The Best and Worst Times To Buy a Used Car
Written by
Terence Loose
Edited by
Amber Barkley
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Timing is everything in life. And with used car prices still 29.6% higher than pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, according to a study from used car search engine site iSeeCars, timing your used car shopping is vital if you want to save money.
To prove it, iSeeCars analyzed over 39 million used car sales from 2023 and 2024 to find the best and worst times to buy a used car. They quantified the chances of finding a deal for given months, seasons and holidays and compared that to the annual average of 33.1%.
For the purposes of the study, iSeeCars defined a deal as a savings of at least 5%, or a minimum of $1,386 off the average used car price of $27,726.
Next, find out how much you can actually save by buying a used car instead of a new one.
Winter Months Offer the Best Deals
Shopping for cars in the cold might not be as fun as visiting dealerships on a nice sunny day, but that’s exactly why used car shoppers will have a better chance at driving a hard bargain then. During the months of November through February, dealerships struggle to bring in customers, especially during the holiday season, according to the iSeeCars study. That often results in lower prices and better deals.
- January is the best month to buy, with 41.1% more deals than the annual average.
- December (32.5% more deals) and February (31.8% more deals) also offer great opportunities to find deep discounts.
Karl Brauer, executive analyst at iSeeCars, said cold weather and holiday distractions cause slower demand, which means dealerships — who want to attract buyers — are likely to offer more incentives.
The 10 Best Times To Buy a Used Car
| Time of Year | Percent More Deals Than Average |
|---|---|
| New Years Eve and Day | 47.9% |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | 43.3% |
| January | 41.1% |
| Presidents’ Day | 37.6% |
| Christmas Eve | 36.0% |
| December | 32.5% |
| February | 31.8% |
| Thanksgiving and Black Friday | 28.4% |
| Veterans Day | 11.8% |
| November | 10.3% |
Spring and Summer Is the Dealer’s Market
With warmer weather, better driving conditions and tax refunds rolling in, the spring and summer months are a tough time to score a discount, according to the iSeeCars data.
“Spring and summer are popular times to buy cars, but they’re the worst for finding deals. If you can’t buy before April, your next best chance begins in November,” Brauer said.
- June is the worst month to buy a used car, with 30.4% fewer deals than average.
- May (-27.8%) and July (-22.5%) are also tough months for bargain hunters.
And bad news for fathers hoping for some dealer love on their special day. Father’s Day ranks as the worst day of the year for getting a good deal on a used car, coming in at 33.1% lower than the annual average. That’s followed by the Fourth of July (-31.1%) and Juneteenth (-30.0%).
The 10 Worst Times To Buy a Used Car
| Time of Year | Percent Fewer Deals Than Average |
|---|---|
| Father’s Day | 33.1% |
| Fourth of July | 31.1% |
| June | 30.4% |
| Juneteenth | 30.0% |
| Memorial Day | 28.0% |
| May | 27.8% |
| Mother’s Day | 27.4% |
| July | 22.5% |
| April | 16.8% |
| August | 8.5% |
The Best and Worst Holidays To Buy a Used Car
If you’re a holiday shopper, timing is even more crucial. Here are the best and worst holidays to find a used car deal, according to iSeeCars.
| Holiday | Percent More or Fewer Deals Than Average |
|---|---|
| New Years Eve and Day | +47.9% |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | +43.3% |
| Presidents’ Day | +37.6% |
| Christmas Eve | +36.0% |
| Thanksgiving and Black Friday | +28.4% |
| Halloween | +15.3% |
| Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day | +14.1% |
| Veterans Day | +11.8% |
| Labor Day | -4.4% |
| Mother’s Day | -27.4% |
| Memorial Day | -28.0% |
| Juneteenth | -30.0% |
| Fourth of July | -31.1% |
| Father’s Day | -33.1% |
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