Going to the car dealership and haggling with a salesman can be nerve-wracking. But if you do your research, and then show up at the right time, you can tip the odds in your favor.

So when's the best time to try to buy a car?

It turns out there's no one best time. Instead, there are actually three. (Which is good because then you have more opportunities!)

1. August. Next year's models start showing up in September so dealers start offering bigger deals the month before to get the lots cleared.

2. The end of the year. The last few weeks in December are dealers' last chances to get their yearly sales numbers even higher. You do have to watch out because pickings may be slim. With fewer cars to choose from, you might not be able to get the color or features you were hoping for.

3. The end of the month. Salesmen trying to get their monthly quotas are more likely to be a little more flexible.

After you've shopped around and found the right price, picking the right time of the month, or year, can be just the trick. You can shave off a few bucks, or negotiate to get additional options thrown in at no cost.