Saving & Spending Home & Auto

10 Worst Times To Buy a Used Car

Seasonal demand could quietly add thousands to a used car's price if you shop at the wrong time.

By Andy Lindquist

Edited by Sara Albertelli

Updated Jan. 21, 2026

Buying a used vehicle is one of the best car owner money moves you could make. Instead of purchasing a brand-new vehicle that may likely depreciate the second you drive it off the lot, you could snag a great deal on a used car that could be just as reliable.

However, the time of the year you decide to purchase a used auto makes a significant impact on the price. Shopping during the wrong season could cost you thousands.

Here are the 10 worst times to buy a used car, according to data collected from iSeeCars.

1. June

It's not a surprise that the first month of summer would be the worst time to buy a used car. With loads of people out and about, dealerships and online retailers are flooded with potential customers, so there's a lot of demand to contend with. That means sellers are not inclined to offer any deals, with iSeeCars reporting that June had 22.8% fewer deals than average.

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2. Fourth of July

Despite all the clever marketing about "Fourth of July savings events," car dealerships don't offer great deals on Independence Day. Summer holidays see lots of families come out looking to buy a new or used vehicle from dealers, so they've priced their inventory accordingly.

It's simple supply and demand: when demand is high, dealers don't have to drop prices. The holiday has 22.4% fewer deals than the average.

3. May

Once the seasons start to change in late spring, potential buyers start dreaming about that new convertible or upgrading the family SUV. Generally speaking, you want to avoid periods when people are out shopping and doing other outdoor activities, especially May, which has 22.2% fewer deals than average.

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4. July

Even if you remove July 4th from the equation, the late summer is still one of the worst times to buy a used car. As families prepare for a new school year, they're searching for a vehicle upgrade, and dealers are more than happy to supply one at a high price. That's why there are few deals to be had in July, with the month down 22.1% from the national average.

5. Father's Day

What's the best gift you could get your dad? How about a new car? That's what potential buyers are thinking as they stroll onto the lot on Father's Day weekend. Like many summer holidays on the list, this is a bad time to buy your dad that new sports car, as the third Sunday in June has 19.7% fewer deals than average.

6. Juneteenth

Anytime there is a federal holiday smack dab in the middle of Summer, you're going to see people flocking to the car lot to buy a vehicle. That makes it easy to sell overpriced cars, as Juneteenth has one of the worst percentages of below-average deals at 19.7%.

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7. Memorial Day

As the traditional kickoff to the summer holidays, Memorial Day is another great opportunity for dealerships to stiff you with a bad deal. Despite all of the advertisements touting a Memorial Day savings event, you'll see the average deal is a whopping 18% below average.

8. April

Once the cold weather subsides and temperatures rise, potential car buyers start coming out in droves. That's why April is the start of bad car deals. The monthly average is 15% below the national average, so you'll want to spend your first warm month doing other outdoor activities.

9. Mother's Day

Mother's Day is one of the worst times of the year to purchase a vehicle. At 9.2% below the national average, you might want to find other gift options.

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10. August

As the summer wanes and the kids go back to school, families are looking to upgrade to a newer car. Whenever there is increased foot traffic and demand, dealerships often raise prices. That's why August sees car deals at 7.8% below the national average.

Tips for buying a used car

There are a few critical actions you could take to ensure you get a reliable car that could last you for years.

Demand a pre-purchase inspection

Never rely solely on a vehicle history report. Before you sign anything, have the car inspected by an auto mechanic you trust. They are able to look for any potential leaks, frame issues, or anything else hiding under the hood.

Secure financing (if needed) in advance

Dealerships tend to mark up the interest rate much higher than if you went to a traditional lender. Once you determine your buying price range, contact a bank or credit union and get pre-approved for a loan. That could give you more leverage in negotiations if the salesperson tries to get you to finance through the dealership.

Focus on the "out-the-door price"

A common sales tactic for dealerships is to give you a "monthly" cost of the car instead of the total price you'll end up paying. Insist on negotiating the total "out-the-door" price of the car after all taxes and fees are taken into account.

Go to the dealership at the end of the month

Car salespeople make their money on commission, so they have monthly quotas to meet. If you go at the end of the month, salespeople are more likely to give you a deal to bump up their numbers.

Bottom line

Timing your purchase to avoid the high-demand summer months and warm-weather holidays could help you keep more cash in your wallet.

Used-car prices have recently been rising after a long period of decline, with the average cost of one to five-year-old used vehicles increasing by around 3.7% year-over-year as of mid-2025, according to iseecars. This trend is primarily driven by limited supply, as dealers simply don't have as many vehicles available.

That means it's even more critical that you avoid the worst parts of the year when buying yourself a used vehicle. Doing so could save you a substantial amount of money.

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