Buying a car at the right time can save you thousands. In Canada, dealerships follow predictable sales cycles, creating opportunities for discounts during specific months, holidays, and events. Here's what you need to know:
- Best months: September (new models push discounts on older ones), October to December (year-end clearance), and January to February (slow sales = better deals).
- Holidays to watch: Black Friday, Boxing Day, Canada Day, and New Year’s Eve often bring extra incentives.
- Seasonal trends: Convertibles are cheaper in winter, while SUVs get discounts in late summer or early spring.
Pro tip: Shop at month-end or quarter-end when dealerships are eager to hit sales quotas. Combine manufacturer rebates with negotiation strategies for maximum savings.
Timing, research, and knowing the market trends and understanding dealer car prices can put you in the driver’s seat - literally and financially.
Best Times to Buy a Car in Canada: Monthly Discount Calendar
The ABSOLUTE Best Time of Year to Buy a New Car (Save Thousands)
Best Months to Buy a Car
Timing can make a big difference when it comes to getting a great deal on a car. Dealerships follow predictable inventory cycles, and knowing when to shop can give you an edge during dealer negotiations.
September: Fresh Models Arrive, Older Ones Discounted
September is a sweet spot for car buyers. New model year vehicles start arriving in showrooms, pushing dealerships to clear out older inventory. This means outgoing models are discounted, but you’ll still find a good selection of trims and colours. According to Canada Drives, "If you want both savings and choice, September may be the single best month to buy a car in Canada". If you’ve got your eye on a specific configuration, this is the time to act before the most popular options sell out.
October to December: The Year-End Clearance Window
The last few months of the year are known for some of the steepest discounts. Dealers are eager to hit sales targets and offer incentives like cash rebates and low-interest financing. December often brings the biggest markdowns as dealerships rush to clear out previous-year models. Events like Black Friday and Boxing Day have also become major opportunities for car buyers in Canada, sparking aggressive sales promotions. Keep in mind, though, that by December, the selection may be limited to what’s left on the lot.
January and February: Winter Brings Negotiating Power
The cold, post-holiday months are slow for car sales, which can work to your advantage. Dealers are more open to negotiating prices to move remaining inventory. February typically offers an average discount of 5.7% off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. While inventory might be more limited, if you’re flexible about features and colours, the quieter winter months can still help you score a deal. Up next, we’ll dive into how holidays and special events can further boost your savings.
Holidays and Events with Car Discounts
Certain holidays create a unique opportunity for buyers to snag deeper discounts on vehicles. These events often align with the regular monthly sales cycles but provide added pressure on dealerships to move inventory.
Black Friday and Boxing Day
Black Friday deals often kick off in early November, with brands like FCA offering perks such as Employee Pricing, which can slash sticker prices by as much as $10,000. Financing incentives, like 0% APR or "90 days no payments" from lenders like GM Financial, are also common during this period. To avoid the crowds, it's a good idea to schedule test drives a few weeks before Black Friday.
Boxing Day, on the other hand, intensifies year-end clearance sales. While discounts can be significant, keep in mind that inventory may be more limited compared to earlier in the fall.
Canada Day and Long Weekend Sales
Summer long weekends - like Victoria Day, Canada Day, and the August Civic Holiday - are prime times for car shopping. These weekends are designed to drive showroom traffic during slower periods. They also help dealerships clear out seasonal inventory to make room for new models arriving in the fall. Labour Day weekend is another hot spot for deals, as it coincides with the arrival of new model year vehicles, prompting dealerships to discount older stock.
New Year's Eve Deals
December 31 is a standout day for car buyers. According to Canada Drives:
"the rare moment when a sale falls at the end of the month, quarter, and year, creating maximum incentive for dealerships to close deals".
Stephanie Wallcraft, an automotive journalist, echoes this sentiment:
"If you can wait until New Year's Eve itself, this is the day when those end-of-year sales figures hang in the balance and dealerships may be willing to drop prices significantly to close a deal".
