| p>Many car buyers are missing out on discounts of | | | | Of course, there is an art to haggling and here are |
| almost £1,600 on their brand new car purchase | | | | three top tips for getting the best price for a new car |
| as they are too keen on the car they want or are too | | | | purchase: |
| embarrassed to haggle with car salesmen, according | | | | 1. Visit the garage just after an updated version of the |
| to recent research from Sainsbury's Bank. To make | | | | car you want has come out. Dealers will often |
| matters worse, most of the people who miss out on | | | | significantly cut the price of older versions if you ask, |
| discounts will also not shop around for their car finance, | | | | because they want to clear their forecourt for the |
| making the overall deal more profitable for the dealers | | | | newer models. |
| and even more expensive for the car buyer. | | | | 2. Buy just before the new registration plate comes |
| The study highlighted the fact that only 53% of all | | | | out - dealers will often issue generous discounts as |
| people expecting to buy a car in the next year will | | | | they try to shift their stock before the new plate |
| even raise the issue of discount to the new car | | | | comes out. |
| salesman. The rest will simply accept that the list price | | | | 3. Do your research and be aware of the true value |
| is what they will pay. | | | | of the car you want. For example What Car? Target |
| The main barrier to effective negotiation for most new | | | | Price lists the average price you should pay for cars; |
| car buyers is that they get fixated on one particular | | | | which is currently around £1,600 below the list |
| car and are unable to hide their excitement from the | | | | price. |
| salesman. That gives him the upper hand as he knows | | | | And finally, if you are thinking of buying your vehicle |
| how keen you are on that car. He'll reckon that you | | | | using car finance, it definitely pays to shop around. With |
| are unlikely to ask for a discount and that even if you | | | | interest rates varying so much as the loans market |
| do and he refuses that you will probably still buy the | | | | tries to steady itself in the face of a credit crunch, you |
| car anyway. The real power of negotiation lies in | | | | can negotiate an even better overall saving on your |
| knowing that you can refuse to buy, and walk away if | | | | vehicle purchase by getting the best possible interest |
| the deal doesn't suit you. Put your emotion aside, or at | | | | rate. As when negotiating your car price, don't go with |
| least hide it from the salesman when you are looking | | | | the first offer! |
| to buy. | | | | |