Best time to buy car

Giddychick

Hello all,
I have my eye on a new car. I say new but it's 2 year old from a well known chain of car sales garages.

I was wondering if anyone had any advice as to when would be the best time to haggle over the price as I'm in no immediate hurry. I'm giving my current little car to my son so won't have anything to part ex and intend to pay with £1000 deposit and the remaining £5000 (or hopefully less if I can get them to come down on the price) with either an unsecured loan or car finance if they can match the rate.

I'm hoping someone in 'the trade' might advise if it would be best to buy it now or wait until either after Christmas or the new year.

Thanks in advance.

bengalknights

Best times would be during april when new car reg are issued

Mobeer

If it's a convertible then buy in winter. Buy a 4x4 offroader in summer.

forgotmyname

The best time is when you find the car you want for the money you want.

With used cars the turnover is a bit of an unknown. Right car and the right buyer it maybe in and out within 48 hours.

You may just happen to walk in when they have had it traded in literally minutes before.

Depends if you know exactly what you want. Or willing to consider something else. Like a certain person that said an old audi is a better car than a newer ford because its an audi. But its the same car underneath as the Skoda and the VW. Just the badges and dealer prices to vary.

Cant see past the badge.

marlot

Trade prices of most cars are at their lowest in November. They then rise in January. 4x4s have a different cycle though.

MX5huggy

I always find 2pm is a good time buy a car after a hearty lunch.

UsernameAlreadyExists

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4336273 ...
and I thought this was interesting too
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4333715

k3lvc

If you've found the car you want and they have it physically in their stock then a couple of days before New Years Eve is good assuming your chosen dealer needs to hit some numbers.

If it's just 'a car' of a certain make/model you're looking for then go into a local dealer and make them work to find you one in group stock then start negotiating on price - if they won't budge then move to the next town etc - also be prepared to leave a bit of flex as to whether you complete the deal on 31st Dec or 1st Jan - they may find they need the deal this year or may want to carry it over until next year.

Finally it goes without saying you have to have your funds available to complete the deal when you say you will - I remember a fraught new years eve a few years ago when £20k had gone awol in the banking system and threatened to scupper a deal I'd done on a Mercedes

DTDfanBoy

The best time to buy a car is when you have the cash saved in the bank to pay for it

In my humble opinion you'd have to be mad to buy such a quickly depreciating asset on credit

emmell

I'd enquire between Christmas and New Year

ML.

Relentless01

Car prices historically go up in Jan. December is normally a quieter month for new and used car sales. If you have seen the car you like now at the right price then December is a good time.

On finance vs depreciation this can be an issue if you want to change the car early in the finance agreement, but if you have a good deposit and are looking to pay for it over a short term this should not be an issue. Of course if you keep it until the end of the agreement it makes no difference.