Ask the Expert: When is the best time to buy a new car?

Maureen Adams, Sales Manager at #1 Cochran South Hills

The best time of the day

If I were purchasing a new car I would visit a dealership in the morning or early afternoon because there is still plenty of time left in the day to complete the whole car-buying process. If you must shop in the evening just make sure you arrive early enough to be able to comfortably spend up to three hours in the store. Arriving an hour or half-hour before closing time is a bad idea because let’s face it - buying a car is not always a quick and easy process and dealership personnel will want to go home when the dealership closes. Many consumers walk into a dealership just before closing and expect the staff to stay late. This is not fair to them and certainly won’t give you the kind of time that you’ll need to complete the transaction.

The best time of the week

Tuesday through Friday you’ll get the most personal attention. Saturdays and Mondays are typically a dealership’s busiest days. If you want an unhurried, individualized experience choose the middle of the week when most other car buyers are at work.

The best time of the month

I know that consumers are still being advised to come in at the end of the month because that’s certainly our busiest time! It can be effective to show up in a dealership during the second half of the month because by this time dealers are really pushing to hit the quotas set by the manufacturers. If a store has fallen behind they may push even harder to put a deal together with you. However, shopping during the last few days of the month may be more of a headache than its worth. Dealerships can be crowded at this time and may not be staffed to handle the overflow of traffic that is typical during these few days. You may have to wait for a sales consultant to become available when you’re shopping and if you do decide to purchase you may have to wait again for someone to complete your paperwork. There are certainly reasons to buy toward the end of the month, but stay away from the last few days.

On the other hand, it can’t hurt to search for your deal when the showrooms are empty. During the first half of the month dealers may be struggling with sales and may be willing to accept your offer just to get things moving. If you know the deal you want don’t wait for a certain time of the month, just go to the dealership and ask for it! A dealership can always find reasons to make a deal!

The best time of the model year

In my personal opinion, the best time of the model year is a month or two before the new model year version is released. This is when rebates and other incentives are greatest and selection is still good. Plus, if you are likely to find yourself trading or selling your vehicle a few years after you purchase, buying towards the end of the model year should mean your car will have lower miles than other cars of that same model year when its time to sell. Buy for less than others have bought now and sell for more than others can later!

The best time of the calendar year

There are actually many times throughout the calendar year when great deals are offered. Try to take advantage of manufacturer’s advertised sales events because while national campaigns are being broadcast to consumers, car manufacturers are usually also challenging their dealers to reach individual quotas. These events are not consistent, but you can find out about them from TV ads and from the manufacturers’ or dealerships’ websites. If the dealers are competing to hit sales goals they’ll be doing whatever they can to entice hesitant buyers to make a move now.

The summer months can be a great time to buy because it’s nearing the last part of the model year when you can find the some of the most generous rebates. However, when sales are plentiful salespeople may not be as aggressive in trying to earn your business. You may find that in the fall and winter months, when business is typically much slower for car dealerships, sales people will put forth extra effort to make you an attractive offer you can’t refuse.

Local dealerships post aggressive lease and purchase price ads every month in the newspapers and on their websites that you can be sure are great deals. Buy the car that’s in the ad if you want the best deal in any month of the year. The fact is if you know how to spot that amazing deal when you see it, any time of year can be a great time to buy. Every season is a new opportunity for dealers to gain market share and to take business away from the competition!

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