What Car? Q and A - Does one good turn deserve another?

Q: We have agreed to buy a new vehicle with the intended registration date of December 1, 2005. However, the garage has now contacted us asking if we could do them a 'favour' by allowing them to register the car on November 30, to help them with their November targets.

The garage has assured us we will still get 12-month vehicle excise licence and that it will not affect the residual value of the vehicle. Should we agree, and should we ask for something back in return for doing them a favour?
Sylvia Richards

A: The garage is correct, as it should make no difference to the resale value of your car if it is registered on the final day of a month, or the first day of the following month. All dealerships work to sales targets, and it is not unusual for them to ask to bring forward a delivery date in order to hit a target.

Be wary of a garage that asks you to move forward a delivery date so that it crosses a plate change. This will effectively increase the age of your car and lower its value.

Just because you do agree to do the dealer a favour, it doesn’t stop you from asking for something in return. Think about any accessories, or optional extras that you are considering, or discuss the possibility of free service work.