Picking up the best time to buy a car

Written by 
Bill Tsouvalas
Bill Tsouvalas is the managing director and a key company spokesperson at Savvy. As a personal finance expert, he often shares his insights on a range of topics, being featured on leading news outlets including News Corp publications such as the Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun, Fairfax Media publications such as the Australian Financial Review, the Seven Network and more. Bill has over 15 years of experience working in the finance industry and founded Savvy in 2010 with a vision to provide affordable and accessible finance options to all Australians. He has built Savvy from a small asset finance brokerage into a financial comparison website which now attracts close to 2 million Aussies per year and was included in the BRW’s Fast 100 in 2015 as one of the fastest-growing companies in the country. He’s passionate about helping Australians make financially savvy decisions and reviews content across the brand to ensure its accuracy. You can follow Bill on LinkedIn.
Our authors
, updated on November 25th, 2021       

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Christmas is coming and what other way to end the year than with a great gift? What’s better than a new car? With the holiday season just around the corner, you might want to consider this thought.

Whether it is a new vehicle or a second-hand one, you have to understand the trends of auto sales to be able to spot a bargain. Buying a car is not easy, as it implies lots of searching, talks with dealers, comparing, papers, etc.

You have thought about this the entire year, looking for the perfect model, but you are waiting for the best moment to make this decision. Don't worry about this anymore as we have selected the best times when you are most likely to get a good offer on a vehicle.

Let's see the best time for you to buy the perfect car.

Santa will bring you a car

During the summer holidays, distributors and retailers will try to maximise profits by taking advantage of the gift-giving deadline and the peak spending period in Australia. Buying a car this time of year is a great idea as dealers will be more willing to negotiate the price. The good part is that there will not be much competition, as people usually focus on buying gifts or travelling during the holidays.

New Year comes with a new car

If you missed the great christmas deals, do not worry. January, February and March can also be an excellent opportunity to save some money on the previous year's models. After the EOFY period, March is the second greatest month for car sales. Dealers plan to make room for the new stock, so take advantage of that. 

The financial year comes to an end

Fiscal end of year is not December as many would think, but June. This is the time of the year when you will see sales for almost anything, including cars. Dealerships will try to attract customers by offering significant incentives such as price-slashing, little interest on finance or free servicing. As you will be competing with hundreds of other buyers, you have to think fast and know what you want.

Less is more

You already decided what make and model you want, but it is still too expensive for you? Stay up-to-date with news regarding any new model that might be released soon. As many will rush to purchase the latest model, you will be able to benefit from the run-out sales as dealers will make room for the new model.

Weekend opportunity

Each dealership has its own policy and some of them offer great deals during some times of the week. For example, you might see great offers for Saturdays and Sundays when people usually go shopping. During the end of the quarter or the month, you might find some dealers that try to improve sales numbers at the last moment and will be willing to cut you a deal.

Staying up-to-date with the seasonal activity of car sales can help you find the best moment for you to purchase your dream car at the lowest price.

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