When is the best time to buy a car?

[tokugawa]

Is there a particular time of year that that is best to buy a car in terms of pricing? When is the best time to utilize low finance rates and manufacturer rebates and/or incentives (like a cash purchase)?

 

[Five-Guns-West]

Is there a particular time of year that that is best to buy a car in terms of pricing? When is the best time to utilize low finance rates and manufacturer rebates and/or incentives (like a cash purchase)?

Mid January to late February. I have 3 car salesmen in my extended family, Mercedes Victoria, Honda Coquitlam, and Carter GM Burnaby.

 

[escapefromstress]

Do new car prices vary much from one dealer to another in different cities? When I lived in Kelowna it seemed like cars were way cheaper in the Lower Mainland.

 

[badbadboy]

Is there a particular time of year that that is best to buy a car in terms of pricing? When is the best time to utilize low finance rates and manufacturer rebates and/or incentives (like a cash purchase)?

If you don't care about getting the next years version, the best time is early to late fall. Lots of factory sales incentives to move the older product before the next years inventory arrives.

I did this with a 2012 when the 2013's were arriving and saved thousands off a vehicle that was already on the lot. If you trade or sell your car after two or three years, this is probably not the best tactic. If you hold on to your cars like I do then it doesn't make much difference to resale.

 

[Chef99]

You might also want to look into buying in the U.S. and bringing to Canada. People are buying new in the States and dumping their used stuff right, left and center and the prices are really low. . ..

US pricing is definitely different, and lower, than Canadian pricing. However, many US dealerships will not sell a new car to a Canadian and if you do get hold of a US car, you have to get it converted to Canadian standards - km, day time running lights, etc...