The Best Time to Buy a Car in
El Paso

People often wonder about the best time to buy a car. This is Part One of a two-part series on how to score the best deal on your next vehicle. In this article, we’ll cover new car models vs. pre-owned certified vehicles, as well as models on their way to becoming “old news.”

So, what’s the answer? Is it after graduation, after tax season, after a raise, or does it really make a difference? When considering such a large purchase, these details matter. So, what’s step one?

New Cars

It’s not uncommon to wait with anticipation for a new model release—be it a sedan, SUV, or luxury vehicle. It’s natural to get excited about something new, but how do you get the best deal on the hottest car on the lot? New car models will always come at a higher price than pre-owned or older models, but this doesn’t mean you can’t catch a break.

End of Year

If timing aligns with the end of the calendar year, wait to make your move. Car salesmen with year-end goals will likely be more willing to make a deal to clock in a sale towards the end of the year than during any other season. Having said that, there are tons of other ways to get what you want, year-round.

End of Day or Month

Sensing a trend? Think about how a car dealership works. It’s largely—you guessed it—commission. So, what happens at the end of the day? An employee, no matter the position, realizes that it’s closing time and today wasn’t as good as he or she thought it might turn out. Therefore, if you waltz in towards the latter part of a typical workday, you’re more likely to catch a deal from a salesman or saleswoman who wants one more commission before closing shop than an eager beaver opening up in the AM with a smile, full night’s sleep and cup of coffee in hand.

This also applies to the end of the month. Soon as month-end quotas start being tallied, those very same salesmen will be looking to meet their goals.

Photo provided by Mercedes-Benz of El Paso.

Certified Pre-Owned Cars

So, what about pre-owned certified models? Oddly enough, the same logic applies. If you’re looking for a pre-owned certified car, truck, crossover or SUV, it’s best to try your luck towards the end of the month or year.

It also helps to know the value of the car you’re eyeing before walking into a dealership. Do your research, and have a number in mind. If that number doesn’t come out of the mouth of the person doing the talking, walk away. That’s your best point of leverage with a new, used, pre-owned, or any other type of vehicle—and always will be. The power to walk away will always lead to a new and interesting possibility on the deal horizon, and if it doesn’t: no harm, no foul.

Photo provided by the exclusive Certified Pre-Owned Mercedes-Benz dealer in El Paso.

New Car, Older Model

Here’s where there will always be an opportunity. What happens when a dealership gets a call that a new model is en route to its lot? It scrambles to sell off all of its soon-to-be outdated models. This means that unless you’re jonesing for the absolute latest and greatest (which is something we all do, so no guilt there), you stand a great chance of getting a great rebate, discount, or deal on a model that is in the process of being replaced.

Does this mean there’s anything wrong with this “older” model? Definitely not. In fact, unless there’s a total overhaul, it will likely be more similar than not to the new vehicle, which will be sold at sticker value for the utter sake of newness.

Photo provided by the #1 VW dealer in El Paso.

So, there you have it. New or old, end of day, end of month and end of year are all intriguing timeframes to keep in mind. Regardless, if you walk into a dealership in El Paso knowing what you’re talking about and having spoken to other dealerships, there’s no bad time to get what you want.