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Almost all major car manufacturers are offering payment relief programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are offered in the form of deferred payments on new vehicles, payment extensions, and lease extensions. Many will also waive any late fees for an extended period of time.

Manufacturers like Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC are offering special incentives as well, with 0% APR for up to 84 months available to very well qualified buyers. There are still new cash back, finance, and lease deals introduced at the beginning of each month.

If your local and state government have deemed transportation as an essential need, most dealer service operations for repair and maintenance should be open.

Tip: To truly get a good deal, you’ll want to get prices from several dealerships. (click the orange button above and Get Prices).

Below we will give an overview of each car manufacturer’s Coronavirus payment relief program, available to new and current customers.

Acura COVID-19 Hardship Help

Current Customers: The Hardship Help program for current Acura Financial Services account holders can get payment extensions, deferrals, and late fee waivers.

Prospective Customers: A 90-day deferred payment program is available to new and used car buyers. A Loyalty Purchase Assistance Cash deal of $500 is available on any new Acura model. There are also special APRs on pre-owned TLX and RDX models until June 1st.

Audi COVID-19 Assistance

Current Customers: Audi‘s Financial Services are open and accessible to customers that need financial assistance.

BMW Coronavirus Response

Current Customers: BMW‘s Customer and Financial Services are available to customers that need assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

GM (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC) Coronavirus Response

Current Customers: GM Financial customers (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC) that are affected by COVID-19 are encouraged to message through the mobile app or contact 1-800-284-2271 for assistance. Current owners have OnStar Crisis Assist services for a limited time and complimentary in-vehicle data for Wi-Fi equipped vehicles; 3GB or three months, whichever comes first.

Buick Prospective Customers: Buick is offering new buyers 0% APR for 84 months on the 2020 Encore and Envision. There is also an option to defer monthly payments for 120 days.

Chevrolet Prospective Customers: Chevrolet is offering 0% APR for 84 months on 2019 and 2020 Equinox, Silverado 1500, and Trax models. Customers can also defer monthly payments for 120 days on most Chevy models.

GMC Prospective Customers: GMC is currently offering new buyers 0% APR for 84  months on 2020 Sierra 1500, Acadia, and Terrain models. Customers can also defer monthly payments for 120 days.

Fiat-Chrysler (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep) COVID-19 Response

Current Customers: There are flexible payment options and payment extensions available to current Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep customers on a case-by-case basis.

Prospective Customers: There may be options to defer payments for 90 days on select 2019/2020 models if financed through Chrysler Capital.

Ford Motor Company (Ford, Lincoln) COVID-19 Assistance Program

Current Customers: Ford and Lincoln customers are encouraged to call Ford Credit to discuss options if they are going through financial hardship. The special hotline number is 1-800-723-4016

Prospective Customers: Ford is also giving customers the option to delay the first payment on a new vehicle for 90 days. They are also offering six months of payment relief for select new-car customers. Ford will pay for three months and then the customer can defer monthly payments for up to three more months. This deal excludes 2020 Super Duty trucks, but is available on the rest of the 2019 and 2020 lineup.

Honda COVID-19 Hardship Help

Current Customers: Payment extensions, deferrals, and late fee waivers are available through Honda’s Hardship Help program.

Prospective Customers: New customers can defer payments for 90 days and also get $1,000 in cash back towards the purchase or lease of select new models. There are special APRs on pre-owned Civic, Accord, and CR-V models until June 1st.

Hyundai Coronavirus Relief Program

Current Customers: Current Hyundai customer can defer payments for up to three months if they lose their job or face medically-related hardships before April 30th, 2020. The Hyundai Assurance Job Loss Protection program will waive up to six months of payments for new owners who have lost their job that purchased or leased a vehicle before April 30th.

Prospective Customers: There is special 0% APR financing available on select new models, and customers have the option to delay payments for 120 days.

Infiniti COVID-19 Response Program

Current Customers: Infiniti customers that are going through financial hardship are encouraged to call or email Infiniti Financial Services to discuss payment alternatives.

Jaguar COVID-19 Response

There has been no announced relief program from Jaguar.

Kia Coronavirus Response Program

Current Customers: Kia customers (financed or leased before March 14th) that are providing care for themselves or a member of their household and are unable to work can request a 30-day payment extension up to three times.

Prospective Customers: New buyers can defer payments for 120 days and get 0% APR financing for 72 months.

Land Rover COVID-19 Response

There has been no announced relief program from Land Rover.

Lexus COVID-19 Assistance Program

Current Customers: Lexus customers going through financial hardship due to the global pandemic are encouraged to call Lexus Financial Services at 800-874-7050 to discuss payment relief options.

