Skip to main content

While there certainly are some tips and tricks when it comes to buying a new car, however, the timing in which you buy a new car is important as well. Whether you know it or not, waiting until the end of the month is a great idea as dealers do want to sell as many cars as they, especially new ones, before the month ends and your purchase can make all the differences when it comes to their monthly bonuses.

With online car sales currently ramping up, as well as the Memorial Day weekend that’s currently upon us, some car shoppers might want to know when the best day of the week is to buy a car. In actuality, there’s more than just one.

The early bird gets the worm

If you’re looking to buy a new car and can only go on one of the weekend days, then you’ll be sad when you realize that the dealership is packed full of people looking to take advantage of the same deals. Now, if you can only go on the weekend, due to work restrictions, then we say do it, but go as early as possible. Just like waiting in line for the new iPhone or the new Star Wars movie, the early bird gets the worm, or at least a possible short wait time and a better seat.

And believe it or not, seating is valuable at a dealership. On a holiday weekend, we have heard of wait times of up to four hours and customers sitting on the showroom floor due to the place being so crowded. However, with the current pandemic changing the rules, some dealerships might have a social-distancing rule that prevents overcrowding.

Either way, if you’re looking for the shortest wait time possible, then we suggest going during the week. Even Reader’s Digest says that Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday are the best days to go buy a car.

New cars waiting to be sold in a dealership lot
New cars sitting in a dealership lot | Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Why those days?

You might be wondering why the middle of the week is the best time to buy a car and the answer is simple: Dealerships are usually empty during those days and dealers are still looking to make sales. For example, with the current Memorial Day weekend, most prospective buyers are looking to get the best deal during the three days of the weekend (Saturday, Sunday, and Monday). However, unbeknownst to them, they will likely be waiting for a long time to get their deals to go through, but if they just waited one more day, they could have had the same deal without the long wait time.

Sure, the car that they wanted might not be there after the weekend passes, but dealers can typically trade with other dealers to get the car that just about any customer is looking for. The notion of having to buy a car on the holiday weekend in order to get the best deal is just perception. If you read the fine print on every dealer’s sales ad, it will typically tell you that their sale is good until the end of the month.

View of car salesman showing vehicle to family
Choosing between an SUV and a truck can feel tricky. | Michaeljung/Getty Images

Pick a day and go

So we recommend picking out a day in the middle of the week and taking the time off work to go to the dealership. The time you don’t spend at work could mean money saved on the car that you’re buying in addition to saving more time all together. That sounds like a win-win to us!

Related

Coronavirus and Car Buying: Is it a Good Time to Buy a Car?