Car shopping can be an exciting milestone — especially when you land the vehicle you want at a price that fits your budget. But there’s one part of the process that still makes most buyers sweat: negotiating with a dealership.

The truth is, car dealerships don’t always make it easy to know what a fair price looks like. Between limited inventory and unclear fees, getting a good deal can feel like a guessing game. The good news? You don’t need to play it.

Knowing the best time to buy a car can help you score serious savings, especially if you’re shopping at a dealership. And if you want to skip the haggling altogether, platforms like Clutch offer a fully online experience with transparent pricing, financing options, and trade-in support — no dealership games required.

In this guide, we’ll break down the smartest times to buy a car, when to trade in your old one, and how to time your purchase to maximize value.

When to Get the Best Deal on a Car

Car dealerships love flashy sales events and “limited-time” offers, but the best deals often come down to smart timing — not marketing hype. Here’s what most buyers don’t realize:

Shop on a Weekday

Weekends are the busiest time at any dealership. Salespeople are juggling multiple customers, which means you get less attention and fewer opportunities to negotiate.

If you can swing it, visit on a weekday — especially Monday. With fewer customers on the lot and fresh sales targets for the week, salespeople may be more motivated to cut a deal.

Time Your Visit With Sales Bonuses

Most dealership staff earn bonuses for hitting monthly, quarterly, or yearly sales goals. That means buying a car on the last day of the month, quarter, or year can work in your favour.

If a salesperson is just one sale away from hitting a target, they might be more flexible on price — even if it means a lower commission. The trade-off? Inventory may be more limited at month-end, so you may need to be flexible on colour or trim.

Shop at the End of a Model Year

Automakers update their models each year, and dealerships need to make room for the latest versions. When a new model is about to launch, dealers often slash prices on the outgoing model — especially if there are still lots of them on the lot.

These end-of-year discounts are sometimes stacked with special financing rates or cashback offers from the manufacturer, making it one of the best times to buy a new car.

Take Advantage of Holiday Sales

In the automotive world, holiday sales are often more than just flashy banners — they’re tied to real incentives. Key holidays to watch for include:

• Boxing Week
• New Year’s
• Victoria Day
• Canada Day
• Labour Day
• Black Friday
• Year-End Clearance Events

These holidays often line up with the end of a quarter or model year, creating a perfect storm of incentives and urgency for dealerships.

These sales targets can be monthly, quarterly, or even yearly, so visiting the dealership on the last day of a month, quarter, or year will put you in the best position to get a good deal on a new or used car.

The downside at the end of the month, quarter, or year is that it’s also when dealerships usually have the least number of vehicles on the lot. This can limit your options, and dealerships only offer great deals on in-stock inventory, not special-order cars or inter-dealership trades.

The Best Time to Get Rid of Your Old Car

Scoring a great price on a new (or new-to-you) car is only half the equation. To truly maximize your savings, you also need to pick the right time to part ways with your current vehicle. Here’s how to know when it’s time to make your move:

Your Car’s Trade-In Value Exceeds What You Owe

Vehicles depreciate quickly — especially in the first few years — and many buyers end up owing more than their car is worth. But if your trade-in value is higher than your remaining loan balance, that’s a green light to consider upgrading.

Why? Because the dealership will often pay off your loan balance in full as part of the trade-in process, and you may even have equity left to put toward your next vehicle.

You can check your trade-in value using the Clutch Car Value Calculator or get an instant offer with our Sell or Trade tool.

Your Repair Costs Are Eating Into Your Budget

Owning an older car can be cost-effective — until it’s not. If you’re spending more on repairs than a typical monthly car payment, it may be time to consider moving on.

Here’s a quick calculation:

Take your annual repair costs (excluding maintenance like oil changes or tires), and divide by 12.

If you’re spending $2,400/year, that’s $200/month — enough to make payments on a newer, more reliable vehicle.

Upgrading can help you avoid surprise bills and give you peace of mind, especially if you’re driving long distances or depend on your car daily.

Save More by Recognizing the Best Time to Buy a Car

Buying a car is one of the biggest purchases most Canadians will make — second only to buying a home. So, it’s worth putting in the effort to time your purchase strategically.

By planning around the best times to buy a car, you can give yourself an edge and potentially save thousands. Whether you’re buying new or used, here are some of the best times to score a great deal:

• Weekdays, especially Mondays: With fewer customers in showrooms, you’ll get more personalized attention and potentially better deals.
  
  
• End of the month, quarter, or year: Sales teams are more motivated to meet their quotas and may be more flexible on price.
  
  
• Model year-end clearance events: Dealers often offer steep discounts to make room for new inventory.
  
  
• Major holidays: Long weekends and holidays like Boxing Day and Canada Day often come with manufacturer or dealer incentives.
  
  

Pairing this smart timing with tools like the Clutch Car Value Calculator or Clutch’s Sell or Trade tool can help you better understand your budget and what kind of offer to expect on your current vehicle.

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Skip the Stress and Save With Clutch

Timing your purchase right can make a big difference — but finding the perfect used car at the perfect time shouldn’t feel like a guessing game.

At Clutch, we’ve made car buying simple, transparent, and entirely online. You can shop from the comfort of home, get approved for financing in minutes, and receive a high offer for your trade-in — all without stepping foot in a dealership.

Every vehicle we sell comes with a 210-point inspection, an optional 3-month or 6,000 km warranty, and a 10-day money-back guarantee. No pressure. No haggling. Just a better way to buy your next car.

Browse our inventory today and take the guesswork out of getting a great deal.