Tired of shopping? If you're in the car market, don't stop yet

Today is usually one of the busiest retail days of the year, with unwanted gifts being returned, gift certificates cashed in or clothing switched for a different size or color.

While you’re at it, don’t neglect the chance to save some serious money on one of the biggest-ticket items most of us buy, a car.

With the year winding down car dealers are anxious to meet year-end sales goals and clear their lots of cars built in the old model year.

How anxious?

Nearly $4,700 in incentives per car, and about 11 percent of manufacturer suggested retail price on average, according to Tyson Jominy of J.D. Power.

He told Cars.com that in four out of the past five past years, the final sales week of December carried the highest ‘[incentive] spend level for the year.

They’re likely to apply mostly to 2019 models, which still accounted for about 35 percent of new vehicles on the Cars.com inventory.

Volkswagen leads with more than 76% of its inventory on the website as 2019 models, but many major brands still have as much as 40-50% of their 2019 inventory left as 2020 approaches.

As much as most of us would like to put the brakes on spending for now, if a new car is in the cards, now might be the time to take a test drive.