Changing your car is something you will inevitably do multiple times during your life. The fact that you live in Canada, the second biggest country in the world and that Canadian cities tend to spread more horizontally than growing vertically, makes the point of having a car literally a "must." So, you will ask yourself a lot of times: When is the best time to buy a car?
Changing your car is something you will inevitably do multiple times during your life. The fact that you live in Canada, the second biggest country in the world and that Canadian cities tend to spread more horizontally than growing vertically, makes the point of having a car literally a "must." So, you will ask yourself a lot of times: When is the best time to buy a car?
And here is my fast response: it depends on your needs and your rush. That is why in the following article I've split the analysis in three: If you want to know the ideal month for new cars, the perfect moment for used cars and the third and last one: if you are in a rush.
If your primary concern is price and you are looking for a new car, the best time span of the year is between September and December. And more precisely, the best moment is November.
The fact that new models are being delivered and parking lots need space, makes manufacturers offer incentives for previous year's models with the intention of attracting customers to drive these away. Sometimes, you can find a few thousand on MSRP savings with incentives that are really worth.
Additionally, during February and March, usually a low sales season, new car prices also go down a little bit but never compared with the levels reached during the last quarter of the year.
Nissan Canada sometimes offers the Rogue during October-November with 4,000CAD savings incentives.
A new car is the same anywhere: you go to dealer X, Y, and Z and they all have the 0 Km same vehicle. Wherever dealer you go, you will get the same exact "clone." But used cars are different. Buying a used car is more a matter of opportunity than timing. Any time in the year you can find different used car offers as these aren't globally managed by a massive market flow.
While I've talked about it on other articles, you need to remember that even with the same exact kilometers, same precise date of maintenance and being in similar weather conditions, vehicles depreciate in different. Cars are used differently: bumps, driving habits, breaking hard, breaking slow, high speeds, low speeds... there are multiple factors that affect the actual condition of a vehicle. And all this can result in the fact that both "brother" cars have different costs.
If you are looking for a used car, don't rush. The ideal time span you should use for exploring alternatives is 3 - 4 weeks of 10 hours a week of search. The fact that you have found a desirable offer doesn't directly means that you should go with it. We have all been there and that "opportunity feeling" influences a lot on making a decision.
One thing that helps a lot not to rush and be happy with whatever decision you make at the end is to put as many options as possible on the table. Yes, an actual "data table" or spreadsheet. If you propose yourself to get up to, let's say, ten choices, then you can be sure that you will make an excellent final decision.
Take your time, don't rush, and do a table with all available options before saying "Deal!".
If your current car is broken, you have the "urgent need" of having a car, or you just some eventuality is rushing you, then I suggest you analyze the following before jumping into any decision.
The best choice will always depend on how clear your judgment was at the moment of closing your next car deal. Good luck!
Jorge Diaz is a passionate car lover, winter driver & Software Engineer. For the last 10 years, he has built Online Solutions used by more than 5,000 companies across the globe. He founded Lease Costs in 2016 with the purpose of simplifying and helping people to better understand the complex market of new vehicles in Québec and Canada. You can connect with Jorge in LinkedIn or send him a direct message.
Article reference:
https://www.leasecosts.ca/en/articles/best-time-buy-car-canada
