Buying a car at the best price can depend on timing.

Does getting the best deal on a car depend on what day you buy it? There is no shortage of advice out there for car shoppers about buying a car at the perfect day or time to get the best deal. It is okay to ignore anybody telling you to pick up a car on the fourth Thursday in October; there is a common-sense strategy for timing your car purchase to consider.

During The Week

The weekend is generally the busiest time of the week at any dealership. It makes sense; that is when most people have a day off, so that is when they go shopping. However, it also means that any salesperson has his or her attention divided and is quite busy. It may literally not be worth it to the salesperson to negotiate with you when there is somebody else willing to pay sticker price right behind you.

Because of this, it might be best to go car shopping during the week. Salespeople will have more time for you, and you will be able to discuss the price with less pressure for both sides.

The End Of The Month

Salespeople get paid on commission, as a rule, and that makes the end of the month a nail-biter for them. A few sales might make the difference between a nice bonus at the end of the month and having to make it up the next month.

Similarly, dealerships like to post higher numbers month over month, so salespeople will be more willing to discuss deals to get a few more cars off the lot. You do not have to show up on the 30th, of course; any time during the last week of the month will do.

The End Of The Year

As the holidays approach, your local car dealerships face a set of problems. First, the new model years are arriving, so there is pressure to get last year’s cars off the lot, especially as the dealerships may face tax penalties for those cars. Secondly, foot traffic is slowing down because people are thinking about Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, and people are directing their cash towards presents and turkeys. That means dealerships will start offering deals to boost their sales numbers and clear cars off the lot, and manufacturers will start upping incentives. So if you have time during the holiday season, check in and see if you can get a great deal.

When You Are Ready

Most importantly though, buy a car when you are ready to do so. Buying a car should be done at your pace, not to the tune of a ticking clock. It is smart to plan out how and when you buy a car, but timing is not the only consideration if you are looking to get the best deal. You should research the car you want, do test drives, find financing from a lender you trust, and if you have a trade-in, have it inspected and get a sense of what it is worth before you step on the lot. If you do that, even if you have to walk on the lot January 2nd, you will get a far better deal than the guy counting on showing up December 31st. For more on buying the right car at the right time, start with the research from CarFoundMe.