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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. (these are discounts for everyone, not to mention those discounts for first responders)

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. Acura is currently offering first responders and healthcare professionals up to $750 off a purchase or lease on any 2020 or newer model.

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. GM is offering customers the ability to shop online and take delivery at home from a participating dealership.

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.

Ford Promise Vehicle Return Program

The Ford Promise program allows customers to return a vehicle within one year of purchase if they experience financial hardship due to involuntary loss of employment. The Ford vehicle buy-back program will cover:

• 2019/2020/2021 new, used, or CPO vehicles that have been leased or purchased through Ford Motor Credit between June 26^th, 2020 and September 30^th, 2020.
• Up to $15,000 waived/paid with the customer responsible for the remaining balance

To qualify, customers must have been approved for state unemployment benefits and must notify the Claims Administrator within thirty days of involuntary job loss. Customers experiencing self-employed personal bankruptcy are also eligible for Ford Promise.

Ford is offering 0% APR for 72 months on select 2019/2020 models. Here is a full list of Ford incentives and more details on Ford Promise.

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. Honda is now offering up to $500 off a purchase or lease of a new vehicle to healthcare professionals.

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 December 31st, 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 December 31st, 2020. Hyundai will also extend any qualifying warranty that ends between March and June 2020 until June 30th, 2020.

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.

Prospective Customers: Infiniti is now offering no payments for up to 90 days on a purchase or lease on any 2020 model. New customers can get 0% APR financing for 72 months on all 2020 models.

Jaguar COVID-19 Response

Current Customers: Returning Jaguar lessees can get their first two payments of up to $750 waived if financed through Jaguar Financial Group. Jaguar is also offering its lessees the option to extend their lease agreement for up to 6 months.

Prospective Customers: The Jaguar Deferment Program allows eligible customers to defer their payments for up to 90 days. This can be applied to all new 2020 models.

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. Kia is also extending its warranty program until June 30th, 2020 for anyone that couldn’t make it to a Kia dealer between March 2020 and May 2020 due to COVID-19.

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

Land Rover COVID-19 Response

Current Customers: Returning Land Rover lessees can get their first two payments of up to $750 waived if financed through Land Rover Financial Group. Land Rover is also offering its lessees the option to extend their lease agreement for up to 6 months.

Prospective Customers: The Land Rover Payment Deferment Program allows eligible customers to defer their payments for up to 90 days. This can be applied to all new 2020 models.

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. Current Mazda owners can get up to $1,500 off when they purchase or lease any new Mazda.

Prospective Customers: New customer can get 0% 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 pandemic.

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. The manufacturer will also cover payments for up to two additional months.

Porsche COVID-19 Response

Current Customers: Impacted Porsche customers are encouraged to send a secure message through their PFS Account for financial assistance. Any warranty period that expires between March and May 2020 will be extended for three months.

Subaru COVID-19 Response Program

Current Customers: Current Subaru lessees can extend their lease agreements for up to 6 months.

Prospective Customers: New Subaru customers can get 0% APR for 63 months on 2020 Ascent, Forester, Outback, Legacy, and Impreza models. 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.

Prospective Customers: Qualified customers can get 0% APR for 60 months on 2020 models like the Camry, RAV4, and Tacoma. Toyota will also defer payments for up to 90 days. Every new Toyota will come with ToyotaCare, which is a no-cost maintenance plan for 2 years or 25,000 miles.

Volkswagen COVID-19 Response

Current Customers: Volkswagen customers are encouraged to visit the Volkswagen Credit website if they are impacted by COVID-19. Existing customers can defer their payments for up to 90 days without fees.

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 120 days. Eligible customers who lost their job due to economic reasons can get up to 6 months of payments (of up to $750 per month) waived.

Volvo COVID-19 Response

Current Customers: Customers going through financial hardship are encouraged to call Volvo Car Financial Services to discuss payment relief options.

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.

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. In that case, once the car is in the States, you can always shop around to have the car shipped to you at a lower price.
• 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

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