should i buy a car now or wait until 2024

If your current chariot is one flat tyre from a Viking funeral, buy now; waiting for 2024 alone rarely conjures miracle discounts.

In Australia, the juiciest new-car deals typically land at EOFY (June) and plate-clearance run-outs in Dec–Jan, but stock and interest rates keep moving the goalposts.

As a yardstick, new prices hover roughly around AUD $25k–$35k for small cars and AUD $40k–$65k for family SUVs drive-away, while 3–5-year-old used equivalents often sit around AUD $15k–$30k and AUD $25k–$45k respectively, brand and kilometres permitting.

Used prices have cooled from pandemic peaks, so a well-kept second-hand buy can be cracking value—especially if you pay cash and dodge the finance sting.

Do the maths on total ownership (insurance, servicing, tyres, fuel), get a pre-purchase inspection, and haggle—politely, like your nan’s watching.

Window-shopping? Tradingpost is handy for run-out and pre-loved listings without the dealership theatrics.