Mazda COVID-19 Response Program

Current Customers: Mazda is encouraging its customers to contact Mazda Capital Services for any financial relief.

Prospective Customers: New customer can get 0.9% APR on most models and Mazda is offering a 90-day deferred payment program.

Mercedes-Benz COVID-19 Response

Current Customers: Customers are encouraged to call Mercedes-Benz Financial Services at 800-654-6222 for any financial assistance related to the Coronavirus situation.

Mitsubishi COVID-19 Financial Support

Current Customers: Mitsubishi customers who financed through Ally can contact them to defer payments for up to 120 days.

Prospective Customers: New buyers can finance a new vehicle through Ally and defer payments for up to 90 days.

Nissan Coronavirus Assistance Program

Current Customers: Nissan and NMAC Customer Service are available at 1-800-456-6622 to assist customers and discuss payment arrangements.

Prospective Customers: Nissan is offering new customers the option to defer monthly payments for up to 90 days.

Porsche COVID-19 Response

There has been no announced relief program from Porsche.

Subaru COVID-19 Response Program

Prospective Customers: New Subaru customers can get 0% APR for 63 months on 2020 Ascent, Forester, Outback, Legacy, and Impreza models until April 30th. Buyers also have the option to defer payments for up to 90 days.

Toyota COVID-19 Response Program

Current Customers: Toyota Financial Services is offering payment relief options to customers who are effected by COVID-19. Qualified lease and finance customers can get payment extensions or lease deferred payments. They are also offering assistance to customers who are nearing the end of their lease period.

Volkswagen COVID-19 Response

Current Customers: Volkswagen customers are encouraged to visit the Volkswagen Credit website if they are impacted by COVID-19.

Prospective Customers: Most new VW models come with 0% APR for 72 months and there is also an option to defer the first month’s payment for 180 days.

Volvo COVID-19 Response

There has been no announced relief program from Volvo.

STOP! Don’t choose a car based on incentives alone.

Use my free service to Check Discount Car Prices from several dealers at once. Start a bidding war to get yourself the lowest possible price.

 

These offers may vary based on location, credit score, and financing terms and are not guaranteed. So use my free service to Check Discount Car Prices to get the best prices that include current manufacturer offers and incentives.

Many manufacturers are offering low monthly lease deals this month on 2019 and 2020 models for well qualified buyers.

In addition to offers with low monthly payments, there are a few deals with no or low down payments. By paying a lower amount at signing, drivers can save money on many of today’s popular models from manufacturers like Ford, Toyota, and Chevrolet.

Below we break down lease offers by category and highlight some of the best lease deals right now.

Best Lease Deals (Video)

Best Lease Deals Right Now

One of the advantages of leasing a vehicle is that it becomes much easier to get a new car every two or three years.

Manufacturers publish new deals each month and these are our top picks for April 2020.

Tip: To truly get a good deal, you’ll want to get prices from several dealerships. (click the orange button above and Get Prices).

Our Pick: Best Overall Lease Deal

2020 Ford Explorer

Lease Deal: $305 per month for 39 months with $3,706 due at signing

Best Lease Deals With Zero or Low Down Payment

Another advantage of leasing a vehicle is that it generally requires a lower initial investment compared to buying. Drivers can save even more by taking advantage of this month’s deals with a very low or zero down payment.

Our Pick: Best Lease Deal With Zero or Low Down Payment

2020 Nissan Sentra

Lease Deal: $164 per month for 36 months with $1,776 due at signing

Best Lease Deals Under $200 Per Month

Monthly payments for a lease tend to be lower than the monthly costs associated with purchasing a vehicle. There are plenty of cheap lease deals from top manufacturers each month that have monthly payments under $200.

STOP! Don’t choose a car based on incentives alone.

Use my free service to Check Discount Car Prices from several dealers at once. Start a bidding war to get yourself the lowest possible price.

 

Our Pick: Best Lease Deal Under $200 Per Month

2020 Honda Civic

Lease Deal: $169 per month for 36 months with $2,799 due at signing 

Best Luxury Car Lease Deals

If you are in the market for a luxury vehicle, but  wary of the high monthly payments, check out this month’s top lease deals from some of the leading luxury brands like Lexus and BMW.

Our Pick: Best Luxury Lease Deal

2020 Lexus ES

Lease Deal: $379 per month for 36 months with $3,999 due at signing

Best Truck Lease Deals

Below is a list of some of the best lease deals on trucks right now. Manufacturers consistently put out attractive lease offers on their line of 2019 and 2020 pickup trucks.

