Don’t Buy a Car in This Month of the Year
Written by
Josephine Nesbit
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
Commitment to Our Readers
GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.
20 Years
Helping You Live Richer
Reviewed
by Experts
Trusted by
Millions of Readers
Buying a car takes planning. And if you buy a car during the wrong month, it could cost you.
“April is the worst month to buy a car,” Melanie Musson, an auto industry expert with Clearsurance.com, wrote in an email. April is often viewed as a seller’s market for both used and new vehicles. As people get their tax refunds, they have more money to spend and are more likely to go out car shopping during warmer weather.
CarEdge and Carversal also identified April as the worst month to buy a car. Dealerships often inflate their prices, and buyers have less wiggle room for price negotiation with sellers.
Read on for more details about why buying a car in April could cost you more than you expect.
Also see eight used cars that will be great deals in 2025.
Extra Spending Power
“Even the worst procrastinators will be getting their tax refunds in April or close to it,” Musson said.
According to the IRS, the average tax refund was $3,055 as of April 11, 2025 — enough to make a sizable dent in a down payment.
“When people have money, they tend to spend it. So, people take their tax refunds and use them as a down payment on a new car,” she explained. “When demand is high, dealerships have little incentive to reduce prices.”
More Foot Traffic in Warm Weather
Most car shoppers prefer to do their car shopping when the weather is nice and the days are longer.
“The spring months bring warmer weather, and people are more likely to head out and shop than in the winter, when staying in their warm homes is more appealing,” Musson explained.
The longer days and improved road conditions make test driving more enjoyable, and for many, it’s more motivating to shop when they don’t have to deal with cold winter weather. A 2025 Cox Automotive report also showed that used-vehicle sales climbed for the fifth consecutive quarter, with much of that momentum building during the spring selling season.
Summer Vacation Planning
“In April and May, people start to plan their summer vacations and think that it may be time for an upgraded car for their road trips,” Musson said.
A survey by The Vacationer found that nearly 75% of Americans intend to take at least one road trip this summer, accounting for nearly 196 million people.
Fewer Price Cuts
And when there’s more demand, there’s less room to negotiate.
“Sellers don’t reduce prices on items that people are happy to pay full price for. That’s bad business,” Musson explained.
During high-demand seasons like spring, dealerships and individual sellers are less inclined to offer discounts or incentives. With more shoppers on the lot — many with tax refunds or planning summer travel — sellers know they don’t have to work as hard to close a deal.
More From GOBankingRates
Sources
- Melanie Musson, Clearsurance.com
- CarEdge, “Why April Is the Worst Time to Buy a Used Car (But a Great Time to Sell).”
- Carversal, “Why April Is the Worst Month to Buy a Car – Avoid These Price Traps.”
- IRS, “Filing season statistics for week ending April 11, 2025.”
- Cox Automotive, “Spring Optimism Boosts U.S. Automobile Dealer Sentiment, Despite Weak Profits, Growing Costs.”
- The Vacationer, “Summer Travel Survey 2025 – 82% to Travel (Down 3% YoY), 75%+ to Road Trip, 52% to Fly on a Plane, 25% to Travel Internationally.”
