10 Times of Year Smart Car Buyers Stay Far Away From the Lot
Practice, practice, practice may get you to Carnegie Hall, but timing, timing, timing is how you get the best deal on a used car. In fact, choosing the wrong time to buy can cost you thousands, so understanding when to avoid car shopping is just as important as knowing the best times.
In order to avoid inflated prices and make a smarter purchase, here are the 10 worst times of year to buy a used car ranked in descending order, according to iSeeCars.
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10. August
August is always the hottest and stickiest month, and also one of the worst times to get a new-to-you set of wheels. It would seem that, unfortunately, the colder the weather, the better the deals, as August shows 7.8% fewer deals than on average through the year.
9. Mother's Day
Maybe don't buy Mom a car for her special day, as this date shows 9.2% fewer sales than average. She did give you life, but maybe wait until her birthday or Christmas to give her a vehicle.
8. April
Only a fool would buy a used car in April when they know that statistically, there are 15% fewer sales than average for the entire month. If you can, wait a few months until the deals and discounts start heating up in the fall.
7. Memorial Day
Typically, when spring comes and the weather starts getting warmer, the demand for cars picks up. This increased demand means fewer deals are being offered. Though retailers love a Memorial Day deal, car dealers don't so much. This holiday weekend shows 18% fewer sales than average.
6. Juneteenth
The new car market in the summer can also impact the used car market. Because new models are typically released in late summer or early fall, a lot of buyers looking for new cars are willing to hold off a couple of extra months.
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5. Father's Day
Dads seem to have it worse than moms on this list, as they have even fewer sales on Father's Day, to the tune of -19.7%. It may not be a competition between your parents, as either way, it's a bad time to buy a used car.
4. July
The summer months keep taking a hit as July is very much a time you want to avoid taking a car from the used lot. This month shows 22.1% fewer sales overall.
3. May
Spring may have sprung at this point, but the amount of sales you'll see on new or used cars will start to plummet this time of year. May generally has 22.2% fewer sales than average to go along with Memorial Day.
2. Independence Day
The Fourth of July is a time for fireworks and backyard barbecues, but not necessarily a time to get a good deal on a used car. iSeeCars estimates this day to have 22.4% fewer deals than average when compared to the rest of the year.
1. June
When new car buyers wait to purchase until fall, few cars are traded in during the summer. This leads to less supply and higher prices. June proves this theory as it shows 22.8% fewer sales than average, making it the worst time to buy a used car in 2026.
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This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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