Our Pick: Best Truck Lease Deal

2019 Nissan Frontier

Lease Deal: $239 per month for 36 months with $2,439 due at signing 

Best SUV Lease Deals

Manufacturers consistently put out new lease offers on their line of 2019 and 2020 SUVs and crossovers. Below is a list of some of the best lease deals on SUVs right now, ranging from compact to full-size options.

Our Pick: Best SUV Lease Deal

2020 Mazda CX-3

Lease Deal: $199 per month for 36 months with $2,999 due at signing

These offers may vary based on location, credit score, and financing terms and are not guaranteed.  So use my free service to Check Discount Car Prices to get the best prices that include current manufacturer offers and incentives.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are plenty of new models available from popular manufacturers like Nissan, Hyundai, and Kia for under $20,000.

A lot of entry-level cars that fall under 20K have standard safety features that you would expect from a new vehicle in 2020. In addition to the low cost, manufacturers consistently offer finance, cash back, and lease deals every month.

Below we feature some of the best deals available right now on cars that are under $20,000.

Best Cash Back Deals on Cars Under $20,000 Right Now

Customers can end up paying significantly lower than $20K on a new vehicle by taking advantage of cash back incentives offered by the manufacturer.

Manufacturers publish new cash back deals each month and these are our top picks for April 2020.

Tip: To truly get a good deal, you’ll want to get prices from several dealerships. (click the orange button above and Get Prices).

Best Finance Deals on Cars Under $20,000 Right Now

With good credit, buyers can finance for as low as 0% APR for 60 to 72 months. A few of the finance deals each month have additional cash back incentives attached.

Best Lease Deals on Cars Under $20,000 Right Now

With this month’s lease deals, drivers can save even more on monthly payments or pay a lower down payment. Monthly payments rarely exceed $200 a month and the down payment is around $2,000 for entry-level cars.

STOP! Don’t choose a car based on incentives alone.

Use my free service to Check Discount Car Prices from several dealers at once. Start a bidding war to get yourself the lowest possible price.

 

These offers may vary based on location, credit score, and financing terms and are not guaranteed. So use my free service to Check Discount Car Prices to get the best prices that include current manufacturer offers and incentives.

Many manufacturers are offering zero percent APR car deals this month on 2019 and 2020 models for well qualified buyers.

In addition to financing deals, most specials come with a bonus cash credit of up to $5,000. By paying no interest, drivers can save money on many of today’s popular models from manufacturers like Ford, Toyota, and Chevrolet.

The 0% APR deal term lengths range from 24-72 months, but a majority are for 60 months. Some notable ones this month are on the 2019 Buick Regal TourX, 2019 Hyundai Tucson, and 2020 Nissan Murano.

What does a 0% APR Offer Mean?

When you get a car loan from a dealership or lender, they make their money by charging you interest and loan fees.  These fees are factored into your monthly payment and spread out across the life of the loan.

The annual percentage rate (APR) is the percent of all your payments over a year that go towards interest and fees.  The higher the APR, the higher your monthly payment.

If a dealership offers a promotional 0% APR loan, they are waiving their loan fees and interest as an incentive to get you to buy a car. 100% of every payment you make will be applied to your loan principal.

Is 0% a good deal? (What’s the catch?)

0% APR car loans are offered as an promotion to get you in the door.  Sometimes these offers are a bait and switch and only apply to specific models and option packages that may be in limited stock.

Or, sometimes zero or low APR offers are actually good deals.  But dealerships will usually try to make money on the sale in other ways, like a higher car price, or add-ons like gap insurance or extended warranties. And sometimes the catch is that the low APR may only apply up to a certain amount requiring you to make a bigger down payment else pay a higher APR for anything above the limit.

And be sure to read the fine print as almost all zero APR offers require you to be a well qualified buyer with excellent credit.

What credit score do you need to get 0% financing?

Lenders rarely advertise the minimum credit score to be eligible for 0% financing.  However, you’ll typically need at least a 700 credit score and a score above 720 will give you a better chance of being approved.
Interest Free Car Deals (Who has 0% financing right now?)

Below is a list of all the current 0% APR deals offered by each manufacturer right now.

Tip: To truly get a good deal, you’ll want to get prices from several dealerships. (click the orange button above and Get Prices).

STOP! Don’t choose a car based on incentives alone.

Use my free service to Check Discount Car Prices from several dealers at once. Start a bidding war to get yourself the lowest possible price.

