Buy a new car tomorrow (and other great tips)
If you are in the market for a new car or truck, timing is everything. Experts say buying a vehicle at the right time can save you at least a few hundred dollars … and maybe even a thousand dollars or more.
According to trend data gathered by TrueCar.com and Kelley Blue Book, look for year-end and end-of-the-month deals. Even though it’s more convenient for your schedule, skip car shopping on the weekend. Less foot traffic during the week means more salespeople willing to negotiate.
Looking for deep MSRP discounts? Make plans to head to the dealership between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Very few people are shopping for cars that week, and dealers are under pressure to meet year-end sales quotas. Plus, manufacturers tend to offer large rebates at the end of the year to clear the lot of that year’s remaining models.
If you are okay with buying the year’s current model, you can also time your shopping to coincide with when next year’s models arrive, usually in September or October. Thanksgiving weekend is also often a good time to buy, because manufacturers often offer special incentives.
Speaking of holidays, if you don’t want to wait until fall to buy a car, July 4 – yes, tomorrow – is also a good day to buy.
That said, it pays to do your research long before you need a car. Get as much information as you can on the car or truck you are considering. Always shop around for the best auto financing deal with various lenders.
While you are in a savings mindset, according to ConsumerReports.org, you’ll also want to skip the following needless new car “upsells” that do little more than drive your price tag up. They include the following:
Fabric protection: Think about what else you could spend about $400 on and buy a can of fabric protector instead to do it yourself.
Paint sealant: Hold onto your hard earned $600. Turns out the treatment is “overpriced liquid wax”, nothing more.
Rustproofing/undercoating: Research revealed that today’s automobiles and trucks are already manufactured with corrosion protection, so the $800 treatment is unnecessary.
