January - Buying A Car In

Cold weather and holiday debt keep most shoppers home, leading to a typical 23.5% drop in sales volume compared to December. This gives you more room to negotiate and more individual attention from staff.

January is widely considered a "buyer's market" for vehicles. While December often gets the spotlight for year-end clearances, January offers unique advantages like significantly less competition and a "Trade-In Tsunami" that floods lots with high-quality used inventory. Why January Works buying a car in january

Is January a Good Time to Buy a Car | Bo Beuckman Quality Ford Cold weather and holiday debt keep most shoppers

Because so many people buy new cars during December sales, mid-January sees a massive peak in used car availability as those trade-ins are processed for resale. While December often gets the spotlight for year-end

Many three-year leases begin or end in January. Experts project roughly 400,000 more lease returns will hit the market in 2026 than in previous years, particularly for EVs. Potential Drawbacks

Dealerships are often desperate to clear out any remaining previous-year models to make room for new arrivals. For example, in early 2026, many brands have a surplus of 2025 models they need to move.