Buying a new car is always a major decision that requires a decent amount of consideration and research. But it still boggles the mind of many petrol heads that so many choose to buy new or used cars in March and September, which is when dealers know they’ll be getting a lot of custom and will reflect this in their prices. Could it be that the winter months are the perfect time to buy?
The best deals
Winter is traditionally a slow time for the automotive industry as people are saving for Christmas and are aware of the fact they won’t be driving quite as much. But that’s why it’s such an ideal time to jump in with both feet for those looking for a deal. December and January, in particular, are months where you’ll find car dealers willing to offer major discounts to get rid of extraneous stock, particularly if you’re buying secondhand.
Pre-registration
Winter falls just before the new registration plates are printed in February, which means dealers will have the best and most comprehensive stock available, not to mention an influx of trade-ins that they’ll be wanting to make space for. At this time, anything that’s been sitting out on the forecourt for a while will be fair game for a haggle so it might be the best time to buy a car.
Top tips for winter buying
- If you’re in the market for a convertible, they are obviously going to be in greater demand during the summer. The winter is the ideal time to swoop in and pick up a convertible bargain for next summer.
- Conversely, if you’re looking for a four-wheel-drive vehicle, you’re better off shopping in the spring and summer as it’s the autumn and winter months when they are more in demand.
- The days around Christmas and the New Year when everyone is enjoying the holidays is a great time to go car shopping, particularly if you’re willing to buy pre-registered cars.
- Just because you have a poor credit history, that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to get a car on finance. There are dozens of online resources such as Go Car Credit that specialise in helping those with poor credit find a solution.
- Buy on a Friday and on the last few days of the month as dealers will be doing whatever they can to complete a sale.
- Winter is usually when manufacturers begin to roll out their new models and this makes it the perfect time to make an offer on older models. They will be looking to clear out the old stock to make room for the new so you could find yourself a real bargain.
