When’s the Best Time to Buy a New Car? Your Ultimate Guide to Saving Big!

Buying a new car is exciting but it can also be overwhelming, especially when you want to get the best deal possible. While there’s really no “bad” time to buy if you find the right car for your needs, being strategic about when you purchase can save you a lot of money. Car dealerships often have sales targets, stock clearance deadlines and seasonal promotions that work in your favour if you know when to shop.

Here’s our detailed guide to the best times of the year to buy a new car, so you can maximise your savings and drive away happy.

1. Start of the Calendar Year: New Beginnings, Great Deals

Why it’s a good time: At the start of the year, we are generally are keen to clear out the previous year’s stock to make room for new inventory. This means you can often find excellent discounts on “last year’s” models, which are brand-new cars but with the older model year tag. You will often see "Plate Clearance" sales around this time of the year.

Extra perks:

More trade-ins: Many people upgrade their vehicles early in the year, so with additional trade-ins, we will often have a wider selection of pre-owned cars available early in the year.

Tip: If you’re flexible on colour or certain features, you’ll have more choices and can negotiate a better deal.

2. End of the Calendar Year: Clear the lot for New Models

Why it’s a good time: As December rolls in, we're looking to clear out the current year’s stock to prepare for the new models arriving in the new year. This leads to clearance sales where prices can be significantly reduced. Often Plate Clearance sales will start at the end of the year.

What to watch out for:

Dealers might be pushing hard to meet annual sales quotas which can work to your advantage.

Keep an eye out for demonstrator vehicles, these are essentially our 'test-drive' cars and will generally have low kilometers but can be heavily discounted.

Extra perks:

End-of-year holiday promotions or Christmas sales events often include additional bonuses such as cashback offers or free accessories, keep an eye on our socials to stay up to date with our current offers.

It’s a great time for buyers who want the latest models at discounted prices before the new year.

3. End of Financial Year (EOFY): Massive Discounts and Tax Benefits

Why it’s a great time: EOFY is huge in Australia for car buyers. Dealers and manufacturers are trying to hit annual sales targets, which often leads to deep discounts and special offers.

For business buyers:

Businesses can benefit from government tax incentives, allowing you to claim a deduction for the cost of your new vehicle in the same financial year, hence why we tend to be busy in May & June. 

This makes EOFY the perfect time to upgrade your company cars or add to your fleet. Please remember to always talk to your Accountant before making these decisions.

Tip:

Start your research early, we often begin advertising EOFY deals weeks before June 30th, so you can get a jump on the competition. Plus with cars having to be delivered before June 30, there's only so much stock opportunity. We recommend touching base early (think April/May) to ensure you can take delivery of your car in the same financial year.

Other Great Times to Consider

Model changeovers: When a new generation or facelift of a model is announced, there's often runout deals to be had on the outgoing models, which can save you thousands. This can be a golden opportunity if you don’t mind having the previous version.

Slow sales periods: Sometimes mid-year (July-August) can see quieter sales, prompting us to offer unexpected specials.

Public holidays and long weekends: Special sales events around Australia Day, Easter or Labour Day can bring limited-time offers.

Why Shopping at Sunshine Toyota Makes a Difference All Year Round

While timing helps, what truly counts is buying from a trusted dealer who puts your needs first. At Sunshine Toyota, we offer competitive pricing and exceptional customer service every day of the year — not just during sales events.

Our expert sales team will help you:

• Navigate the best finance options

• Understand all the available rebates and incentives

• Find the right vehicle to suit your lifestyle and budget

• Check out our current deals and let us help you get behind the wheel of your next Toyota — no matter the time of year!

Final Thoughts

Car buying is a big decision, but with a little planning and timing, you can make it a rewarding one. Keep these peak buying periods in mind, do your homework, and always shop with a trusted dealership like Sunshine Toyota for peace of mind and great savings.

Ready to start your search? Browse our latest offers here, or visit us at Currimundi to chat with our friendly team!