Why Black Friday is a terrible day to buy a car – Jalopnik

As a society, it seems we no longer cram into stores the day after Thanksgiving to score some sales on holiday purchases. Of course, your local dealers will be hitting the airwaves with ads trying to convince you to wake up from your carb-induced slumber and stroll into the showroom for big savings! Don’t fall for it. This is why car shopping on Black Friday is probably not worth it.

If you’re looking for a used car, that segment is generally not subject to the monthly fluctuations in new car deals. The reason for this is that new car discounts are often tied to manufacturer rebates, financing programs and dealer incentives to move units. Used cars move up and down based on long-term trends such as buyer activity, inventory demand and other economic factors.

A recent survey from iSeeCars.com found that while Thanksgiving and Black Friday weekends resulted in 9.5% better used car deals compared to other times, buyers fared much better during other holiday weekends.

At a more granular level, used car prices don’t offer as much wiggle room for discounts compared to new cars. The goal with used cars is to find the best value on the market, not the biggest discount.

It is common for automakers to typically release next year’s model in late summer and early fall. In this case, the 2026 models would be released sometime around September or October. While this isn’t a hard and fast rule as some cars have irregular launch schedules, the time to make a deal on the previous model year is usually late summer as automakers and dealers look to clear them out to make room for the incoming batch of cars.

That means anyone shopping in late November will likely be looking at the most current models, and therefore the dealer’s motivation to give in to a car that just landed may be lower compared to a few months earlier. If you happen to be looking for the most recent model year. It may be worth waiting a few more weeks.

This isn’t to say there won’t be any deals next weekend, but whatever discounts there are will likely continue into December, possibly getting better as we approach the end of the year.

You’ve probably heard the common car-buying advice, which is to “look for deals at the end of the month.” The logic behind this advice is that dealers must meet specific sales goals, and they often receive bonuses for meeting or exceeding those goals. So if a dealer is close to that goal by the end of the month, they’re more likely to lower their price to get over the line. While there are a number of factors that make end-of-month purchases not always valid, both dealers and automakers are indeed looking to end the year with strong sales. This means greater likelihood of discounts from manufacturers and greater motivation from dealers to move units.

However, keep in mind that your ability to score a deal depends on the amount of inventory on site. Dealers want to move units that are currently in stock. If you’re looking for a model that’s in high demand and dealers are selling them before they get off the truck, don’t expect big holiday savings.

The main reason you’ll be inundated with ads in the coming week is because the dealers want you to buy a car the old-fashioned way. Salespeople know they have the advantage if you are physically in the showroom and mentally ready to get a ‘deal’. The dealer’s goal is to get as many buyers on the lot as possible to create a sense of urgency, because if you don’t take this deal… someone else will. However, your goal is to get the best price possible. To do this you need a comparison of offers from different stores. Doing this in person takes far too long and is logistically a hassle.

If you happen to be buying a car, you’ll want the dealers to send you prices in writing in advance. For new cars, you can then compare the relative discounts to the sticker price and see who is offering the lowest out-of-the-gate costs. With used cars, you can see who is offering clear prices and which dealers are trying to play games with their advertised numbers. Of course, that process is easier said than done, and some dealers are unwilling to cooperate. Any dealer that requires you to be there “in person” and get a quote is not a place you want to do business with.

Tom McParland is a contributing writer for Jalopnik and runs AutomatchConsulting.com. He takes the hassle out of buying or leasing a car. Do you have a question about buying a car? Send it to Tom@AutomatchConsulting.com