 

These offers may vary based on location, credit score, and financing terms and are not guaranteed.  So use my free service to Check Discount Car Prices to get the best prices that include current manufacturer offers and incentives.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve always been intrigued by European Car Delivery Programs.  It’s a compelling offer: sign up for a vacation to Europe, get treated like a VIP, and come home with a discount on a very big souvenir, your new luxury car.

Experts like Jon Spira tell captivating stories where you can pick up your brand new BMW in Germany and race it on the Autobahn for less than you would’ve paid picking it up at your local dealership.

Is a European Delivery Program a Good Deal?

But are these programs worth it?  Over the past few years, manufacturers have tightened their belts and removed many of the extra perks that used to be included.

So I decided to see how European Delivery Program’s stack up against a car price you could negotiate for pick-up in the U.S.

Let’s take a look at how each manufacturers’ European deals compare to local prices.  But first…

How does a European Car Delivery Program Work?

The idea is you buy a luxury car from BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, or Volvo (Audi and Saab both retired their programs) and pick it up at the factory in Europe.  You’ll typically get a discount on the price of the car plus a travel deal.  After you visit the factory, you can cruise around Europe for a couple weeks and drop off your car at a pre-approved location (these vary by manufacturer, but most have about 12 drop-off locations in different cities).

All programs include a factory tour and meal, international car insurance and registration for 2 weeks (about a $200 value).  When you’re done they’ll ship the car back to the U.S. for you free of charge, but keep in mind this is not the same as the destination fee (typically $895).  Mercedes is the only one to waive the destination fee as well.

Here’s the step by step process:

1. You order a European luxury car from a U.S. dealer
2. Once the pick-up date is confirmed, you book your travel
3. Pick-up your car a few weeks later at the factory in Europe
4. Spend a night near the manufacturer in Germany (or Sweden for Volvo) and get a factory tour plus a meal or two
5. Travel the country-side in your new wheels for as long as you want (insurance lasts 2 weeks, but can be extended)
6. Drop off your car at an approved European drop-off location
7. Accept delivery in the U.S. within 6-8 weeks (if you live on the East coast) or 8-10 weeks (if you live on the West Coast)

BMW also includes a nice perk where you can pick up your car in the U.S. at the BMW Performance Driving school in South Carolina and learn how to race on their track like a pro.

Program Details by Manufacturer

Manufacturer Program Comparison

So how do the European deals compare to pricing in the States?  In the table below I started out by selecting 5 models around the $50,000 range. I figured that if you’re buying a $500,000 Maybach, you probably don’t care too much about cost, but if you’re looking at cars with one less zero, you might still want to do a little comparison shopping.

After I selected a few models, I went to Edmunds to find out what they suggest is a good target price in the States if you were to haggle with local dealers without picking up overseas.  Then I compared that to the European Delivery deals with and without travel perks.  Savings are calculated based on estimates of $700/roundtrip flight and $150/night at a hotel.  Perks like meals, factory tours, are international insurance are not included in these numbers.

My Analysis

• All manufacturer programs except for Porsche are a better deal to pick-up overseas.
• Most travel perks have been scaled back and those perks’ dollar value is nominal with the exception of Volvo’s travel package.  Although it should be noted that the value of the travel experience is exceptional for all programs.
• The winner for best bargain is Volvo.  They are the only European manufacturer to still offer a full travel package.  Most programs used to offer two round trip tickets and hotel accommodations, but now only Volvo offers both.

Other Considerations

• Be sure to make sure the total price of the car (with discount + vacation) is less than what you can negotiate for each separately.  If it’s cheaper to buy the car locally and rent a nice car overseas, save yourself the extra paperwork.
• Most programs cover European fees and freight, but check for an extra charge for delivery from the U.S. drop-off to your home city
• Most programs cover international vehicle insurance and registration for 15 days (about a $200 value). If you plan on staying longer coordinate extra insurance with your local dealer before you go. U.S. and Canadian insurance coverage is not valid in Europe.  If you don’t have insurance during your trip, your car could be confiscated when you cross an international border.
• Most programs have 10-20 international drop-off locations, but coordinate in advance where you will be leaving your car when your vacation is over.
• Do not plan to leave any personal belongings in your car as they might not make it back to the States and are not insured (even though the car is).
• Ensure vehicle is cleaned before handing over for transport. If the car is dirty, the shipping company may refuse to load the vehicle or the EPA will steam clean the car at your expense.
• Some programs offer the ability to buy a non-U.S. specification vehicle.  That means you may be able customize your car with some options that are only available in Europe.

Would you consider flying to Europe to pick up your next car?

