Should I wait until January to register a new car?

[Seacube]

Any residual value advantage? It's here, now, and I want it NOW if there's no benefit in waiting!

[GreigR]

It's not going to make a huge difference it will be on a '62' plate either way.

[will_]

For the sake of two weeks, I'd wait. It will always "appear" a year yonger than other similar models and as and when you come to sell it may just fall into a younger age category on Autotrader etc.

[louiebaby]

If the garage needs to bulk up their numbers for the end of the year, a deal could be struck to do it sooner rather than later...

[marcosgt]

Yep, look for a deal, otherwise wait a couple of weeks.

A car looks 12 months newer in the initial resale ad, even if a cursory glance will reveal it's only a few months difference at best.

M.

[Ollie997]

As already said, definitely wait to register in 2013.

[Wacky Racer]

Ollie997 said:

As already said, definitely wait to register in 2013.

This, you will be glad you did.

[0a]

Play it the other way around and make it clear you expect a discount for falling into 2012's numbers

[Roo]

Depends. Was the price you were quoted dependant on some offer or other that requires it to be registered this month?

As it's the end of the quarter this is quite possible.

[Triple4]

I dont get it....Even if you wait til January its still going to be a 62 plate and not look any newer from an outsider point of view? Why bother?

[RJP001]

Don't the plate changes happen in March and September?

[Glosphil]

If you trade in a car that is registered in early Jan it will be worth less than one registeresd in 2012. Absolutely no logic as most new models are launched in October and the reg changes in Sweptember and March. But the it gives the dealers aa chance to offer you less.

[Triumph Man]

My dad got a VERY tidy deal for buying a Volvo S60 in December 2003, I think he got £5k off.

[ajh38]

Depends on the car but it could be worth four hundred pounds more come resale.

[worsy]

Triple4 said:

I dont get it....Even if you wait til January its still going to be a 62 plate and not look any newer from an outsider point of view? Why bother?

Which would sir prefer, the 2010 or the 2009 car?

Same reg though

[Matt UK]

marcosgt said:

Yep, look for a deal, otherwise wait a couple of weeks.

[Killiefocus]

It doesn't make a difference when trading in, go for the best deal

[Butter Face]

What car is it?

Have you made an agreement with the dealer to register this year?

We often price cars to be registered before month/quarter/year end and this is explained to the person buying.

[Seacube]

It's an ML63. The car was ordered a few months ago but various delays meant it only arrived a couple of days ago. So I can probably wangle a couple of freebies if I take it now, but otherwise the price is already agreed. I'm hoping any residual difference will amount to no more than a few hundred pounds.