What are 'pre-reg' cars and are they good value?

Hi, I was in a Volkswagen dealership recently looking to buy a new car. The salesman said I should come back at the end of the month when they will have new "pre reg" vehicles and I will get a much better deal then. Can you explain what this is and will I really get a better deal, it sounds too good to be true!

Thanks

Sinead, Dublin

Sinead Murphy (Dublin)

Mar 2014 Filed under: registration

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Expert answer

Hi Sinead,

A 'pre-reg' is a car registered to a dealer, as a way of artificially boosting their sales figures. Hence why most pre-regging happens at the end of a month. Deadlines and sales figures have to be met and the odd pre-reg here and there can keep everyone happy. With a first name in the logbook, the car is now, as far as the trade is concerned, second hand and its value drops accordingly - that's why you'll see them on dealer forecourts as 'nearly new' or 'ex demo.' They'll have the same delivery mileage as a brand new car, just your name won't be at the top of the logbook.

They make excellent buys, mostly because they will be heavily discounted to shift the stock on. It may be less than €1,000 in some cases but with some premium brands the difference between showroom and nearly-new can be as much as €4,000.

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser
@neilmbriscoe