How Seasons Affect Used Car Prices

seasonal prices buying-time strategy market-analysis

The Rhythm of the Used Car Market

The used car market follows clear seasonal patterns. Those who know them can save significantly when buying or achieve more when selling. Our data analysis shows the optimal times.

The Year at a Glance

Monthly Price Fluctuations (Average All Models)

MonthPrice DeviationDemandRecommendation
January-3%LowBuy
February-2%RisingBuy
March+3%HighSell
April+4%Very highSell
May+3%HighSell
June+1%MediumNeutral
July+2%MediumNeutral
August+1%Low (vacation)Buy
September+2%RisingNeutral
October0%MediumNeutral
November-2%FallingBuy
December-4%LowBuy

Vehicle Type-Specific Patterns

Convertibles and Roadsters

PeriodPrice EffectReasoning
March-May+15-20%Season start
June-August+10-15%Peak season
September-October-5-10%Season end
November-February-15-25%Off-season

Best buying time: November-February Best selling time: April-May

All-Wheel Drive Vehicles (Quattro, xDrive, 4MATIC)

PeriodPrice EffectReasoning
March-May-5-8%Spring
June-August-3-5%Summer
September-October+5-8%Winter preparation
November-February+8-12%Winter peak

Best buying time: April-June Best selling time: October-December

Sedans and Wagons

PeriodPrice EffectReasoning
Year-round±2-3%Stable demand

These vehicle types show the lowest seasonal fluctuations.

Sports Cars

PeriodPrice EffectReasoning
Spring+5-10%Driving season begins
Summer+3-5%Peak usage
Fall/Winter-5-10%Storage

Brand-Specific Observations

BMW

ModelStrongest SeasonWeakest Season
Z3/Z4April-JuneNov-Jan
X3/X5Oct-DecApr-Jun
3 Series TouringSept-NovJun-Aug
M modelsMarch-MayNov-Jan

Mercedes-Benz

ModelStrongest SeasonWeakest Season
SLK/SLApr-JunNov-Feb
ML/GLEOct-DecApr-Jun
E-Class EstateSept-NovJun-Aug
AMGMarch-MayNov-Jan

Audi

ModelStrongest SeasonWeakest Season
TT RoadsterApr-JunNov-Feb
Q5/Q7Oct-DecApr-Jun
A4/A6 AvantYear-round stable-
RS modelsMarch-MayNov-Jan

Additional Seasonal Factors

Tax Aspects

TimingEffect
Year-end (Dec)Dealers reduce for balance sheet
Quarter-endBonus pressure on salespeople
Year startNew car discounts pressure used

Vacation Periods

PeriodEffect
Summer vacationFewer buyers, longer days on market
ChristmasMarket nearly standstill
Easter breakShort pause

Weather

WeatherEffect
First snowAWD demand jumps
First warm dayConvertible inquiries explode
Extended rainGenerally dampened demand

Strategies for Buyers

The Optimal Buying Strategy

For summer vehicles (convertibles, roadsters):

  1. Start searching: October
  2. Buy: November-January
  3. Expected savings: 15-25%

For winter vehicles (AWD, SUV):

  1. Start searching: February
  2. Buy: April-June
  3. Expected savings: 5-10%

For daily drivers (sedans, wagons):

  1. Best time: December-January
  2. Alternative: August (vacation time)
  3. Expected savings: 3-5%

Negotiation Tips by Season

SeasonStrategy
Peak seasonDecide quickly, little room
Off-seasonNegotiate aggressively, take time
Year-endDealers under pressure, best terms

Strategies for Sellers

Optimal Selling Time

Vehicle TypeListSell
ConvertibleFebruaryMarch-April
AWD/SUVAugustOctober
Sports carFebruaryApril
SedanYear-round-

Pricing by Season

SeasonPrice Approach
Peak seasonMarket price + 5%
TransitionMarket price
Off-seasonMarket price - 5-10%

Conclusion

Seasonal price fluctuations in the used car market are real and significant. With the right strategy, buyers can save 10-25% and sellers can achieve correspondingly more.

Key takeaways:

  1. Buy convertibles in winter, sell in spring
  2. Buy AWD vehicles in spring, sell in fall
  3. Year-end is generally favorable for buying
  4. Spring is generally favorable for selling

Use these insights for your next transaction!

Analysis based on our market data from the last 3 years.