October isn’t just about pumpkin spice and Halloween decorations—it’s also a sweet spot for car deals. New manufacturer incentives are here, and dealers are under pressure to sell aging 2025 models and very dusty 2024s. As always, shoppers who know how to negotiate have the upper hand. Consider it a buyer’s market, but only if you know where to look.

Here are three tips that will help you get the best car deal in October 2025.

1. Shop the Slowest-Selling Cars

Some cars practically fly off the lot, while others sit for weeks—or even months. Which ones do you think are more negotiable?

Dealers holding onto slow-selling inventory are motivated to move those cars, often with big discounts or extra incentives. That’s where the real deals are hiding.

With CarEdge’s free car buying tools, you can see the fastest- and slowest-selling cars nationally and in your local market. If you’re flexible on what you drive, targeting the slow movers is the easiest way to tilt the odds in your favor.

2. Don’t Overlook Cheap Lease Deals

Leasing isn’t for everyone—but for millions of drivers, it’s the smarter choice. One in five drivers already lease, and that number is climbing as cheap lease deals pop up nationwide.

Here’s why it matters:

• Lower upfront costs. Instead of committing to a big down payment, a lease lets you drive new with less cash out of pocket.
  
• Less risk with EVs. Electric cars are advancing so fast that today’s new EV can lose value quickly. Leasing lets you sidestep steep depreciation. See the cars with the best and worst depreciation.
  
• Fresh ride every few years. If you don’t want to keep a car long-term, leasing often makes more financial sense than buying and trading in later.

Before signing on the dotted line, make sure to check the best-value lease deals available this month, and use our free leasing calculator to know what to expect.

3. Let AI Negotiate for You

This time last year, it didn’t even exist. Today, it’s a game-changer.

With CarEdge’s new AI Negotiator, shoppers can now have AI agents anonymously negotiate car deals on their behalf. No awkward calls. No pressure from salespeople. Just results.

If you’re shopping for a new car this October, especially as year-end sales season heats up, AI Negotiator can save you time, stress, and money.

👉 Learn more about AI Negotiator, the easiest way to negotiate your deal.

Final Thoughts

October is a great time to shop for a car, but only if you know where to look. Focus on slow sellers, don’t skip lease deals, and better yet, let AI do the hard work for you. With these three steps, you’ll be in the driver’s seat in no time.

A great place to start is our Best Deals Hub. And if the perfect deal hasn’t shown up yet, don’t sweat it. November brings more incentives, and December is the peak of year-end sales—when automakers throw everything they’ve got at clearing out old inventory. 

Stay tuned to CarEdge Guides for the best year-end car deals of 2025 as automakers make one last big push to ‘move the metal’. We’re here to help!