How to beat the VAT increase - No can do

Here's what the dealers told our mystery shoppers…

• Audi TT – mystery shopper
Sadly there is no way around the 20% VAT, I look forward to hearing from you.

• Fiat Bravo – mystery shopper
Orders to avoid the VAT increase needed to be taken yesterday (31.10.10) to be guaranteed [at the lower rate]. We take a £500 deposit to pull a car off sale and the sooner this is done the more likely you will avoid the VAT change. However, we cannot guarantee this now.

What Car? says – short, to the point, unhelpful and 100% wrong. Order, get the dealer to raise a VAT invoice, or pay in full, before the increase in VAT and you'll pay the current 17.5% rate.