The fall season means it’s time for model end clearance deals. In September and October many manufacturers are trying to get rid of their 2017 models to make room for 2018 cars. And yes, car manufacturers do start selling the new models before the new year starts (so you can actually buy a 2018 car in 2017).
Most new car buyers are interested in getting the latest model year which means dealers are pressured to get last year’s model off their lots in a hurry. To do this they’ll offer sales and incentives to entice buyers. This is especially true if the body style of a particular model will be changing in the upcoming year. Buyers aren’t as interested in a “new” car that is visibly older than others out there. In addition, buyers may interpret a changed body style as an improvement and not want a car that may be of lesser quality, whether that’s true or not. And if the model is being discontinued altogether you can expect even deeper discounts.
While car clearance offers and incentives shouldn’t be hard to find, to double down on your savings you should wait until the end of the month to get the additional benefit of salesmen trying to hit their monthly quota in order to earn their bonus. They may be willing to take a hit on a single sale in order to make a large bonus.
One caveat to keep in mind when buying a car in a model year closeout is that the bluebook value will be depreciated as one model year older. This may mean a slight difference in the resale value when you go to sell it in a few years. For example, if you were to buy a car today and sell five years from now in 2022, a 2018 model car would be valued as a 4 year old car while a 2017 model car would be valued as a 5 year old one.
Below are some of the best model year end car clearance deals. For a full listing of all current manufacturer offers and incentives check out Edmund’s Deals of the Month.
Best Car Deals and Specials
| Year | Make | Model | Customer Cash | APR | Dealer Cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Ford | Expedition | $2,000 | 0.0 - 3.9% | |
| 2017 | Ford | Explorer | $750 | 0.0 - 3.9% | |
| 2017 | Ford | Fusion Energi | $1,500 | 0.0 - 2.9% | |
| 2017 | Ford | Fusion | $750 | 0.0 - 2.9% ,¹ | |
| Ford Car Deals -> see all | |||||
| 2016 | Honda | Accord | 0.9 - 1.9% | $1,000 - 1,250 | |
| 2016 | Honda | CR-V | 0.9 - 1.9% | $750 | |
| 2016 | Honda | Odyssey | 0.9 - 1.9% | $1,000 - 1,250 | |
| Honda Car Deals -> see all | |||||
| 2016 | Nissan | Altima | $250 - 1,750 ,¹ | 0.0% | |
| 2016 | Nissan | Maxima | $2,000 | 0.0% | |
| 2016 | Nissan | Murano | $500 - 1,000 ,¹ | 0.0% | |
| 2016 | Nissan | Pathfinder | $750 - 1,750 ,¹ | 0.0% | |
| 2016 | Nissan | Rogue | $250 - 750 ,¹ | 0.0% | |
| Nissan Car Deals -> see all | |||||
| 2016 | Toyota | Avalon | $2,500 ,¹ | 0.0 - 0.9% ,¹ | $2,000 ,¹ |
| 2017 | Toyota | Camry | $2,000 ,¹ | 0.0 - 0.9% ,¹ | $2,000 ,¹ |
| 2017 | Toyota | Prius | $500 ,¹ | 1.9% ,¹ | |
| 2017 | Toyota | Sienna | $500 ,¹ | 1.9% ,¹ | |
| 2016 | Toyota | 4Runner | 2.9% ,¹ | ||
| Toyota Car Deals -> see all |
Remember, follow these simple steps to get the best deal on a new car. The key is to make car dealers compete on price. You can literally save thousands on the price of a new car by taking the right steps.
- Get Internet prices from local dealers
- Email each dealer and ask them to beat your best price
- Setup an appointment
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