GREAT

news for car-buyers prepared to haggle. March’s 16 per cent slump in car sales, with diesels down by more than 37 per cent, gives bargaining power to consumers buying an ‘18’ plate.

Experts also point to car-makers boosting sales numbers by ‘pre-registering’ vehicles with dealerships — to be sold on as ‘nearly new’ with ‘delivery-mileage only’ costing thousands of pounds less.

Justin Benson, head of automotive at accountants KPMG UK, says: ‘Consumers are in the wait-and-see camp wanting certainty around the economic environment.’

Nigel Humphries, of the Association of British Drivers (ABD), said confusion created by the Chancellor’s ‘shambolic’ new road tax regime was having ‘a disastrous effect’ on new car sales.’