What Is The Best Time To Buy A Car?

Waiting for the best time to buy a car makes sense. You need to wait until your finances are in order and until you’re set on the best way to buy a car and what car you should buy.

But aside from your personal circumstances, is there a general best time to buy a car for cost, availability and models? 

If you don’t need your car in a rush, it could pay off to wait and get the timing right for the best deal. In this guide, we look at some of the factors that influence the best time to buy a car. 

New Number Plates

We all know a car enthusiast that raves about number plates. Whether you’re bothered about them or not, buying a car as the new number plates arrive is typically the busiest, and consequently most expensive time.

They change over in March and September, so although they overlap with the end of quarter sales, they can be a difficult time to get a bargain. 

Dealers will likely have an influx of potential buyers, and if you’re not willing to take the price advertised, someone else likely will.

If you’re set on getting a new number plate, it’s worth trying to visit the dealership during the week rather than weekend. 

Facelift Models

When a car model does well, manufacturers don’t want to fix something that isn’t broken. In many cases this means that they’ll give a popular model an update to bring it up to speed with the latest styles, tech and car safety features. 

This is when you swoop in and bag yourself a bargain. 

Dealerships often flog new models left, right and centre, meaning the outgoing style is left quietly in the corner. Since most buyers will be keen to get the latest model, there’s a high chance you’ll be able to get a reduced price on the older one. 

This is one of the best approaches if you’re buying your first car and don’t want to spend a fortune.

Quarterly Sales Targets

Like any other sales business, car dealerships have competitive sales targets to meet. If you’re toiling over how much you should spend on a car, timing this right could make all the difference to what you end up paying. 

Catching the sales staff just when they need that extra push for their figures means they may be more willing to offer a discount to bag the sale.

The sales targets for most dealerships fall around the end of March, June, September and December. It’s better to target these months, as there won’t be the same pressure to sell if you visit in January, April, July or October.

That said, make sure you’re selective about the model in March and September - as we said, these are new number plate months, so new models are pricey, but older ones will be easier to bag at bargain prices.

Day Of The Week/Month

We know, you probably think we’re getting nitpicky now. 

But it’s not just the month itself that’s important. If you head to the dealership at the wrong time of the month, you’re probably going to get the worst price on your car. 

The beginning of the month is likely the worst, as everyone’s just been paid. With full bank accounts, car buyers will be flooding the dealerships, meaning there’s no incentive for sales staff to offer discounts. 

It’s equally not ideal to hit the dealership in the last couple of days of the month. There’s a chance you could just miss the sales target period, and if they’ve already got their new target, they won’t be pressed to get you to buy. 

The best time is around the middle of the month up until roughly the 24th. Dealers will be approaching the end of their target periods, and on the lookout for serious buyers. Just bear in mind that if you want to test drive the car or look it over, you may want to head in slightly earlier for more time to decide.

Car Shopping During Holidays 

Realistically, it’s the last time of year that you want to buy a car. You’ve probably blown all of your budget on Christmas presents and work nights out, and you’re more likely to be counting your pennies. 

“Should I buy a new car?” is the last thing you’re thinking about.

However, if you’ve budgeted accordingly, buying a new car during the holidays could be one of the best times. Barely anyone is car shopping, and it will even be approaching the end of a sales quarter. You’ll have the salesperson desperate for a deal, and you can discuss all the different car body styles and trims to your heart’s content. 

Conclusion

If buying a new car still feels like a big commitment, you do have alternatives. Leasing is one of the best ways to try out a car for a couple of years, without any of the commitment or hassle of owning. You’ll probably even be pleasantly surprised by how long it takes to lease a car.

We’ve covered the best time to lease a car so you can still get the best price on your lease, whether you need a car for personal use or business. 

If you think leasing could be for you, you can compare car lease deals from UK brokers with ease with Lease Fetcher.