Buying a car is a strategic process, and can get pretty daunting especially if you have little previous experience of dealing with the automotive market. There are plenty of factors to consider: from selecting your make and model of choice, to weighing up how far you’re willing to travel for your purchase, to scouting for available cars in the local area that match your criteria. Sometimes, special deals, incentives, or freebies play a role, like Ford currently giving free home chargers to EV buyers – an offer it launched in September 2024, and which has now been extended to March 2025.

If you have decided to buy a used car, the process is even more complex: there are a number of additional elements to take into account, such as the condition of the vehicle and, if you’re dealing with a private seller, the trustworthiness of the seller themselves. One aspect that’s frequently overlooked is the best time of year to make your purchase: most people think timing is an important factor while dealing with dealerships to buy a new car, but in the used market this element gets missed. Used car listing website iSeeCars has researched the best and worst times to buy a used car, and the findings are extremely valuable for prospective buyers looking to get the best possible deal.

Why Buy A Used Car?

Of course, the first advantage that comes to mind when choosing a used car over a new one is the financial aspect: buying a used car, even if it’s only a couple of years old, means saving a considerable amount of money over an equivalent new model. If having a new car isn’t important to you, a used car can be a fantastic choice to save some cash and avoid getting trapped into a never-ending payment plan.

Once you have made your selection and driven your car home, you are also less likely to deal with drastic depreciation: while new cars, on average, lose 20% of their value in their first year of ownership, for used cars this curve is much less steep. The financial advantage doesn’t stop at the point of purchase, either; when it comes to insuring your next set of wheels, opting for something for the used market can bring further savings, as used cars are typically cheaper to insure than new ones.

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However, there are some other advantages to buying a used car that may not be immediately obvious. The reduced risk of teething issues is one: new cars, especially if at the start of a model’s new generation or post-facelift, may run into unexpected gremlins that need a year or two to come to light and be sorted out. With a slightly older car, on the other hand, you know exactly what you’re getting: relevant issues and recalls are already known about, and have likely been tackled by the previous owner if the car has been looked after well.

Buying a used car is also the option for those who have their heart set on a particular model. If the car of your dreams has been discontinued, or the model has undergone changes you’re not happy about (such as a different engine or the elimination of a manual transmission), then you have no choice but to look on the used market.

With all these factors considered, let’s take a look at the best months and days of the year to make a used car purchase, ensuring you get the most bang for your buck.

The Best Times To Buy A Used Car…

When it comes to the best season for used car shopping, winter wins hands down: data shows that November, December, January, and February are the best months to go shopping if you’re looking for a great used car deal.

If you want to get more specific regarding which day to make your purchase, major holidays are a safe bet: New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are, according to iSeeCars’ statistics, the best days to buy a used car with 47.9% more deals available than usual. Second place goes to Martin Luther King Day, or the third Monday of January, during which 43.3% more deals than average were available.

Why Is The Holiday Season A Good Time To Buy A Used Car?

Winter and the holiday period are not commonly associated with car purchases -or major purchases in general. As people take a break from work, spend time with family and hunker down throughout the colder months, buying a car is usually the furthest thing from their minds, however this time of year could bring some unexpected bargains.

With lower demand, people selling a car in the winter will be more eager to make prospective buyers happy; statistics show this is the time when you’re more likely to get a good deal on your new (well, new to you) car.

According to Karl Brauer, iSeeCars executive analyst, “Everything from colder weather to holiday spending slows demand for cars in the winter months […] but if you can afford the time and expense of buying a car between November 1st and February 28th, your chances of getting a good-to-excellent deal on a used model are substantially higher.

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…And The Worst

If winter is the best season to get a used car deal, summer is definitely the worst. April, May, June, July and August are not ideal months to shop for a used vehicle, with fewer deals available than average. Even the holidays that fall in the summer are statistically not recommended as car-shopping days: you are less likely than usual to find a good deal on Fathers Day, July 4th, Juneteenth and Memorial Day. Unless you’re in an emergency situation and urgently need a new set of wheels, it’s best to wait until the temperatures drop to start the search for a used vehicle.

Tips And Tricks To Remember When Buying A Used Car

Once you have selected a date to go and check out your dream car, it’s useful to remember a few basic tips for used car buying that will make sure you don’t end up with any nasty surprises:

• Check the car’s history and paperwork: ask the seller about the car’s history and its current condition, as well as the reason for selling. Run the car’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) through a service such as Carfax or AutoCheck, to make sure it has a clean title with no history of accidents or major damage.
• Check the car itself: once you have the all-clear on the paperwork front, it’s time to use your own judgment to assess the car’s condition in person. Look for rust, dents or scratches in the bodywork, and leaks; check the condition of the brakes and tires as well. Pop the hood and take a good look in the engine bay, keeping an eye out for any signs of corrosion or wear that might be a problem further down the line. Get an in-depth look at the interior, checking for any staining, functionality of tech features, and cleanliness
• Go for a test drive: This one is a no-brainer: before you make a decision over whether or not to buy the car, a test drive is essential. Even if everything is looking good and you have a reasonable amount of confidence the car is in good condition, a test drive will allow you to judge for yourself how it feels on the road, and if there are any issues like noises or smells that may not have been mentioned earlier. This is a good time to check for additional issues that only present themselves while the vehicle is running, such as abnormal smoke coming from the exhaust.

Sources: Lending Tree, iSeeCars