How to drive a hard bargain when buying a new car – plus, a free fiver from our rewards club

IF you are thinking of buying a new car, now is the time to get yourself a great price.

New car sales fell for the fifth consecutive month in August, with buyers holding out for the new 67-plates issued this month.

Some dealerships have large stocks of older models they still need to shift, while low car sales mean there are deals to be done on the newest motors. So we have teamed up with Freddy Macnamara, CEO of app-based pay-as-you-go car insurer Cuvva, to show you how.

1 Make a list of must-have features and stick to it. Don’t get carried away with expensive optional extras. Think about what features are most important to you, set a budget and never exceed it.

2 Do your homework. Check online prices from individual dealers and car-buying comparison sites. Never accept the first price and always shop around.

3 Dealers are the experts, so ask for their help. Car salespeople may have a bad reputation but they are experts and can help. List the questions you need answered and don’t be afraid to ask again if you don’t understand.

4 Go for a test-drive. It is vital to try before you buy. Check your current insurance policy or Cuvva can cover you from as little as £7 an hour for test drives.

5 Negotiate on price. Do not be afraid to haggle. As a rule of thumb, most dealerships will wiggle on price by around ten per cent and you may get more of.

6 Think about insurance. Buying a car is not the end of the journey for your wallet. Before you buy, get a number of quotes and break it down into a monthly cost to see if you can afford it.

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