
Most car dealerships are closed on Thanksgiving Day itself. It's a major national holiday in the U.S., and manufacturers like , GM, and Stellantis (which owns Jeep, Ram, and Chrysler) typically mandate closures for their franchised dealerships. However, many dealers will reopen on Black Friday, often with extended hours to capitalize on one of the biggest shopping events of the year. It's crucial to call ahead or check the specific dealership's website for their holiday hours, as independent used car lots may have different policies.
The holiday hours are generally split into three categories: closed on Thanksgiving, limited hours on Black Friday, or special appointment-only sales. The Black Friday sales event is a significant draw, with dealerships offering exclusive discounts, bonus cash incentives, and special financing rates to clear out current-year inventory.
If you're planning to shop, your best bet is to research online deals beforehand and confirm the operating hours for your local dealership. While you can't browse lots on Thanksgiving, the day after offers some of the best automotive deals of the year.
| Dealership Type | Thanksgiving Day Hours | Black Friday Hours (Typical) | Common Promotions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Franchise (e.g., Ford, Toyota) | Closed | 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM | Bonus Cash, 0% APR Financing |
| Luxury Brand (e.g., BMW, Mercedes-Benz) | Closed | 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM | Lease Specials, Loyalty Discounts |
| Large Auto Group (Multiple Brands) | Closed | 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM | Discounts on Previous Model Years |
| Independent Used Car Lot | Varies (Some Open) | Standard Hours | Store-wide Price Reductions |
| Online Sales Department | 24/7 Access | 24/7 Access | Exclusive Online-Only Offers |

Nope, they're almost always shut tight on the actual holiday. Everyone deserves a day off with their family, right? But get ready, because the second that clock hits midnight or early Friday morning, those lots will be packed. The start crazy early. If you're serious about a deal, have your financing pre-approved and know exactly what car you want before you go. It can get overwhelming with all the people.

From my experience in the business, Thanksgiving is the one day corporate forces us to close. It's a hard closure. But we spend weeks preparing for the Black Friday rush. The deals are real—manufacturers push incentives to hit year-end targets. My advice? Use Thanksgiving to finalize your online research. Then, be at the dealership when it opens Friday. The best inventory goes fast.

We tried to go look at cars last Thanksgiving and every place was closed, which was actually nice. It gave us a quiet day to really talk about our budget and what we needed without any pressure. We spent the night looking up reviews and comparing prices online. By the time Friday rolled around, we felt prepared and ended up getting a much better deal because we walked in knowing what a fair price was.

For a bargain hunter like me, Thanksgiving is for , not buying. The real action is online. I scour manufacturer websites and dealer inventories from my couch. I make a shortlist of three specific cars at different dealers, then I play them off each other on Friday via email. You can often get a better price by negotiating remotely than by walking onto a chaotic lot. The key is to do your homework while they're closed.


