Buying | St. Peters, MO
How December timing really plays out on a Lincoln purchase, from leftover model years to monthly offers to getting your trade and approval lined up early.
Every December somebody walks in on the 30th, a little out of breath, because they read that the last day of the year is the day to buy. Sometimes it works out. Plenty of times the trim and color they wanted sold two weeks earlier, and they spend the afternoon deciding whether to settle.
Year end does change a few things on a new Lincoln purchase. It doesn't change everything, and the parts it doesn't touch tend to matter more. This is how December looks from our side of the desk, so you can decide whether to move now or wait for spring.
Quick answer: Buying a Lincoln in December can help when the model you want is on the lot, current manufacturer offers apply to it, and your trade and financing are lined up before you come in. Timing won't fix the wrong vehicle, a weak credit file or a trade you haven't priced. Start with inventory and approval, then let the calendar help where it can.
Helps most
Leftover model year stock
Changes monthly
Manufacturer offers
Do first
Trade value and approval
In this post
What Changes When You Buy a Lincoln in December?
The clearest shift happens with model years. By December the 2026 models have been arriving for a while, and any 2025 vehicles still on the lot are the ones the store wants to move. If you're flexible on model year and the outgoing version has what you need, that's where December tends to help.
Manufacturer offers also turn over on their own schedule, usually month to month. Our current specials page shows what's posted, and what you see in early December may not match what's there at the end of it. Offers can go up, go away or switch to a different model.
The store is busier too. The service drive is full of people getting ready for winter, and the sales floor picks up after Thanksgiving. That's good for selection on some days and slower for appointments on others.

What Can't Year End Timing Do for You?
It can't make the right Lincoln appear. If you need a Navigator because you have three kids and a dog and you tow to the lake in July, a Corsair with a good offer on it is still the wrong vehicle. The calendar doesn't change how a vehicle fits your life.
It also can't fix the parts of the deal that come from you. Your credit file, your trade's condition and the payment you're comfortable with stay the same on December 31 as they were on December 1.
Waiting for the last day
The exact trim, color and package you want may be gone by then, and a factory order won't arrive this calendar year.
Chasing an offer you saw online
Offers change monthly and have eligibility rules. Confirm it applies to the vehicle you're buying before you plan around it.
Showing up without your trade priced
You lose time on a busy day, and you're deciding on the trade under pressure.
Skipping the approval step
Paperwork during the last week of December runs slower when the credit side starts from zero.
Should You Buy the Outgoing Model Year or the New One?
Look at it vehicle by vehicle. Sometimes the new model year brings a change you care about, like a different standard feature or a package that moved around. Sometimes the change is a paint color you'll never pick. Ask the salesperson to show you what's different between the two years on the specific model, and decide from there.
Keep resale in mind. A 2025 bought in December 2025 is already a model year older the day it's titled, and that tends to show up when you trade it in later. If you keep vehicles for eight or ten years, it barely matters. If you trade every three, it matters more.
The only fair comparison is the same trim on both years, priced out side by side with the offers that apply to each. That conversation takes ten minutes and saves a lot of second guessing.
The calendar doesn't change how a vehicle fits your life.
How Do You Get Ready Before a Year End Visit?
Do the slow parts at home, so the visit is just the test drive and the signature.
Pick two or three vehicles in stock
Browse new inventory and send the stock numbers to your salesperson. Ask them to confirm each one is still there the morning you come in.
Price your trade
Get an online trade estimate, then plan for an in person look to confirm it. Bring both keys and any service records you have.
Start the financing side
The Get Pre Approved form takes a few minutes and lets the team look at programs before you arrive.
Ask which offers apply
Have the salesperson tell you which posted offers fit the exact vehicle and how long they're good for.
Get Pre ApprovedValue Your Trade

Does Winter Weather Change How You Shop?
A little. An icy morning is a good test drive if you want to feel how all wheel drive and the driver assist features behave, but nobody wants to sit in a cold vehicle that's been parked outside all night. Call ahead and we'll pull it up and warm it up before you get here.
Holiday week hours can shift, and the days between Christmas and New Year's fill up fast. If you want a particular day, set an appointment instead of walking in. Sales is open Monday through Friday 9 AM to 7 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 5:30 PM in a normal week.
St. Peters driver tip
Take the test drive on a route you drive every day. If you commute on I-70 toward the Blanchette Bridge, run that stretch at rush hour. If your week is Mid Rivers Mall Drive and school pickup in Cottleville, drive that. A loop around a quiet parking lot tells you very little about how a Lincoln fits your week.
Warranty Forever on qualifying vehicles
Qualifying new and pre owned vehicles come with Warranty Forever powertrain coverage for as long as you own them, with no deductible on covered repairs. Ask which vehicles on the lot qualify.
How Warranty Forever WorksQuestions Buyers Ask About December Offers
Are Lincoln offers better in December?
Sometimes, but not every year and not on every model. Offers come from the manufacturer and change month to month, so check what's posted and ask which ones fit the vehicle you want.
Do manufacturer offers expire at the end of the month?
Many run on a monthly cycle, but each one has its own dates and rules. Ask the team for the end date on any offer before you plan around it.
Can I combine more than one offer?
Some offers stack and some don't. It depends on the program and the vehicle, so have the salesperson show you exactly what applies.
Questions Buyers Ask About Inventory
Will there be fewer Lincolns to choose from at year end?
Often, for the outgoing model year. The trims and colors that sell first are usually gone by late December. Newer model year stock keeps arriving, so the mix shifts rather than disappearing.
Can I order a Lincoln and still get year end timing?
A factory order won't arrive before December 31 if you place it in December. If calendar year timing matters to you, focus on vehicles already in stock or in transit.
How do I hold a vehicle I found online?
Call 636-441-4400 or send the stock number to a salesperson and ask what it takes to hold it. Policies can vary, so get the answer before you drive over.
Questions Buyers Ask About Trading In
Is December a good time to trade in?
Your trade's value depends on its condition, miles and the used market that week more than the date. Get an estimate early so you know where you stand.
Should I fix things on my trade before December?
Small things like a dead key fob battery or a burned out bulb are easy. Bigger repairs rarely pay for themselves, so ask the appraiser before spending money.
What should I bring for a trade appraisal?
Both keys, the title or loan payoff details, and any service records. A clean interior helps the appraiser see the vehicle clearly.
Questions Buyers Ask About Financing at Year End
Should I get pre approved before a year end visit?
Yes. It gives the team time to look at programs before you arrive, which matters when the store is busy in the last weeks of December.
Does a pre approval lock me into a deal?
No. It's a starting point so you and the team can see what options look like. You still decide on the vehicle and the terms.
Who can help me compare payment options?
Our Finance Department can walk through options on the vehicle you choose and explain how any current offers change the numbers.
Questions Buyers Ask About Visiting in St. Peters
Where is Dave Sinclair Lincoln St. Peters?
4760 North Service Road in St. Peters, along I-70. It's an easy drive from St. Charles, O'Fallon and Lake St. Louis.
Do I need an appointment in December?
You don't need one, but it helps. An appointment means the vehicle is pulled up and a salesperson is ready when you arrive.
What are the sales hours?
Sales is open Monday through Friday 9 AM to 7 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 5:30 PM. Call ahead during holiday weeks in case hours change.