How to Find a Great Deal

Do you ever find yourself wondering when the best time might be to purchase that new car you’re hankering after? Does it ever seem as if there are never any good deals available whenever you happen to be shopping for a new vehicle? If so, it can be a good idea to find out as much as possible about the timing of incentives and rebates for the automotive industry in order to time your next vehicle purchase to receive the best deal possible.

Generally, the best time to shop for a new vehicle if you’re looking for a good deal is later in the year. The worst time to purchase a new vehicle in order to obtain a good deal is the first part of the year. Ideally, September through November is the best time to take advantage of both dealer and manufacturer deals.

New models begin to arrive from the manufacturer to the dealer in September. Dealers must then begin to move out all the old models in order to make room for the new arrivals. As a result, you stand a stronger chance of taking advantage of a good deal if you time your car shopping during this time period. Just a few deals you might receive include financing deals, rebates and incentives. Dealers are much more likely to do whatever they can to reduce those inventories during this time period and they are not the only ones either. Manufacturers will also increase savings opportunities during this time period as well. This is particularly true for models they were overstocked or undersold, making this time period the perfect time to take advantage of year end clearance sales.

It’s also a good idea to time your car shopping for a specific time of the month as well in order to take advantage of good savings opportunities. Really, the last of the month is the best time to car shop if you’re serious about making a purchase. The last two weeks of the month provide an excellent opportunity to save while the last week provides the best opportunity.

This is because dealers must meet a certain sales quota each month and they tend to do whatever they can to make sure they will meet or even exceed that sales quota. In larger dealerships, salesmen often have the opportunity to earn bonuses if they exceed the quota. What does that mean for you? An even greater savings opportunity, particularly if you are shopping in the last few days of the month and the dealer hasn’t yet met that quota.

Of course, if you find that the dealer isn’t really willing to negotiate and it is the last of the month this could be a sign they’ve met the quota. If you can wait until the next month you might try again and find them singing a different tune to a lower sticker price; however.

Always keep in mind, regardless of when you choose to do your car shopping, to take the time to do some research first by shopping around different dealers and getting price quotes. Also try to stay focused on the type of car that will best suit your needs and the price range you can afford to spend. A good deal really doesn’t turn out to be so great if the price is still something you can’t afford or the car doesn’t meet all of your needs. By taking the time to do some research up front and stick to your guns about your needs as well as timing your shopping experience you can put yourself in a better bargaining position.