Some believe it to be a myth that the best time of year to buy a new car is the last week of December. Well, believe what you want. The fact of the matter is the final days of the year, at least for 2017, is when automakers are especially anxious to move left over metal from dealership lots. USA Today reports (from data courtesy of J.D. Power and LMC Automotive) that the average dealer incentive, as of mid-December, is $4,302. That is 2.7 percent higher than it was in November when it was $4,188.

Furthermore, in 17 of the last 18 months dealership incentives have averaged at least 10 percent of the MSRP. Another factor potential new car buyers need to consider is the fact many sales forecasts are expecting overall 2017 sales to be below last year's figure of 17.5 million. Because of this, automakers are likely to push dealerships to try their best to make deals over the next few days. To do so, better incentives are required to lure customers. That all being said and if you're in the market for a new car but can't decide what type, consider this: the biggest discounts on 2017 models are for sedans.

This makes sense because buyers in general have been heavily preferring SUVs and trucks, leaving a disproportionate number of sedans on lots. "The incentives are driven by 'what do we need to get rid of,'" said Carroll Lachnit, senior consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com. "The incentive can be in the 30 percent to 40 percent range, depending on what you're looking for." Here's one example Edmunds found: a 2017 Volkswagen Jetta carries a price of around $18,650, but there are discounts for as much as $7,400 off, obviously depending on trim and what state you live in. Some automakers are offering zero percent financing for customers with excellent credit.

Heck, Ford is offering zero percent financing on some outgoing 2017 vehicles for 72 months along with a $1,000 cash bonus. Only one hitch: customers must finance through Ford Credit financing. As you've probably figured out, combined with already generous incentives and end-of-year special offers, this is unquestionably the best time of year to buy.