Why Black Friday Isn’t the Best Time to Buy a Car (And What You Should Do Instead)

Written By Philip Lombardi

Every year, dealerships blast out huge Black Friday promotions—“Record-breaking savings!” “One-day blowout deals!” “Lowest prices of the year!” But here’s the truth most buyers don’t know: Black Friday is rarely the best time to buy a car. In many cases, you may actually pay more than you should.

The Black Friday Illusion

Dealerships know consumers show up expecting crazy discounts. So what do they do?
They artificially inflate vehicle prices leading up to Black Friday by adding:

  • High-profit addendum stickers

  • “Protection packages”

  • Nitrogen-filled tires

  • Etch, tint, wheel locks, interior protection, and other overpriced fluff

  • Market adjustments masked behind “holiday savings”

They want you to walk into the showroom thinking you’re getting a deal… when in reality, you’re just paying for a loaded-up car with add-ons you never asked for.

Impulse Buying Is the Goal

Black Friday is designed to get you inside the dealership—because once you’re there, the pressure starts:

  • “This deal ends today.”

  • “Someone else is looking at this exact vehicle.”

  • “You won’t find this price again.”

If you haven’t done your homework, it’s easy to get swept up in the urgency and walk out paying thousands more than necessary.

The Smart Approach: Call First, Shop Second

Here’s what actually gets you the best deal:

  1. Call ahead and speak directly with the sales manager.

  2. Ask for the total out-the-door price, including taxes, fees, and add-ons.

  3. Request a breakdown of every charge and remove anything you don’t want.

  4. Only step foot in the dealership after you have the exact pricing in writing.

  5. Go in prepared to sign the paperwork and leave, not browse.

Dealers can’t play games when you already know the numbers.

Black Friday Isn’t the Best Time—Being Prepared Is

The real savings come from knowledge, preparation, and controlling the process, not from showing up on a hyped-up shopping weekend.

If you walk in with clear expectations and verified pricing, you’ll save far more than any “holiday deal” can offer.

Need Help Getting the Best Price?

If you want someone to handle this entire process—from researching vehicles to negotiating your final out-the-door price—you can hire us to do everything for you from beginning to end.

We make car buying simple, stress-free, and thousands of dollars cheaper.

Just reach out and let us do the work.

Philip Lombardi