Skip to main content
Chevrolet Silverado Diesel driving on a highway near a mountain

Buying Your Pickup Truck: Timing Matters

As we close up the whirlwind that is 2020, buying a new pickup truck may be on your mind. Should you just go out to the dealer and pull the plug? Or does a waiting game help close a better deal? How does timing affect the end result of buying your pickup truck? Don’t rush …

As we close up the whirlwind that is 2020, buying a new pickup truck may be on your mind. Should you just go out to the dealer and pull the plug? Or does a waiting game help close a better deal? How does timing affect the end result of buying your pickup truck?

Ford F-150 pickup trucks are offered for sale at a dealership on September 6, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois
The Ford F-150 | Scott Olson/Getty Images

Don’t rush

Unless you are in dire need of a new vehicle, a nice slow roll can be to your benefit. If you go in and out of a dealership a few times, you may end up closer to your price than the dealer. Not always, but it often helps to let a car sit on the lot a little longer.

Discuss options with a salesperson and then leave. You can always come back. Plus, it’s usually likely that the same vehicle will be there waiting for you when you come back. Unless, of course, it’s something like a Kia Telluride that dealers have difficulty keeping in stock.

A red Ram pickup truck on display at an auto show.
Ram 1500 | Scott Olson/Getty Images

Related: The GMC Sierra Is a Handsome Alternative to the Nissan Titan

Rushing can hurry a deal. You never want to feel pressured into an agreement as huge as financing a car, truck, or SUV. Sometimes dealership experience can put the pressure on. But remember that you are the buyer and you are more in control of the situation than it might seem.

Try everything

Don’t buy a car without test driving it. Really, it makes no sense why someone would do this. Today, due to coronavirus, things have changed a bit. But dealers have adapted to make things safe for prospective buyers. If you are thinking about buying a pickup truck, do your research. Find the ones you think you will like the most. Test drive as many as you can. Then, even test drive the ones you think you won’t like. It never hurts to explore your options.

At the end of the day, even if the truck you like the most didn’t get the best reviews or the big hype from major auto publications it is going to be your truck. It isn’t going to be anyone else’s pickup truck but yours. When buying your pickup truck, just try everything. The model you end up connecting with the most could surprise you.

You may go into it thinking you want a Ford F-150 or Chevy Silverado. Then, after test driving and viewing what is available at the dealer you may find that you want a Toyota Tundra or Nissan Titan instead. It’s OK to choose the truck that fits your particular liking. It’s important to choose the truck that you want to live with.

2020 Nissan Titan | Nissan-00
2020 Nissan Titan | Nissan

Timing matters

According to Entrepreneur, buying before the end of the year can get you a better deal. Due to the taxing of various vehicles, there are incentives for buying closer to the switch over into a new year. Most car salespeople want to sell as much as possible before the year ends. This means that something good for them can also be good for you. Buying your pickup truck can prove to be a win if you take your time and choose to buy at the end of the year in order to work a better deal.

Related

Is Fiat Still an Italian Car Company?