Saving & Spending Home & Auto

10 Best Times To Buy a Used Car

According to this recent study, these times are when dealerships offer the best deals on used cars.

By Jarret Hendrickson

Edited by Sara Albertelli

Updated Jan. 18, 2026

Consumers should know that timing is key when it comes to scoring a good deal on a used vehicle.

According to a recent iSeeCars study, which analyzed more than 40 million used car sales between 2024 and October 2025, car buyers have a 13.7% chance of scoring a good deal on a used car during an average day. Their study defines a "good deal" as saving at least 10% on a used vehicle, meaning that watching out for the best times to get these deals is a smart money move.

According to their study, these are the 10 best times of the year for getting a good deal at dealerships.

Halloween

It turns out that candy isn't the only treat up for grabs on Halloween. Even though most people wouldn't think of Halloween as a particularly good day to buy cars, according to iSeeCars, Halloween has 6.8% more good used car deals than the average day.

That means budget-conscious consumers could walk into a dealership during everyone's favorite spooky holiday and score a killer deal on a used vehicle. This could also be due to the fact that Halloween is the last day of the month. Dealers are typically looking to meet their sales goals, so they may offer more wiggle room on their prices before the next month starts.

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Thanksgiving/Black Friday

Most shoppers associate Thanksgiving and Black Friday with Turkey and early morning shopping for gifts and electronics.

However, according to iSeeCars, there are 9.5% more good deals for used vehicles during Thanksgiving and Black Friday than on an average day.

December

It's not just retail stores trying to cash in on the holiday shopping frenzy; dealerships also have plenty of sales during December.

According to iSeeCars, consumers are 15.2% more likely to get a good deal on a used car during December.

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Christmas Eve

Last-minute shoppers should be pleased to know that the day before Christmas is an excellent time to save big bucks on a used car.

According to iSeeCars, holiday shoppers have a 15.2% chance of finding a good deal on a used vehicle during Christmas Eve.

Veterans Day

You don't have to be a veteran to potentially save thousands of dollars on a used vehicle on Veterans Day.

According to iSeeCars, consumers have a 23.1% chance of saving at least 10% on a used car during Veterans Day sales events. However, if you are a veteran, you might be able to save even more, as many car dealerships offer discounts or rebates on car purchases.

February

Valentine's Day is usually on people's minds when their calendar rolls over to February. But this month is about more than chocolate, Hallmark cards, and secret admirers. It also offers consumers ample opportunity to save big on a used vehicle.

According to iSeeCars, used car shoppers are 36.2% more likely to save big during February than on an average day.

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Presidents' Day

With kids off from school and parents off from work, Presidents' Day is usually a great time to sneak in a mini vacation. It's also ripe with opportunity to save tons of money at dealerships.

According to iSeeCars, consumers are 47% more likely to save thousands of dollars on a used vehicle during Presidents' Day.

January

Just after the holidays is a fantastic time to score an amazing deal on a used vehicle.

According to iSeeCars, car shoppers are 55.6% more likely to save 10% or more on a used vehicle during January.

New Year's Eve/New Year's Day

It turns out that two of the best times to purchase a used vehicle at a dealership are on the last and first day of the year.

According to iSeeCars, consumers are 58.6% more likely to save thousands of dollars on a used car during New Year's Eve or on New Year's Day.

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day

According to iSeeCars, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the best time of the year for used car shopping.

Consumers could expect to have a 65.5% chance of saving at least 10% or more on a used vehicle during this holiday. A few reasons for this are that fewer people are making large purchases after the holidays, and sales teams often want to hit their sales goals, which could lead to better deals.

Bottom line

With used car prices in the United States averaging around $25,945 in recent months, financially savvy consumers have a great chance to save thousands of dollars on a used vehicle if they buy one during these times of year.

However, scoring a great deal on a used vehicle takes more than just showing up at a dealership during these times.

Just as consumers would shop around for a new insurance company to find the best rate, shoppers should diligently compare offers at different dealerships to make sure they are getting the best deal possible.

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