European Delivery Infographic

Embed this image on your site:
<a href=”https://www.findthebestcarprice.com/European-delivery/”><img src=”https://findthebestcarprice.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/European-Car-Delivery-Infographic.jpg” alt=”European Delivery Program Comparison” title=”European Delivery Program Comparison (infographic)”/></a><br/>Source: <a href=”https://www.findthebestcarprice.com/european-delivery/”&<span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”></span>gt;www.FindTheBestCarPrice.com</a> European Delivery Program Comparison<br/>

Frequently Asked Questions

GM manufacturers including Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac all offer discounts to teachers and educators. The discounts can be as high as $5,500, but cash back amounts vary from vehicle to vehicle.

These deals apply to select new 2018, 2019, and 2020 vehicles, ranging from SUVs, sedans, pickup trucks and cargo vans. Educators can apply this discount to a purchase or lease and they can be combined with most other current incentives.

Let’s take a closer look at how to qualify and the requirements for each of these teacher savings programs.  At the bottom we also list all the current discounts for educators offered by each manufacturer.

How to Qualify for a Teacher Discount

To qualify for a teacher car discount you have to either work in the educational field or have a parent that does.

GM offers the Educator Discount to a wide range of members of a public or private school, university, or college. This includes:

• Educators
• Administrators
• Faculty
• Support Staff

You can also share this special offer with your spouse and dependent children. A dependent child qualifies as:

• Under 21 years of age
• Full-time student under 25 years of age

What to Bring to the Dealership

Before heading to your local authorized dealership, GM requires an authorization number which can be obtained through their site. Once you have an authorization number, you must bring the code and these other documents as proof of eligibility:

• Copy of school ID/badge
• Copy of current pay stub (within last 30 days)
• Copy of driver’s license

As an educator, you can purchase or lease up to two new vehicles per year with the GM Educator Discount.

Best Discounts for Teachers & Faculty

Below are some of the best car deals for teachers, administrators, faculty, and support staff.

STOP! Don’t choose a car based on incentives alone.

Use my free service to Check Discount Car Prices from several dealers at once.   Start a bidding war to get yourself the lowest possible price.

 

These offers may vary based on location, credit score, and financing terms and are not guaranteed.  So use my free service to Check Discount Car Prices to get the best prices that include current manufacturer offers and incentives.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have the flexibility, you can find extra savings buying a car at the right time. It’s always a good idea to get prices from several car dealers, but if you time your purchase you can get even bigger savings.

Some months are actually better than others for getting a deal. Here are some factors throughout the year to put in your calendar.

The best month to buy a car is December, with especially good deals during the week between Christmas and New Years.  Dealerships are empty and salesmen need to hit their monthly, quarterly, and year end sales goals.

Months with Holiday Weekends mean dealership events

Six months of the year have holiday weekends like 4th of July and Labor Day. Dealerships know customers have an extra day off on these weekends to go shopping so they create promotions to entice visitors including cash-back deals or special financing.

Many dealerships also have weekend incentives for the salesmen who are able to sell the most vehicles.  This sometimes means they are willing to offer bigger discounts to you in order to reach their company bonus.

On most holidays, dealerships will be open and hungry for car shoppers with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas. But in the days following both of those two holidays dealerships typically run big specials that make up for lost time .

September and October have End of Model Year deals

In September and October, many manufacturers are trying to get their old models off the lot to make room for next year’s models. Car buyers always want the latest model, especially if there are significant changes like a new body style, so dealers are under pressure to sell off old models.

Related: Infographic of the best time of year, week, and day to buy a car

Wait till salesman get their quotas

Most people are aware that waiting until the end of the month to buy a car is a good strategy because salesmen have monthly sales quota to meet. But did you know that salesmen also have quotas at the end of each quarter as well?

Timing your purchase until the end of March, June, September, and December could mean you catch dealers when they are eager to sell in order to earn a bonus check.

December has End of Year discounts

Car salesman and dealerships also get sales incentives at the end of the financial year. Couple that with the holiday week between Christmas and New Years and you get one of the best weeks of the whole entire year to buy.

When is the worst month to buy a car?

The Spring is the worst time to buy a car for a few reasons.

Warmer weather means people finally get outdoors to do the car shopping they’ve been putting off during the winter.  And in April, some people see tax refunds as a financial windfall that could be spent on big purchases like a new car.  There are also no holiday weekends to drive dealership traffic (except Easter which is not known for car sales).

More car buyers means salesmen don’t need to offer as many deals to entice visits. So March and April are the worst months for deals.

Breakdown of Best Deals by Month