The overlap of monthly, quarterly, and annual sales targets gives buyers a unique advantage when negotiating for a new car. Up next, we’ll explore how the type of vehicle can influence these seasonal discounts.
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How Vehicle Type Affects Seasonal Pricing
The kind of vehicle you’re eyeing can significantly influence when you'll snag the best deal. Shifts in demand throughout the year - driven by weather, road conditions, and buyer habits - create opportunities for savings if you time your purchase wisely. Let’s break down how seasonal trends affect pricing for specific vehicle types.
SUVs and Winter Vehicles: When to Buy Snow-Ready Models
In Canada, SUVs and all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicles are always in demand, but their popularity spikes during the summer, thanks to road trips and family vacations. If you're looking for a deal on these snow-ready models, late winter to early spring (March to May) is your sweet spot. By this time, the winter rush has faded, and dealerships are keen to clear older stock to make way for the latest arrivals. Another excellent window is July and August, when summer clearance events push dealers to discount current models before new inventory rolls in come September.
Shopping for winter vehicles during the colder months may also work in your favour. Fewer buyers mean quieter showrooms, giving you more room to negotiate. Plus, the influx of trade-ins from the fall new-car season usually means a broader selection and better prices.
Convertibles and Summer Cars: Off-Season Discounts
While winter is prime time for snow-ready vehicles, it’s also the best season to shop for convertibles and sports cars. These vehicles often see their steepest discounts between December and February, when snowy roads make open-top driving less appealing. With lots full of unsold summer cars, dealerships are eager to cut prices.
Stephanie Wallcraft, named the 2024 Canadian Automotive Journalist of the Year, explains it well:
"If your dream is to own a convertible, you could score a serious deal by shopping in the winter when top-down driving isn't top of mind for most buyers."
Winter shopping for convertibles aligns perfectly with seasonal pricing trends. The combination of low demand and year-end clearance events can help you land a deal close to the dealer’s invoice price. For an even better shot, visit dealerships on particularly cold days when foot traffic is at its lowest.
Here’s a quick summary of the best times to buy based on vehicle type:
| Vehicle Type | Best Time to Buy | Why It's the Best Time |
|---|---|---|
| SUVs & Minivans | July–August | Summer clearance events before new September inventory arrives |
| Convertibles & Sports Cars | December–February | Low demand during winter creates oversupply and deeper discounts |
| Used Cars | January–February | High supply of trade-ins and lowest demand of the year |
| Luxury Vehicles | December | Dealers aim to meet year-end quotas, and demand dips in winter |
How to Get the Best Deal During Discount Seasons
Timing your purchases around discount seasons is just the beginning. To truly maximize your savings, you’ll need a mix of strategy, research, and negotiation skills. Here’s how to make the most out of seasonal discounts.
Use Manufacturer Incentives and Dealer Rebates
Manufacturer incentives and dealer rebates can drastically reduce the cost of your vehicle, especially during key discount periods like year-end clearance events from October to December. These incentives can take the form of cash rebates or low-interest financing options, allowing you to save significantly.
For example, in February 2026, Ford Motor Company offered impressive deals on the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning Electric XLT (MSRP $65,940). Buyers could choose between a $9,000 cash rebate or 0% APR for 72 months with an additional $4,000 cash back. On average, incentives for vehicles like these hovered around $3,900. Electric and hybrid models, in particular, often have the most compelling offers. The 2025 Escape Plug-in Hybrid featured $8,000 in cash rebates, while the Mach-E Electric offered up to $7,000 in savings.
Dealerships also tend to sweeten the pot at the end of the month, quarter, or year as they aim to meet sales quotas. This is a great time to ask if you can combine cash rebates with low APR financing (though manufacturers typically require you to choose one or the other).
Before heading to a dealership, it’s essential to do your homework. Research current incentives for the vehicle you’re interested in and confirm these offers with local dealers, as they can vary by region. Also, knowing the dealer invoice price - the amount the dealer actually paid the manufacturer - can give you a strong starting point for negotiations.
