Car buyers are seeing more year-end car deals as automakers and dealerships increase discounts, low-interest financing, and cash incentives to meet annual sales goals. Industry analysts say December remains one of the most favorable months for purchasing a new vehicle, especially as sales pressure builds at the end of the year. These year-end car deals typically gather momentum in the final weeks of the month when dealers work to close both annual and monthly targets.
Manufacturers and dealerships operate with yearly sales goals, and December is when meeting those targets becomes most urgent. As the deadline approaches, they offer a wider range of incentives, including cash bonuses, promotional auto loans, and sticker-price reductions. Dealerships often accept smaller margins to complete sales.
Data from Edmunds shows that December has consistently delivered the biggest average discounts from MSRP for both new and used vehicles. According to the company, the final week of December tends to show the deepest price reductions because it aligns with year-end and month-end closing schedules.
Jay Jang, general manager at Eden Motor Group, said that although promotional activity has slowed since the pandemic, most brands continue to offer year-end specials on select models. He added that cautious consumer spending has pushed some luxury models to feature particularly competitive pricing. Another driver of December discounts is the need to clear older inventory once new model years arrive.
Experts note that shoppers may receive stronger offers if they are flexible about model year, trim, or color options. Sky Kim, manager at Genesis of Cerritos, said some 2025 and 2026 model-year vehicles imported before tariff changes allow dealerships to apply manufacturer incentives more freely, resulting in increased savings for buyers.
Beyond price cuts, financing terms also tend to improve during the year-end season. Automakers often introduce special APRs, extended-term deals, or favorable lease promotions to accelerate inventory turnover. With average auto-loan rates hovering between 4% and 6%, certain models now qualify for 0% or low-2% financing, significantly reducing total borrowing costs. These incentives are a major component of today’s year-end car deals.
Dealerships across Los Angeles and Orange County are already rolling out December programs. Cerritos Genesis is offering a 0% APR for 60 months on the 2026 Genesis GV60, along with 0.99% financing for 36 months on popular models such as the GV70 and GV80. South Bay Hyundai is promoting 60-month zero-interest financing on the 2026 Santa Fe Hybrid, as well as a 36-month lease of $209 per month or 3.49% APR for 60 months on the 2025 Elantra.
Irvine Kia is advertising a 24-month lease on the 2025 Kia EV6 at $126 per month with a $5,130 down payment, while Van Nuys Kia is offering 60-month zero-interest financing on the EV6 and EV9, along with bonus cash of $1,000 and $500 respectively. Cerritos Lexus is featuring a 48-month 2.49% APR on select ES, UX Hybrid, and RX models.
Experts emphasize that timing, vehicle selection, and financing terms ultimately determine how much a buyer can save. They recommend starting research early to compare inventory and avoid rushed decisions due to limited stock. Careful preparation can help shoppers take full advantage of the year’s most competitive year-end car deals.
BY HOONSIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]
