Canny Car Buyers Planning To Haggle

• News
• Published: 15 Jul 2010 in Money and Loans

Britons anxious to avoid taking out unaffordable loans are finally learning how to haggle, according to new research from Sainsbury's Finance. 

Some 59% of people buying a brand new car in the next six months quizzed for the study said that they planned to haggle 'very hard' or 'hard', compared to only 52% in September 2009. 

Analysts say the fact that people are more willing to haggle over car prices indicates the uncertain financial outlook is having an impact on consumer behaviour.

However, the supermarket bank warned that many car buyers are still losing out. 

It said its research suggested British motorists could save a collective £163 million over the next six months, if only they got tough with motor dealers. 

Of the 1.41 million people planning to buy a brand new car between March and August 2010, around 96,000 say they do not plan to haggle at all over the price they pay. This is despite the fact that discounts of up to 50% on the list price can be secured for some models. 

According to What Car? the average discount customers should be aiming for on a brand new car is around £1,699.