For a large part of my time in the motor trade my job was to buy cars at 'trade' prices, that we would then stick on the forecourt with sometimes as little as 1,000 on top of the price I paid, and occasionally as much as 10,000!



There isn't really a bad time to buy a car, you can always get a deal to some degree - but there is definitely a good time, In the last week of March, June, September and December manufacturers are under pressure to register cars to try to become the best seller in their sector, so they give extra discount to the dealers (often double their normal levels), who will pass it on to you!

Rather than buying a new car, consider a demonstrator model, dealers get extra discount for running these cars, but what's more important is that the salesman running them also wants a new car. He often won't care about how much profit is in the deal, because he can't have his new model until he's sold his old car.

When manufacturers put bonuses on to get more registrations, some dealers will register 10, 20 or even more of these cars in their own name to hit targets. Then they'll offer these 'pre-registered' cars at knock down prices to clear their stock before starting the game all over again, The cars are brand new and haven't moved an inch - but they could be two or three thousands pounds cheaper than list price.

Using the dealers own finance company is also a way of saving money when you're buying a car. Most manufacturers have their own finance company that they either own outright or have a partnership with a bank. Their rates are priced to make a car look attractive to you, and they will almost always be cheaper than the bank - all you have to do is ask for their best rate.

Most people when they buy a new car have one to put in part exchange, but very few people get the best price for it, even though you already know how - you just don't know that you know it. When you go to buy a car, you expect it to be clean, smelling nice, without any scuffs or scratches, right? Well if your car is clean, smelling nice and well polished a dealer will fall for your car the same way that you fall for theirs - just make it look the best you can, and you'll get the best offers!

Buying a late model, low mileage car can half the list price of many cars. Think about this; if a new Mondeo has a list price of 18,000, and you can get one that's six months old with 4,500 miles on the clock for half the price, would you buy it? Those cars are out there today, you just have to look. They have usually been owned by car rental companies who get huge discount from new, and then make their profit not by renting them out, but when they sell them on. They also know that they have to be well looked after to get the best price, so you can be sure that you're buying a bargain that will still have more than two years of manufacturers warranty left.