Why this is the best time of year to buy a used car

The best used-car deals are yet to come!

While the end of the year is great for shoppers, based on research by shopping website iSeeCars.com, the next couple of months are even better ā€“ the best time of year to buy a used car.

So, if you planned to purchase a vehicle but ran out of time in November and December do not despair.

Man looking at line of used cars

ā€œThe months and holidays toward the end of the year are touted as a great time to find a used car deal,ā€ said Kari Brauer, an analyst at iSeeCars.com. ā€œBut itā€™s the beginning of the year that provides the most deals [and] more opportunity for used-car savings.ā€

ā€œOverall, this is what you could expect in a typical year,ā€ said an iSeeCars.com spokeswoman via email. ā€œHowever, it also represents when consumers can find the best deals in todayā€™s times.ā€

In fact, the prime time for used car deals starts next week, according to iSeeCars.

The website defines a deal as savings of five percent or more, which amounts to more than $1,100 off the price of the average used car selling for about $22,000.

So, New Yearā€™s Eve and New Yearā€™s Day surpass even Christmas Eve and the rest of December for the number of deals that are available on used cars, iSeeCars reports, with New Yearā€™s holiday vehicle shoppers finding about 20 percent more deals than on an average day.

But thatā€™s just the beginning ā€“ literally.

January and February represent the best time of year to buy a used car, the research shows, with 28.7 percent and 22.1 percent more deals than average, respectively. And the day of the year that offers the most opportunity for savings? Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which falls on Jan. 18, when used-car shoppers may find more than 39 percent more deals than on the average shopping day.

ā€œWhile Martin Luther King Day isnā€™t typically thought of as a major retail holiday, dealers tend to make a big push to boost sales in early winter by offering bigger deals, and this holiday is a great reason for them to pump up their promotions,ā€ explained Brauer. ā€œEspecially as it is observed on a Monday, which means shoppers have a long holiday weekend to find the car they want to purchase.ā€

Dealers also see opportunity with the rush of tax refunds many early filers expect or start receiving around this time of the year before sales peak in March.

ā€œThe [end-of-year holidays] are a popular time for new vehicle buyers who want to take advantage of generous incentives and rebates on outgoing model-year vehicles,ā€ iSeeCars.com explained in the report accompanying its research, which analyzed more than 32 million used-car sales. ā€œAs a result, thereā€™s a glut of used cars ā€¦ that donā€™t hit the marketplace until after the holiday season.ā€

That means January and February may, in fact, be the most wonderful time of the year for car shoppers.

More Like This

Leasing vs. buying ā€“ which option is better for you?
March 6, 2025

Leasing vs. buying ā€“ which option is better for you?

You have a choice to make. When youā€™re ready for your next vehicle you can take the traditional road to purchase ā€“ and finance ā€“ as millions of people do every year. Or you can lease, which accounts for about…

Illustration with icons including image of a dollar bill, pen and paper, envelope and letter, calendar, clipboard with check marks, car and official-looking document.
February 20, 2025

When do you get your title after paying off your car loan?

Youā€™ve made your final vehicle payment ā€“ congratulations! That is an exciting step as a vehicle owner, and one you should be proud of. How do I get my title after paying off my car? Now, you may be wondering…

Woman at a car dealership shaking hands with a woman holding a tablet computer.
February 6, 2025

How to use your tax refund* to buy a car

Itā€™s that time of the year. Like millions of other Americans, youā€™re doing the hard work and preparing to file your taxes. Once your taxes are submitted comes the exciting part, possibly turning your refund into a new vehicle ā€“…

4 tips to better manage your bills
January 31, 2025

4 tips to better manage your bills

There are some clear reasons why it makes sense to pay bills on time. Depending on the situation, keeping up with payments can help to avoid potential late fees, added interest charges, a knock to your credit score, the loss…

Illustration of a hand holding a mobile device with a Ā鶹ֱ²„ budget calculator site displaying.
December 11, 2024

Use auto finance calculators to estimate your car loan

Car budget calculators. These tools can be a helpful asset for digging into oneā€™s finances and supporting financial health. Especially when used before you purchase your next vehicle. The car budget calculators, or auto finance calculators, in theĀ Learning Center at…

An illustration of a truck carrying coins and dollar bills to denote APR and interest rate values in vehicle financing.
November 21, 2024

Understanding APR vs. interest rate for auto loans

Financing a vehicle purchase offers a convenient and affordable way for many people to get on the road. In return for those benefits, there are some borrowing costs involved and two of the most important are interest rate and annual…