The worst time to buy a car is a very important piece of information that you need to know in order to avoid buying your car around it. I based the information in this article on my personal experience, the experience of my friends, and the advice of a close friend who is also an auto dealer. The worst time to buy a car depends on your perspective of the process. In this article I put the value of the car within one year of the purchase as the reference point.
The worst season to buy a car is in the fall, especially in November. At this time the new models of the next year are released, or about to be released. If you buy your brand new car today and the next years model is released a week from now your car value will drop significantly. If you are to change it next year you’ll lose a lot. On the other hand, If you happen to buy the new model of the next year that has just been released you are working for the automaker as a lab rat. It’s always better to wait until the model has been tested on the roads and proven to be a good one. There are people who just love to be the first to drive the newest models, let them test it for you. Also in the fall you are going to drive your car for the whole season of winter immediately after you buy it. If you are to change it for any reason (expecting a baby, getting married unexpectedly, moving out of the country) your car value will drop in six months more than if you buy it in spring and drive it through summer. I am considering our harsh winter in Canada and in the Northern States.
The first day of the month is also a bad day to buy a car. An auto dealer typically starts a new cycle of sales and is relaxed, opposite to the last day of that sales cycle. The least day of the month they are ready to work out any deal just to meet the sales goal of the month. This is when you can practice some strategies to get the best deal on your car. The first day of the cycle there is no pressure, and the car dealer is ready for your strategies and will be OK with you leaving without buying.
Mondays are not good days to buy a car from a dealer that works only during week days, while not as bad if your dealer is open through the weekend. The tip of the thumb here is to avoid crowds. Go when the dealership is totally empty. This way you get all the attention and your pressure practices will give you the best results. If on the other hand they have other customers to serve you’ll be just one potential buyer, This is true specially when they have more customers than salesmen.