10 Best Times of Year To Buy a Used Car
Written by
J. Arky
Edited by
Cory Dudak
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As 2024 bows out, there are a lot of year-end sales going on across car dealerships. While it might seem like this is the best time to buy a new set of wheels, does the same logic hold up for used cars?
iSeeCars released a list of the 10 best times in the year to buy a used car, and GOBankingRates is breaking them down so you can get the best deal if you are in the market.
10. November
The eleventh month of the year holds the number ten spot for the best time to buy a used car. That’s because, according to iSeeCars, there are 10.3% more deals on average than the rest of the year. While November 2024 has come and gone, it’s never too late to look ahead to November 2025.
9. Veterans Day
Speaking of November, one of the major holidays and best time to get a car is on Veterans Day. The data shows customers tend to get 11.8% more deals on average that day, with service members possibly eligible for further military discounts, depending on the seller.
8. Thanksgiving/Black Friday
November continues to have dates that are best to buy a used car, with the combination holiday-sales event of Thanksgiving/Black Friday ranking as the number one time in November to cash in on a deal that is, on average, 28.4% higher during those 48 hours.
7. February
Love is in the air during the second month of the year, and not just because of Valentine’s Day. Consumers can get 31.8% more deals on average for a used car if they shop during February, according to iSeeCars.
6. December
The temperature is dropping, as are the prices on used cars, with December offering 32.5% more deals on average than the rest of the year. Christmas might be on the 25th, but you can gift yourself a used vehicle for a great price all month long.
5. Christmas Eve
Can’t wait for Christmas morning to unwrap your used vehicle? That might actually work in your favor in terms of saving money. iSeeCars found that Christmas Eve had 36% more deals on average for used cars, with Christmas Day not even making it into the rankings.
4. Presidents’ Day
Most people have Presidents’ Day off. However, your local dealership is probably open and ready to get you a stellar price on a used vehicle. That’s because there are 37.6% more deals offered on this day when Americans salute two former commanders in chief.
3. January
While a cold front might set in during the first month of the year, deals are sure to heat up, as the month of January was found to have 41.1% more discounts and markdowns on used vehicles than the rest of the year.
2. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January also has a few select holidays during which you can find a fantastic deal on a previously owned car. Martin Luther King Jr. Day tends to have 43.3% more deals on used vehicles compared to the rest of the year.
1. New Year’s Eve/Day
It’s a countdown to a superb deal on a used car, or the celebratory way to mark another trip around the sun. Either way, consumers can expect there to be 47.9% more deals on average on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day than any other time of the year.
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