Best Time to Buy a Car: A Month-by-Month Guide

The calendar still counts. From New Year’s sales to Black Friday blitzes, here’s when the market tilts in your favor — and when to steer clear.

Buying a car is like buying a plane ticket: Timing can make a difference, but there’s no one magic day. Instead, prices follow familiar seasonal patterns shaped by dealer quotas, model-year rollouts, and buyer demand. Whether it’s 2024, 2026, or beyond, these rhythms remain remarkably consistent even as EV incentives and interest rates shift.

Across model years, the best windows for deals are September through December, with honorable mentions to March (quarter close) and February (low demand).

Here’s a year-round deal radar.

January – New Year’s Sales, but Slim Pickings

• Dealers often extend December clearance deals into the first week of January.

• Selection can be thin, though, since many buyers snapped up cars at year-end.

• U.S. News & World Report notes that while some leftovers linger, inventory is usually limited.

Tip: Great if you’re flexible on trim or color.

February – Slow Sales, Quiet Leverage

• Historically one of the slowest sales months — meaning salespeople may have more time to negotiate.

• Experian and CarEdge both point out that low foot traffic can lead to extra dealer flexibility.

Tip: A hidden-gem month for hagglers.

March – End-of-Quarter Push

• Dealers hustle to meet Q1 sales goals.

• CarEdge reports end-of-quarter discounts can rival December in some years.

Tip: Shop the last few days of March for leverage.

April – Spring Shopping Season

• Tax-refund cash boosts demand — especially for used cars.

• More buyers = less wiggle room.

• Edmunds advises waiting if you can.

Tip: Unless you’re flush with refund money, this isn’t the strongest deal month.

May – Memorial Day Kickoff

• Memorial Day ranks among the top five car-buying holidays.

• Autotrader calls it a reliable time for strong discounts on outgoing model-year stock.

Tip: Solid deals — especially if you’re open to last-year models.

June – Mid-Year Momentum

• End-of-Q2 quotas give some bargaining power.

• CarEdge notes June often brings “sleeper” finance offers as dealers aim to clear inventory. (source: )

Tip: Worth checking before July if you’re comparing financing.

July – Holiday Sales, Mid-Summer Lull

• Fourth of July sales spark promotions, but mid-summer demand keeps prices steady.

• Edmunds says July deals exist — just not as deep as fall discounts.

Tip: Best if you need a car now, not if you can wait.

August – Model-Year Transition

• Late summer marks new-model arrivals, prompting clearance deals on outgoing stock.

• Experian confirms August is one of the strongest months for price drops.

Tip: Ideal if you want discounts but still need decent inventory.

September – Clearance Meets Quotas

• End of Q3 and peak model-year clearance overlap.

• U.S. News ranks September among the absolute best months to buy.

Tip: Best balance of selection and discounting.

October – Prime for Pre-Owned

• New models flood lots, pushing used-car prices down.

• Edmunds lists October among the top months for used-car shopping.

Tip: Perfect if you’re going pre-owned.

November – Black Friday Blitz

• Automakers roll out holiday promotions around Thanksgiving.

• Autotrader and CarEdge note that end-of-month and holiday incentives often overlap here.

Tip: If you see a great offer, don’t wait for December — it may vanish.

December – The Clearance King

• Triple advantage: end of month, quarter, and year.

• Edmunds and Experian consistently call December the best month for new-car deals.

Tip: Late December yields the best prices, but inventory may be limited.

Bottom Line

Timing helps — but the biggest wins come from combining calendar smarts with solid research, pre-approved financing, and a willingness to walk away.