Buyers might get good deals on Presidents Day, but consumers also might have to be less picky, a Kelley Blue Book senior analyst said.
Car dealerships are not under as much pressure to clear inventory and make sales in the early months of the year, but there also typically are not as many interested buyers, said Karl Brauer, a senior analyst with Kelley Blue Book.
“If you can find the car you’re looking for now because early in the year the weather’s still questionable, you can actually leverage a pretty good deal because there aren’t as many customers out there for dealers to choose from even on Presidents Day,” Brauer said. “So if you are one of the ones they can choose from, they’ll work harder to get your money.”
Dealers know consumers typically spend a lot of discretionary income during the holiday season, while others wait for income tax refunds to roll in before buying a car.
So car dealerships might not roll out the best advertised deals in February, but potential buyers might have a stronger hand in negotiating depending on the site.
“Any dealer would like to start the year off better, hit various annual numbers or make their ways toward annual goals sooner than later,” Brauer said.
The problem is you might not have as large of a selection to choose from. Most of the 2014 models have been cleared out, while some of the new inventory has yet to arrive, Brauer said.
“You might find that variety and the options are still somewhat constrained early in the year,” he said.