Getting a good deal on a new or used car can depend on the time of year you buy it. Make sure you keep an eye on the calendar so you can take advantage of seasonal factors affecting the car trade and take advantage of the best month to buy a car. So if you are looking for the best time of year to buy a car, here are some dates to bear in mind.
Best time to buy a new car
Top tip
To help you work out the car’s running costs, try using our Car costs calculator.
Choosing the best time of the year to buy a car could potentially save you thousands of pounds.
Here’s what to bear in mind:
- Convertibles are more desirable in the summer, so there might be bargains to be had in the winter.
- At the end of each quarter – particularly the end of June and December – dealers might be keen to hit their quarterly sales targets and more likely to offer you a good deal.
- Demand for four-wheel-drive vehicles usually peaks during autumn and winter because of poorer weather, so you might get a bigger discount in the summer.
- In February and August many dealers offer some real bargains, while sales are slow as buyers wait for the new number plates coming in March and September. But If you take advantage of this lull, your ‘old’ number plates will make your car seem older than it really is, so it will depreciate faster.
- Find out when new models or ‘face-lifted’ existing models are due out, then buy the previous version during its last few weeks in the showroom. Dealers will be want to shift this stock and be more likely to offer you a good deal. But remember an older model will depreciate faster than the new arrivals, even though it’s roughly the same age.
- Showrooms are quieter on weekdays so drop in on a Friday – when the dealer will also be keen to meet their weekly target. This gives you an advantage when bargaining with the salesperson.
- Wait a few months after launch before buying a new model – by then there will be less showroom buzz about it so the dealer might well offer you a better deal.
Best time to buy a used car
Seasonal trends in sales of new cars have a knock-on effect on the cost of used cars.
Time your purchase right and you could get a real bargain:
- Avoid buying used convertibles in the spring or summer - wait until winter, when demand is much lower.
- March and September are the peak months for sales of new cars, often through part-exchange deals. So dealers will have lots of used cars to sell, which puts you in a strong position when negotiating.
- Dealers are also often keen to clear out used cars in July and early August in readiness for new models and the registration plate change on 1 September.
- December and January are quiet months for the used car trade. Cars aren’t on people’s minds around Christmas and the New Year so dealers and private sellers are keen to make a deal.
- Buy four-wheel-drive vehicles in the summer – demand peaks in the late autumn and winter because of the poorer weather.
Your next step
To get the best deal on a used car, find out how to negotiate when buying a new or used car.
This article is provided by the Money Advice Service.
