When is the best time to buy a car in India?

After finalizing which car to buy this would probably be the question that will arise in your mind if you want to save some money on your car purchase. And before we move ahead let me tell you that you are absolutely right! The timing of purchasing a car can affect its cost significantly.

In this article, I am going to tell you which are the best and worst times to buy a car in India. Not only this but I will also tell you which is the best time to buy used cars in India.

So without any further ado, let me tell you the answer you are looking for.

Best Time To Buy A Car In India

The best times to buy a car in India are:
1. During the festive season
2. Month ends
3. Year end
4. After a car launch
5. Before the update
6. End of the financial year

Let us look at these times one by one in detail.

During The Festive Season

One of the best times to buy a car in India is obviously during the festive season. During this time car manufacturers and dealers come with some exciting discounts and gifts to boost their sales.

Buying a car in India is still a very big deal. For many, it is still one of their prized possessions. As a result, many people prefer to buy one during festivities.

Since there are a number of car manufacturers available in India and they all want to increase their market share. Therefore, to maximize the sales of their cars, different dealers and car manufacturers come up with a lot of exciting offers to entice the customers towards their brand.

So if you are in the market to purchase a new car then you should probably wait for the festive seasons. You will definitely get the best deals during this time of the year.

Month Ends

If you can’t wait for the festive season then you should at least wait for the month’s end. If you don’t know then let me tell you, car dealers and their sales team have monthly sales targets to achieve.

And generally in order to achieve them they offer discounts to entice the customers when the deadline approaches. Needless to say, the deadline is the last date of every month.

Therefore if you want to negotiate a good deal for your next car then you should buy it at month’s end.

Year End

You can also see a huge discount on car prizes at the year end. This is because the dealerships want to empty the current year’s manufactured stocks. So that they can keep new-year manufactured stocks.

And in order to empty the stocks, they come with exciting discounts and offers.

Therefore if you were wondering whether is it good to buy a car in December or not then you have your answer.

Yes, it is good to purchase a car in December because this time you generally get good deals.

However, there is a downside to it as well. Since you will be purchasing a car that will be December manufactured therefore it will be considered a year old just after a month.

Believe me, this can really hamper the after-sales value of your car. Because people first look at the year of manufacturing and purchase while buying a second-hand car.

Therefore, you might get a discount while purchasing the car but you will also have to compromise on the price while selling it.

After A Car Launch

Another best time to buy a car in India is right after the launch of a new car. Car manufacturers generally launch new cars with introductory prices.

The introductory prizes are limited to the first few hundred or thousand cars and are generally cheaper than the original price. Once the lot with introductory prices is sold out then the cost of that car increases.

Car manufacturers do this to boost the sales of the car in the initial days. Once the sales start picking up then they increase the price.

Therefore if you want to get a discount on your next car purchase then you should wait for the launch of a new car.

Before The Update

Car manufacturers launch facelifted versions of a car to keep them hot in the market. These new versions generally come with a little upgradation over their previous versions.

So if you are not obsessed with buying the newest car in the market then you can opt for the outgoing models of the car. Because once the facelifted versions are announced then the prices of the previous version go down significantly.

And also to clear the stocks of outdated vehicles, dealerships generally offer good discounts.

Therefore another best time to buy a new car in India is right before the launch of an updated car model.

End Of The Financial Year

Like the monthly targets, dealerships and car manufacturers also have the yearly target as well. And by year I mean the financial year, which starts on the 1st of April and ends on the 31st of March of every year.

So if you want the maximum discounts on a car price then you should buy a car in the month of March.

In order to achieve their yearly targets, car dealers give massive discounts at the end of their financial year.

Worst Time To Buy A Car In India

The worst time to buy a car in India is generally the first quarter of every financial year i.e. April to June.

The first quarter of every financial year is the time when the dealers and car manufacturers are busy planning the next financial year. Therefore they don’t push their car sales as much as they do in other months.

As a result, you will not see many discounts and offers on the purchase of a new car.

When To Buy A Car Financially In India?

You should buy a car financially in India when you can afford it as simple as that.

So we have looked at the best and worst times to buy a car in India. However, the question that you should be asking is when to buy a car financially in India.

See buying a car is very easy these days, you can get plenty of car loan options. However, maintaining a car is a very big deal. Not everyone can maintain a car because it requires a significant amount of money too, on top of the fuel expense.

Needless to say, the prices of petrol and diesel are touching the sky. Therefore, other than checking the mileage of a car, you should also know if you can afford it financially or not.

Well, to know whether you can afford it or not you should follow the 20/10/4 rule.

According to this rule:

• You should be able to pay at least 20% of the car’s price as a downpayment.
• The EMI of the car should be less than 10% of your monthly salary.
• And the term of the car loan should not be greater than 4 years.

If all three conditions are met then you can afford a car financially and you should definitely buy one. In case these conditions are not met then you should consider buying a used car. You can even get a good used car for under 5 lakhs in India.

Best Time To Buy A Used Car In India

The best times to buy a used car in India are:
1. At the year-end
2. During the festive season
3. At the end of the financial year

As discussed, the best times to buy a new car are generally at the end of the year, during the festive seasons, and at the end of the financial year. Therefore these times automatically become the best times to buy a used car in India as well.

Because people generally sell off their old vehicles in order to buy new ones. And when they are in a hurry of buying a new car they generally sell their older car at a cheaper price.

Therefore you can take advantage of this situation and get a used car at a good price.

FAQs

What Month Is Best For Buying A Car?

Festive months, December and March are good months for buying a car.

In Which Months Cars Are The Cheapest In India?

Cars are cheaper in December, March, and festive months in India.

Which Are The Worst Months To Buy A Car In India?

April to June are considered the worst months to buy a car in India.

Is It Good To Buy A Car In December?

Yes, it is a good time to buy a car in December. You can get good discounts and offers. However, at the time of reselling the car, it can also affect the resale value of your car. Because your car is considered a year old even after a month.