Although there is no ideal month to purchase a used car at a discount, January and February are often considered advantageous periods for those researching, comparing options, and willing to negotiate. This assessment was made by Fred Bittar, CEO of Comprecar, and is supported by automotive industry data.
According to Fenauto, the federation representing vehicle resellers, 1.34 million used and pre-owned cars were sold in January 2026. This number represents a 24.5% reduction compared to December.
The entity explains this decrease by attributing it to common start-of-year expenses, such as IPVA, IPTU, and school fees, in addition to the vacation period. Lower buyer traffic at dealerships practically offers greater opportunity for negotiation.
Comprecar, an advertising portal active since 2001 in the interior of São Paulo, reports that January generally records the highest volume of website access, indicating an increase in consumer interest during that period. However, the company clarifies that this data only reflects searching, not pricing.
Bittar emphasizes that regarding the arrival of listings, values, and sellers' willingness to negotiate, Comprecar does not have data that allows identifying a specific month. He stresses that the pre-owned market is influenced by supply, demand, credit availability, the behavior of the new vehicle market, and general economic conditions.
For the executive, the temporal factor has less weight compared to the operational set. The negotiation margin is directly affected by how long the vehicle remains in stock, its model, its version, the specific demand for that car, and the commercial conditions offered by each store. Thus, a vehicle parked for several months tends to generate a larger discount than a highly sought-after model that just arrived.
The end of the year also creates opportunities, mainly due to promotional campaigns, inventory renewal, and stores meeting targets. However, Bittar warns that there is no universally effective time for all types of vehicles and consumers.
Nevertheless, those who choose to wait for the beginning of the year should be aware that the calm is short-lived. Fenauto data shows that February 2026 already presented a 1.7% growth compared to January, and March saw a jump of 22.8% compared to the previous month, totaling 1.67 million units traded. This demonstrates that the bargaining window closes quickly as the market recovers its normal rhythm.
