Timing can make a significant difference when buying a used car. While finding the right vehicle at the right price still requires plenty of research, shopping at certain times of the year can improve your chances of landing a bargain. According to a new study from iSeeCars, winter is by far the best season to browse dealership lots, with December offering the greatest number of deals.
The research analyzed more than 42 million used-car sales from 2025 through October 2026 to determine when buyers are most likely to find a vehicle priced significantly below market value. For the study, iSeeCars defined a deal as a vehicle listed at least 10 percent below its estimated fair market value.
The analysis found that the average probability of finding such a deal on any given day is 11.5 percent. However, that figure changes considerably depending on when you go shopping.
If you're shopping for a used car in the United States, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the best opportunity to find a bargain. The holiday offers 52.7 percent more deals than the daily average, putting it comfortably ahead of every other occasion analyzed.
New Year's Eve and New Year's Day come in second, with 48.9 percent more deals than average. December itself ranks third at 46.2 percent, followed by January at 44.1 percent. Christmas Eve rounds out the top five, offering 41.2 percent more opportunities to find a vehicle priced at least 10 percent below its estimated market value.
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