Highlights:

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the best time to buy a used car, with 52.7% more deals than average
  • New Year's Eve and New Year's Day rank second, with 48.9% more deals
  • Juneteenth is the worst holiday to get a used car deal, followed by Memorial Day and Father’s Day
  • December and January are the best months to buy a used car
  • June and May are the worst months for used car deals
 

Buying a used car at the right time of year can significantly improve the odds of getting a good deal. The best months to find a deal run from November through February, with December the strongest at 46.2% more deals than average. On the other hand, it will be harder for shoppers to find a deal from April through September, with June the worst month at 28.8% fewer deals than average. 

iSeeCars Research identified the best and worst times of year to get a used car deal by analyzing over 42 million used car sales from 2025 and 2026. For the purposes of this study, a used car deal is defined as a savings of at least 10% below the iSeeCars estimated fair market value. The analysis calculated the chances of finding a deal on major holidays and months of the year and compared them to the overall daily average of 11.5%. The average used car price is now $27,157, which means a deal on an average-priced vehicle would save buyers at least $2,716.

"The time of year can make a material difference in a used car shopper's chances of finding a deal,” said iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer. “Buyers shopping during the winter months, particularly around major holidays, have a much better chance of finding a vehicle priced below its estimated market value."

Winter holidays are the best times to buy a used car

All of the top 10 times to buy a used car are within four months, from Halloween to Presidents Day. Martin Luther King Jr. Day has the most deals available, with 52.7% more deals than average. It’s followed by New Year's Eve/New Year's Day, December, and January, reinforcing the advantage of shopping during the winter.  

November also offers an excellent opportunity for car buyers. Thanksgiving/Black Friday,  Veterans Day, and the month of November all provide more than a 31% higher chance of finding a deal.

Top 10 Best Times To Buy a Used Car - iSeeCars Study
Rank Time of Year % More Deals than Average
1 MLK Day 52.7%
2 New Year's Eve/New Year's Day 48.9%
3 December 46.2%
4 January 44.1%
5 Christmas Eve 41.2%
6 Thanksgiving/Black Friday 34.8%
7 Presidents Day 34.3%
8 Halloween 33.2%
9 Veterans Day 32.9%
10 November 31.7%
"Everything from colder weather to holiday spending slows demand for cars in the winter months," said Brauer. "Shoppers who can buy between November and February have a substantially better chance of finding a used car deal." 

Juneteenth, June, and May are the worst times to buy a used car

While late fall and winter offer the strongest opportunities for used car deals, that changes in late spring and summer. Six of the 10 worst times to buy a used car are in May and June alone, with Juneteenth ranked as the worst holiday at 30.7% fewer deals than average. Other holidays when it’s harder to find deals are Memorial Day, Father’s Day, July 4th and Mother’s Day.
Top 10 Worst Times To Buy a Used Car - iSeeCars Study
Rank Time of Year % Deals Compared to Average
1 Juneteenth -30.7%
2 June -28.8%
3 May -28.2%
4 Memorial Day -27.8%
5 Father's Day -26.8%
6 July 4th -26.5%
7 Mother's Day -26.3%
8 July -25.0%
9 April -21.6%
10 August -11.8%
"It may be popular to test drive and buy a used car during the spring or summer shopping seasons, but it's the worst time for a deal," said Brauer. "Warmer weather and tax refunds bring more shoppers to dealer lots in the spring and deals get harder to find." 

Best and worst holidays to buy a used car

Winter versus summer holidays offer vastly different opportunities when it comes to finding used car deals. The strongest holidays are concentrated in the fall and winter, while several spring and summer holidays rank among the least favorable shopping periods.

The Best and Worst Holidays To Buy a Used Car - iSeeCars Study
Rank Holiday % Deals Compared to Average
1 Martin Luther King Jr. Day 52.7%
2 New Year's Eve/New Year's Day 48.9%
3 Christmas Eve 41.2%
4 Thanksgiving/Black Friday 34.8%
5 Presidents Day 34.3%
6 Halloween 33.2%
7 Veterans Day 32.9%
8 Columbus Day 23.9%
9 Labor Day -6.0%
10 Mother's Day -26.3%
11 July 4th -26.5%
12 Father's Day -26.8%
13 Memorial Day -27.8%
14 Juneteenth -30.7%
“Despite the holiday sales events that are often advertised during spring and summer months, used car buyers should avoid those occasions if they want the best chance of finding a good deal,” said Brauer. 

Best and worst months to buy a used car

The monthly rankings show a clear seasonal progression. December leads all 12 months with 46.2% more deals than average, followed by January at 44.1%, and November at 31.7%. Beginning in April, the chances of finding a deal fall sharply. April has 21.6% fewer deals than average, May drops to 28.2%, and June reaches the lowest point of the year at 28.8%.

The Best and Worst Months To Buy a Used Car - iSeeCars Study
Rank Month % Deals Compared to Average
1 December 46.2%
2 January 44.1%
3 November 31.7%
4 February 28.8%
5 October 15.5%
6 March 3.5%
7 September -1.3%
8 August -11.8%
9 April -21.6%
10 July -25.0%
11 May -28.2%
12 June -28.8%
“Shoppers who can move their purchase from late spring or summer into November, December or January may substantially improve their chances of finding a vehicle priced below market value," said Brauer. “But good deals are still available in the worst months to find deals, though shoppers have a lower chance of finding one.”

 

Methodology

iSeeCars Research analyzed over 42 million used car sales from 2025 through October 2026. Deals were identified based on whether the car was listed at 10% or more below iSeeCars’ estimated fair market value. The total number of listings and number of deals were aggregated nationally by month, and day of the month. In addition, the data were also aggregated for specific major holidays. At each aggregated timescale, the number of deals was divided by the number of cars sold, resulting in a probability of finding a deal. These resulting probabilities were expressed as a percentage difference from the overall probability of finding an automotive deal on an average day (11.5%).

About iSeeCars

iSeeCars helps millions of people make smarter car decisions and find the best deals by leveraging data-driven research and unbiased analysis. iSeeCars Research conducts independent studies that provide key insights on vehicles, market trends, and the automotive industry, including Best Cars Rankings and the annual Longest Lasting Cars Study. With the goal of making car shopping easier and more transparent, iSeeCars.com analyzes millions of car listings and offers valuable resources like iVIN Reports, Window Stickers, and Build Sheets. iSeeCars has saved users over $452 million using over 25 billion data points and proprietary algorithms to objectively analyze, score, and rank new and used vehicles.