End of year, end of month, end of quarter? Day of the week? When is the best time to buy a car?
This thought often crosses the minds of many, including Ken, who has been eyeing a 2025 BMW M850 iX Drive Coupe. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t buy into the myth that the end of the year is the best time to buy a car. There is no ultimate shopping spree timing for cars.
I believe that great deals are available year-round if you’re willing to put in the legwork.
What I recommend is reaching out to various BMW dealerships, even beyond your local area, to find the best offers. It’s worthwhile to invest some time in calling and negotiating to see who can offer the most appealing “out-the-door” price for the model of your choice.
You might want to consider ordering a 2025 model tailored to your preferences. Although you may have to wait for incentives, dealer discounts could still be possible depending on the specific car.
Key Takeaways for the Best time to Buy a Car
- End-of-year car buying myths might not hold true.
- Research and negotiation are essential for a good deal.
- Ordering a custom vehicle can be a smart strategy.
- Using a car buying advocate may be the best strategy.
Ken shot me a question on the site, curious if end-of-year car shopping is really the ace move he’s heard about. He’s eyeing a new BMW M850i xDrive Coupe, to be precise, and wonders if this magical time may be the perfect moment to snag it. Should he wait until the end of the year to buy it?
Here’s my upfront take: that end-of-year car buying myth? It’s just that—a myth. Sorry to disappoint. I have one answer for when is the best time to buy a car.
For those looking to buy a car, it’s not strictly tied to the calendar. It’s about putting in the legwork, making calls, and reaching out to dealerships to lock in the deal you want. It doesn’t matter if it’s January or December.
By focusing on contacting BMW dealerships, especially in bigger markets, you can build and order the exact 2025 model you want. Or whatever make/model you are looking for.
The trick is to communicate clearly with the dealerships. Lay out your desired color, features, and model. Let them know you’re serious, aiming to order the car in the next couple of days. Visit the manufacturer’s website to build out the exact model you want.
Ask them to send a proposal with the final price on the vehicle. This approach might not reveal immediate incentives, but negotiating on a custom-ordered unit could still yield a dealer discount.
Remember, the more car dealerships you contact, the better your chances are of landing a sweet deal. So, it’s all about the hustle and calling several dealerships to maximize those chances.
Strategy for Buying a New BMW and When
When you’re in the market for a new BMW, like the 2025 BMW M850i xDrive Coupe Ken wants, timing isn’t everything. Contrary to popular belief, the best deals aren’t confined to the end of the year. Deals depend more on the effort you put into negotiations than on the calendar.
First, it’s essential to reach out to several BMW dealerships, both local and in larger markets. Building a custom vehicle with your preferred color and features is a smart approach. A helpful tip is to order directly from the dealership that offers the best out-the-door price.
While you won’t know specific incentives until the vehicle arrives, dealer discounts are often available. To increase your chances of securing a favorable deal, contact three or four dealerships and request a proposal with a complete price breakdown.
Let them know you’re serious about ordering a unit in the next couple of days and use their responses to begin negotiations.
Exploring Options for the Best Deal Not the Best Time
Reaching Out to Various Car Dealers
When you’re in the market for a new car, like a 2025 BMW M850 iX Drive Coupe, timing might not be as crucial as you think.
I believe you can land a fantastic deal anytime if you’re willing to put in the effort. It all starts with contacting different dealerships. Just like casting a wide net, the more dealerships you reach out to, the better your chances of securing a great deal.
It’s not about the end of the year or any specific time—it’s about putting in the legwork.
Configuring Your Own Car Order
If you’re eyeing a specific vehicle, consider configuring it to your preferences. I recommend chatting with BMW dealers to build the car with the exact features and color you want. Ordering a custom vehicle not only ensures you get what you’re looking for, but it also opens up potential discounts.
While the exact incentives aren’t clear until the car arrives, there’s usually a dealer discount available, which is worth asking about.
Requesting a Detailed Offer
Once you’ve built your dream car, getting a comprehensive proposal from the dealerships is the next step. Inform them of the precise specifications and features you desire and ask them to provide an all-inclusive price. Let them know you’re ready to order within the next day or two, which often prompts them to give competitive numbers. Begin your negotiations with these proposals and see which dealer can provide the best offer on a pre-ordered vehicle.
Make the Dealerships Compete
So, here’s the scoop if you’re planning to buy a new car like the 2025 BMW M850i xDrive Coupe. The idea that the end of the year is always the best time to get a great deal on a car is more myth than fact. I mean, you can score a great deal any time throughout the year, but it really depends on how much effort you’re willing to put into it, as I’ve said.
What you should do is reach out to several dealerships in your area, focusing on BMW ones, and see what offers they have. It’s also a good option to build the exact car you’d like with the perfect color and features. Check with each dealer for their best out-the-door price and start the negotiation process from there. Dealer discounts can vary, so the more places you check, the better your chances of landing a solid deal.
But keep in mind, if you’re ordering a 2025 model, they won’t be able to provide details on incentives until the car is actually available. So, when talking to the dealers, ask them to send a detailed proposal for the vehicle with all costs included. It might take calling three or four different dealers, but it’ll be worth it to get the car at the best price you can.
Important Factors When Buying a Car in 2025
Let’s recap if I haven’t made it clear already.
Forget the myth that the buying a car at the end of the year is the only good time to make a purchase. I’ve found that what really counts is the effort you put into finding the right deal.
Here’s how I would tackle it:
- Contact Multiple Dealerships: Reach out to several BMW dealerships or whatever car you are looking for, preferably in larger markets. More calls usually mean better chances of getting a bargain.
- Customize Your Order: Specify the exact features and colors you want for your vehicle. Communicate clearly with the dealers and ask for the “out-the-door” price, which includes everything.
- Be Ready to Order: Dealers can’t always predict future incentives, but they should offer some form of discount. Get proposals and start negotiating on an ordered vehicle, unless you find a 2025 model already configured exactly how you want.
Setting a plan will make it easier to find the right car and the right deal, no matter the time of year.
Using a Car Buying Advocate
Now, if negotiating with dealerships and reaching out to multiple sales people to get proposals is not your thing. Or if you have tried and failed.
Or if you’ve become overwhelmed with the entire process and want an advocate to take the whole buying and negotiation process over for you, I want to introduce you to Your Car Buying Advocate Concierge Buying Service, where you hire an expert to get you a good deal, on the exact vehicle you want without all the pain and anxiety of the traditional car buying experience.
Got another question, shoot us a message and we’ll try to answer it.
