The holidays can be an exciting time of year for everyone – but they’re also inherently stressful. If you happen to be in the market for a new or used car, the process itself can further make things feel overwhelming. Thankfully, all hope is not lost.
“It is entirely possible to find the car you’ve been searching for during the holidays and to get a great deal on it at the same time” says Moss Bros. Auto Group. “You just have to consider the intricacies of the marketplace, especially at this time of year.”
Indeed, going car shopping around the holidays isn’t nearly as complicated of a process as many people seem to believe it is. To have the right experience, and to drive off in the right vehicle, you just have to keep a few key things in mind along the way.
Do Your Model Research
By far, one of the most important steps you can take to make your holiday car shopping efforts successful involves doing research before you get to the dealership. This includes not only comparing one make and model to a competing one, but also the various years within a line of cars as well.
“In a lot of situations, the last year’s model will be very close – if not identical – to last year’s model with a few basic exceptions that you may not even care about to begin with” said a salesman of Moss Bros. Auto group. “Yet that older model is the one you’re likely to find the best deal on. Make sure you’re aware of what changed and whether it matters to make sure you’re spotting and getting the best deals.”
Don’t Forget About Christmas Eve
A lot of people don’t realize that one of the best days of the year to buy a car is on Christmas Eve. Think about it from a dealer’s perspective: it’s the end of the year, you’re trying to have that last minute push in terms of sales, and you also need to clear out as much inventory as possible to make room for the new models that are right around the corner.
Because of that, it’s possible for people to save thousands of dollars over MSRP on this day alone. If your schedule makes it impossible to get out of the house on Christmas Eve, don’t worry – there are other options. Christmas Day (for those dealerships that are open) remains a historically beneficial day for consumers, as does New Year’s Eve.
Understand You May Have to Act Fast
When dealerships are trying to get rid of old inventory to make room for new arrivals, they want those cars gone as quickly as possible. At the same time, you’re also surrounded by countless other people who are looking for the same type of car or truck you are.
Because of that, you won’t necessarily have a lot of time to compare offers or to think about whether this is the deal you want to jump on. The longer you wait, the higher the chances are that the car will go to someone else. Yes, it can all be stressful but you need to prepare yourself for the idea that you’re likely going to have to act fast if you’re serious about buying a car during the holidays.
Timing is Everything
As stated, the best time to buy a car during the holidays – and indeed, all year round – is on Christmas Eve. But the holiday season is a long one and you may not want to wait for the big day to arrive. All throughout November and December, you should try to get to the dealership to start your shopping during the week if you can. The crowds you’ll be dealing with won’t be nearly as large and you may have more options available to you in terms of inventory.
This is also why you should try to get there first thing in the morning for the best results. Especially as Christmas approaches on the calendar, those showrooms are going to start to fill up quickly throughout the day. If you get there right when the dealership first opens, you’ll at the very least have the time to look around and take in the full extent of everything that is potentially available to you.
About Moss Bros. Auto Group
Moss Bros.Auto Group serves as the parent company for a large number of local dealerships that service customers across Southern California. The company has always prioritized quality customer service across its operations, pledging to do whatever it takes to find the right automobile to meet their needs. Moss Bros. Auto Group specializes in the sale of both new and used vehicles including wagons, vans, SUVs, cars, and trucks. Their locations offer extensive automotive repair and maintenance services as well.
