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The Definitive Answer: Are Car Dealerships Open On Thanksgiving Day 2025?

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The short and definitive answer is no: the vast majority of car dealerships across the United States are closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27, 2025. This closure is a near-universal industry standard, applying to the Sales, Service, and Parts departments of nearly every major automotive brand and dealership group.

As the current date is December 24, 2025, and the holiday season is in full swing, it is essential to have the most up-to-date information on holiday operating hours. While many retail sectors have begun opening their doors on Thanksgiving, the automotive industry maintains a tradition of honoring the holiday, giving employees time off, and strategically focusing their sales efforts on the massive Black Friday sales event that immediately follows. If you are planning to visit a dealership for a test drive, service appointment, or to inquire about a new vehicle purchase, you will almost certainly need to wait until Friday.

The Unanimous Decision: Why Dealerships Close on Thanksgiving

Unlike big-box retail stores that have increasingly opted to open on Thanksgiving to capture early holiday shopping revenue, the automotive sector has largely resisted this trend. This decision is driven by a combination of employee welfare, industry tradition, and a strategic focus on the biggest shopping day of the year: Black Friday.

Employee Welfare and Industry Tradition

Thanksgiving is one of the few national holidays where the closure of car dealerships is the expected norm, alongside Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. This is seen as a crucial benefit for dealership employees—from sales associates and finance managers to service technicians and parts specialists—allowing them time to spend with family. For a high-stress, commission-based career like car sales, a mandated day off is a significant perk and a boost to employee morale and retention.

  • Sales Department: The primary reason for a visit, the sales floor, is the most consistently closed department. Sales staff are typically given the day off to prepare for the intense Black Friday weekend.
  • Service and Parts Departments: Even for urgent automotive repair or maintenance, the Service and Parts departments are also typically shut down. Dealerships like Toyota of Vermont and Kia of Lumberton have confirmed that all departments are closed for the holiday.
  • Legal Considerations: In some regions, there are local or state "Blue Laws" or specific regulations that mandate the closure of certain types of businesses, including car dealerships, on major holidays. While not a universal federal law, it adds to the tradition of closure.

The Strategic Shift to Black Friday Sales Events

The entire automotive sales cycle in late November is geared toward the Thanksgiving weekend, but the real action begins on Black Friday. Dealerships prefer to dedicate their resources to the day when customer traffic is guaranteed to be at its peak.

The Thanksgiving holiday itself acts as a crucial "pre-game" for shoppers. Consumers spend the day researching vehicles online, comparing prices, and reviewing special manufacturer incentives. This means that by the time Friday morning arrives, customers are often highly motivated and ready to buy, making Black Friday the optimal day for dealerships to be fully staffed and operational.

Navigating the Thanksgiving Weekend for Car Buyers

While you cannot visit a dealership on Thanksgiving Day, the entire weekend that follows is arguably the best time of the year to purchase a new or used vehicle. The pressure to meet aggressive monthly and end-of-year sales quotas, combined with manufacturer-backed incentives, creates a perfect storm for deep discounts.

Key Entities and Incentives to Watch

The Thanksgiving weekend is characterized by special promotions from major auto manufacturers and dealership groups. Shoppers should monitor the websites of these key entities for the latest deals:

  • Major Manufacturers: Ford, Chevrolet, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, Volkswagen, Subaru, and Mazda all typically offer special "Holiday Sales Events" or "Black Friday Sales" with low APR financing, lease specials, and cash-back offers.
  • Dealership Groups: Large national chains like AutoNation, Lithia Motors, Penske Automotive Group, Group 1 Automotive, and Hendrick Automotive Group coordinate their promotions across hundreds of locations, often featuring massive inventory clearance sales.
  • Finance & Insurance (F&I): The Finance Department, which handles loans and extended warranties, is typically fully staffed on Black Friday to process the high volume of sales.

These sales events are designed to clear out the current model year inventory (e.g., 2025 models) to make room for the incoming new model year vehicles (e.g., 2026 models). This inventory turnover creates significant leverage for the buyer.

What You Can Do on Thanksgiving Day 2025

Since the physical dealership is closed, Thanksgiving Day is the ideal time to complete all the necessary groundwork for a successful purchase on Black Friday. Use the downtime to your advantage to become an informed and prepared buyer.

1. Online Research and Inventory Check

The digital showrooms of almost all dealerships remain open 24/7. You can browse the entire inventory of new, used, and Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles. Use the websites of local dealers to:

  • Check specific Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs).
  • View detailed specifications and photo galleries.
  • Confirm the current "e-price" or online-only pricing.
  • Calculate estimated monthly payments using online tools.

2. Secure Pre-Approval for Financing

Applying for financing through your personal bank, a credit union, or an online lender like Capital One Auto Navigator or LightStream can be done on Thanksgiving Day. Securing a pre-approval letter gives you a significant advantage, establishing a "floor" for your interest rate and allowing you to compare it directly against the dealership’s finance offer.

3. Value Your Trade-In

Use online appraisal tools from trusted sources like Kelley Blue Book (KBB), Edmunds, and NADAguides to get an accurate estimate of your current vehicle's trade-in value. This ensures you are not low-balled when you step onto the dealership lot on Friday.

4. Plan Your Test Drives

Identify the specific models and trim levels you are interested in. Call or use the online scheduling tool on Thanksgiving Day to set up an early morning appointment for Black Friday. This allows you to beat the rush and ensures the vehicle you want is ready for you.

In conclusion, while the doors of your local Ford, BMW, or Toyota dealership will be locked on Thanksgiving Day 2025, the holiday marks the start of the year’s most lucrative car-buying period. Use the day for preparation and be ready to execute your purchase on Black Friday to take advantage of the best deals of the season.

The Definitive Answer: Are Car Dealerships Open on Thanksgiving Day 2025?
are car dealerships open on thanksgiving day
are car dealerships open on thanksgiving day

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