What Car? Q&A - Should I let my dealer arrange finance?

Q: I'm planning to buy a new car from a franchised dealer. Is it best to let the dealership arrange finance for me?

A: It's an easy option, but certainly not always the cheapest. Manufacturers sometimes subsidise dealer finance with special offers to make it more competitive and these can be very tempting. Make sure, though, that you're not missing out on other offers which may be worth more to you.

Compare the dealer's rate with those from high street and internet lenders and make sure they're giving you the APR figure, not the lower, flat rate figure.

Also, don't be afraid to haggle for a better APR - they're not set in stone.