The Best Time to Buy a New Car? End of the Year, Yes, But There’s More to It
What are you waiting for?
It’s become common knowledge: The best time to buy a new car is the last few days of the year when dealerships and sales people are more motivated to hit or surpass their sales goals for the entire year.
But did you know that the end of the quarter is also a time when car makers and dealerships are more motivated to make a deal? And so is the end of the month; this is because those are the periods by which they are measured to determine bonuses and other rewards.
So if you’re thinking about buying a car—and you’ve done your homework, know what you want and can tell if a deal is good for you or not—here’s a guide to how timing can work in your favor.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
This Has Been The Oddest New Car Market, Maybe Ever
The last few years car sales have been simply weird. From pandemic buying and supply chain shortages, both of which are still impacting parts of the auto business, to a really strong used car market, buyers have had to look at all options for a new car. Add to that new car makers entering the fray, to the popularity and cooling of EVs and of course, the uncertainty of tariffs and it’s been nearly impossible to predict the best time to buy a new car.
Pricing has surprisingly been steady, as carmakers don’t want to scare off buyers and still, the price of the average new car crept past $49,000 this year.
Read: These Are 15 Best New Cars of 2025. We Drove Them and This is Why They Shine
Why Late-Year Car Sales Can Benefit You
With all that craziness at play, also consider the business-as-usual climate that results in better deals on new cars: new models start to make their way onto dealer’s lots in late Summer and dealers with prior model year cars to sell are incentivized to move them. And then, dealers, for all the craziness of the marketplace, may not have hit their sales goals.
Carmakers are in on this, too. Often end of the year sales incentives, those cash-back or low interest rate deals, are offered by the car maker to help their dealers get rid of the outgoing models. This is where you might find anywhere from $500 to several thousand dollars off the MSRP of a new car.
All this means it can be a great time to car shop—especially if you can be flexible in what you’ want and where you buy it.
Read: How car dealers make money
This Might Be the Best Time to Buy a New Car —If It’s Used
This is also a good time to shop for or sell a used car. The used car market continues to be hot, and there are a lot of great used cars for sale. For some buyers, shopping new vs. used is the way to go. Many new cars may be similarly priced to a fully-loaded not-so-old used car; the consideration here is warranty and mileage.
Since the used car market continues to be robust, it’s a great time to sell or trade your car for a new or improved used model. Just be sure to, once again, do your home work to know the value of the car you’re considering trading in and any car you are considering purchasing, and negotiate those deals separately, not as a package deal with another car. You might even sell your car at one dealership and make purchase from another.
Either way, car dealer salespeople are motivated by all sales, new and used and that timing may work in your favor.
Read: Sidestep the sales pressure and get a no-haggle deal from Costco
Models to Consider —That You Might Not Have Considered
The first thing a new car buyer should do is make a list of the features they want and need in a new car and the budget they can afford. Then start looking at brands and models. You’ll be surprised at the cars that’ll come up as possibilities. If you add in heavy inventory on dealers lots, the list gets even more interesting. Forbes reported on models that are in over-supply mode right now; not all are practical for everyone but many are really great cars. These are our favorites from that list:
- Kia Niro
- VW Taos
- Toyota 4Runner
- Ford Maverick
- Land Rover Discovery
- Toyota Tacoma
- Jeep Gladiator
- Subaru Outback
- Ford Explorer Hybrid
- Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e
Read: Negotiate like a pro with our 10 tips for success
Look For the Outliers On a Dealer’s Lot
Just had a blizzard? Look for a convertible. Enjoying balmy breezes and summer weather? Look for a fully-outfitted 4WD off-roader. Live in an area completely devoted to family life? Look for a sedan.
Each year car dealers are asked by car makers to buy a minimum number of models even if they are a tough sell in their market. So, if you can focus more on price and amenities, these outliers can present a great opportunity. A sedan, hatchback or a convertible can deliver everything you want with the bonus of a hefty markdown.
Read: Not sure you really need a new car? How to tell if a new car can wait
Car Makers Are Pivoting and You Can Benefit
Every now and then, car makers, like other businesses, have a reset. That is, they refocus their business for the conditions and consumer demand they see down the road. This is when they discontinue certain models, change their pricing structures or re-tool their lineups. All this means there’ll be outgoing models to sell, bigger manufacturer incentives and better deals. What this does not mean is that warranties will be affected or that car models ending production will be difficult to maintain and repair; the maintenance and repair pipeline is set before the car begins production.
Among the car makers that pivoted this year, and which may mean a great end of year deal are:
Jeep: The company changed leadership last year and is tightening its lineup and pricing. The result are sizable discounts on new models, though more on some and less on others.
Ford: With the end of the production of the Ford F-150 Lighting as an EV and shifting to a hybrid electric/gas model, there are some good deals on this workhorse electric truck.
Honda: Like Ford, Honda ended production of the Acura ZDX and will focus more on hybrid models in the future.
Porsche: The performance car maker is scaling back plans for EVs meaning there may be good deals on the Macan Electric, an EV we drove this year and really enjoyed.
EVs in general: With consumers feeling less interest in EVs many car dealers may have EVs sitting on the lot waiting for someone to take a test drive. If you’re an EV fan like I am, this could be a really great time to take the plunge and find the EV of your dreams, or to simply start your EV journey with an inexpensive lease.
If You Miss the End of Year Sales, Don’t Worry
Most year-end sales actually end a few days after the end of the year, so look at the fine print closely to ensure that you can hit all the rules of a sale in order to benefit. And if you don’t end up getting the car you’re eyeing, keep looking. Those year-end models don’t go up in price after the first of the year (though incentives may end), and all cars on a dealer’s lot continue to “age” once they are delivered to the dealer, meaning every day the dealer holds onto a car the more incentivized they are to sell it.
And then, there are winter sales ahead: January clearance sales, President’s Day and of course, the end of each month. Now, go find the car of your dreams.
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