The way things are today, with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the car selling industry as well, it’s the right time to buy that car your startup business needs. According to US News, there’s quite a number of manufacturers and car dealers that have come out with special financing offers due to the economic uncertainties wrought by the pandemic.
The US News Best Price program reported that auto manufacturers Buick and Chevrolet are offering zero percent (0%) interest rates, while Ford came out with a financing deal that gives qualifying car buyers up to six months to make their first installment payment. Still, even if the deals look enticing, it would be best to check out the terms and conditions particularly those appearing in fine print.
Actually, even before the coronavirus outbreak, some savvy car procurers who moonlight by buying and selling cars, had shared one of their best kept secrets. Perhaps as a way of explaining why they are able to sell cars at prices lower than those offered by established car dealers, they say they usually invest on a car during the month of December.
Based on their analysis, it’s the best time of the year because some car companies still need to meet their quotas or their sales target for the year in order to hit their annual revenue projection.
Why December is Touted as the Merry Month for Buying a Car
Be in the know that generally, accounting books close yearly by December 31. All financial reports, particularly the Income and Expense Statement a.k.a. Profit and Loss Statement will reflect the Net Income generated by a business for the current year. The ideal report is one where all figures reported, specifically the Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization EBITDA), meet the company’s projections for the year.
The EBITDA being the measure of a business organization’s overall financial performance, after all important financial matters have been considered. In order to keep investors and creditors happy, car dealers for one, have to present financial reports that will not cast doubt on their ability to generate expected returns on investment (ROI) as well as on their capability to pay current and future loan amortizations.
Otherwise, car companies relying greatly on loans coming from money market investors and credit lines granted by banking institutions, could encounter difficulties in securing additional funds when needed. Moreover, the sales people are under great motivation to push car sales even beyond the projected goals, since the size of their year-end bonus largely depends on how much they contributed to the company’s sales for the year.
Speaking of bonuses, December is also the time of year when regular employees would have received or expect to receive their Christmas bonus. According to Cars.com, the last week of December records the highest figure in terms of incentive spending. TrueCar.com on the other hand, said that as much as 8.3% of the regular price of a new car could be taken off on car purchases made on December 31.
On the car insurance aspect, carinsurancesnearme.com gives advice to purchasers of a new car that car deals no matter how great, does not necessarily come with the best deal in insurance coverage. When buying a new car, you don’t have to sign the insurance contract being presented by the car dealer when signing the sales documents. Since you will become the new owner of the car, it’s your prerogative to know the kind of coverage, as well as the terms and conditions that come with the policy.
That being the case, know beforehand the car dealer’s insurance partner so you can make proper assessments on whether or not it’s the best car insurance deal available near you.