Negotiate at Month-End and Quarter-End
Timing your visit to the dealership can make a huge difference. Sales teams are often under pressure to meet monthly, quarterly, and annual targets. Automotive journalist Stephanie Wallcraft highlights this point:
"If you shop toward the end of a month, end of a quarter (late March, June, September, or December), or end of the year, a sales representative may be more motivated to give you a better deal to get the sale on the ledger."
Shopping during the last week of a month or quarter can significantly boost your ability to negotiate. Visiting on slower days - like Mondays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays - or during bad weather, when showrooms are less busy, can also work in your favour. These quieter times often lead to more focused attention from sales staff and a greater sense of urgency to close deals.
When negotiating, focus on the "out-the-door" price, which includes everything - MSRP, options, fees, and taxes - rather than just the monthly payment. Monthly payment discussions can sometimes obscure the true cost of the vehicle. Also, separate your trade-in negotiations from the purchase of your new car to keep things straightforward. Dealer fees, like documentation charges, are often negotiable, so don’t hesitate to question them or negotiate dealer markups. Lastly, getting pre-approved financing from a bank or credit union before visiting the dealership gives you a solid benchmark and may push the dealer to offer you better terms.
To make negotiations even smoother, use tools that provide clear pricing insights.
Get Transparent Pricing with Price Driven
Navigating the car-buying process can feel overwhelming, but platforms like Price Driven simplify the experience by offering transparent pricing and pre-negotiated deals.
Price Driven provides free discount reports that include dealer-level pricing insights, MSRP comparisons, and trim details. For $99, you can access their pre-negotiated pricing service, which guarantees savings through partner dealerships. On average, customers save over $1,200 on their vehicle purchases using this service.
"By understanding what the dealer's invoice price is, you can negotiate better deals, especially when dealerships are keen to clear inventory." – Price Driven
This platform helps you focus on the total purchase cost rather than getting distracted by confusing monthly payment figures. It’s especially useful during year-end clearance events or when new models arrive, as these are times when dealer margins and manufacturer rebates are at their peak.
Conclusion
Timing your car purchase wisely can lead to major savings. Dealerships are often more motivated to sell during certain periods - like September through December for year-end clearances, January and February when demand is slower, or major holidays such as Black Friday, Boxing Day, and New Year's Eve when manufacturer incentives and dealer urgency align to your advantage.
The type of vehicle you’re shopping for also plays a role. For example, buying a convertible in the winter or an SUV in the summer can help you take advantage of seasonal dips in demand. Pair this with thorough research into manufacturer rebates and invoice pricing vs MSRP to strengthen your negotiating position.
Tools like Price Driven can make the process even easier by offering transparent invoice pricing and pre-negotiated deals. On average, customers save over $1,200 by focusing on the total cost rather than just monthly payments, making these tools an excellent resource for informed buyers.
Looking ahead to the 2025–2026 market, conditions seem favourable for buyers. Take advantage of discount periods, stay informed about pricing trends, and aim to shop on quieter weekdays to maximize your savings.
FAQs
Do year-end deals beat September discounts?
At the end of the year, dealerships often offer better savings compared to September discounts. During November and December, they’re focused on clearing out inventory and meeting sales targets. This push frequently leads to larger discounts and added incentives, making it a prime time to score excellent deals on new vehicles.
Can I stack rebates with 0% financing?
Yes, it’s possible to combine rebates with 0% financing in Canada, but this largely depends on the offers provided by the dealership and manufacturer. Stacking these incentives can be a smart way to save more money. To get accurate details, reach out to your local dealership and inquire about the specific deals and conditions available.
How do I find a dealer’s invoice price in Canada?
To discover a dealer's invoice price in Canada, online tools can be incredibly helpful. Platforms like Price Driven provide free reports that reveal what dealers pay manufacturers before adding any markups or fees. Alternatively, you can ask dealerships directly for this information. Having access to the invoice price gives you insight into dealer costs, which can empower you to negotiate more effectively.
