The Complete Used Car Buying Guide

Seasonal Timing

• October through March is generally the best time to buy used cars
• Dealers need to clear inventory before year-end and new model arrivals
• Demand drops during colder months, giving buyers more leverage

End of Period Deals

• End of month: Salespeople push to hit monthly quotas
• End of quarter: Even more pressure to meet targets (March, June, September, December)
• End of year: Best deals as dealers clear inventory for tax purposes

Holiday Weekends

• MLK Day weekend, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day
• Dealers run promotions and are motivated to move inventory
• Less competition from other buyers during holidays