Best New Car Finance Deals for May 2026
Key takeaways
- This May, and all year, expect a buyer-friendly car market to continue.
- Marc Urbano|Car and Driver While new vehicle prices keep ratcheting higher, most buyers aren't paying sticker price.
- Consumers, of course, will have to eat those added costs like always.
Why this matters: an automotive development that could shape industry direction or buying decisions.
This May, and all year, expect a buyer-friendly car market to continue.
Marc Urbano|Car and Driver While new vehicle prices keep ratcheting higher, most buyers aren't paying sticker price. It's common for car dealers to automatically discount popular vehicles like a Hyundai Santa Fe by thousands, because automakers are feeding them on average $3300 per vehicle in incentives, according to JD Power. By the end of 2026, that average is expected to rise to $3500.
That's the brightest economic news we can give you in a world where a bottle of ketchup is six bucks and every company, from automakers to zipper manufacturers, attempts to reclaim more than $160 billion in illegal tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Consumers, of course, will have to eat those added costs like always. But at least you can get a good new car at a relatively affordable price.