-of-quarter timing can be especially powerful. If you shop in the last few days of March, June, or September, you could hit both targets — meaning dealers are at their most motivated to make a deal.

3. Holiday Weekends (But Not Black Friday)

While Black Friday isn’t the goldmine it’s made out to be, certain holiday weekends can still be excellent times to shop for a car. Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the Fourth of July often come with special manufacturer incentives and promotional financing offers.

These weekends typically fall near the end of a month or quarter, giving dealers additional motivation to discount vehicles. Just make sure you do your research ahead of time — dealers know these weekends attract lots of buyers, and not all “holiday deals” are genuine bargains. Always compare online prices before heading to the lot.

4. When New Generations Launch

Every few years, automakers completely redesign a model — often referred to as a “new generation.” When that happens, the outgoing generation drops significantly in value, even if it’s still on the lot brand new. Dealers know buyers prefer the latest design, so they heavily discount the previous generation to clear it out fast.

This is an excellent time to grab a reliable car with proven performance and features, often for thousands less than the new version. Plus, older generations typically have fewer bugs or recalls since most issues were already ironed out in earlier production years.

5. During Slow Sales Months (January to March)

Winter is generally a sluggish time for car sales. Bad weather, post-holiday debt, and tax season all combine to keep buyers away from dealerships. To combat the slowdown, many dealers offer incentives during these months to attract customers.

January, February, and early March can be great times to buy if you’re not in a rush and willing to shop carefully. Inventory might be lower than in the fall, but you can still find good deals on leftover models or certified pre-owned cars. Fewer buyers means less competition — and more room to negotiate.

6. When You’re Financially Ready

Beyond the calendar, the best time to buy a car is also when your personal finances are in order. No timing trick can beat being well-prepared. That means your credit score is solid, your down payment is saved, and you’ve researched your trade-in value if applicable.

Strong credit can unlock low-interest financing, which can save you thousands over the life of your loan. A larger down payment can reduce your monthly payments or allow you to qualify for better terms. So, even if you’re shopping during a high-demand season, being financially ready gives you the upper hand.

How to Maximize Savings, No Matter When You Buy

Timing is powerful, but the smartest car buyers combine timing with strategy. Here are a few key tactics to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal, regardless of when you buy:

• Get Pre-Approved for Financing: Shop around for pre-approval from your bank or credit union before visiting the dealership. This gives you leverage and helps you avoid inflated dealership loan rates.
• Research Prices Online: Use multiple sites to compare real-world prices and incentives in your area. Knowing the market value prevents overpaying.
• Negotiate in Stages: Always negotiate the price of the car first, then discuss financing and trade-in separately. This ensures each part of the deal is fair.
• Be Flexible: Dealers are more willing to discount models that aren’t selling as well. Being open to different colors, trims, or features can unlock better savings.
• Shop at Multiple Dealerships: Even within the same brand, different dealers offer different pricing. Getting quotes from several can help you pit them against each other.

The Bottom Line

While Black Friday gets all the attention, it’s far from the best time to buy a car. The real winners are patient, strategic shoppers who understand how dealerships work and when to strike.

Late December remains the champion for deep discounts, but end-of-month, end-of-quarter, and model-year transitions also offer excellent opportunities for savings.

If you plan ahead, monitor incentives, and come prepared with financing and research, you can outsmart the sales cycle and drive away with a great deal — no giant holiday bow required. So the next time you see a flashy Black Friday ad, remember: the real car-buying pros know that the best deals come quietly, when everyone else is looking the other way.