As the new year is now here, car manufacturers are keen to keep the momentum going from last year. Sales in December of 2009 were very strong due to business buyers wanting to take advantage of the Government’s tax incentive scheme. Even though the Government’s tax break is no longer available, there has been a 5 per cent reduction in the tariff charged on imported cars. This reduction took effect on the 1 January 2010. Most manufacturers are passing this saving on to the customer by way of slashing their prices or providing added bonuses.

Even though this tariff only applies to imported vehicles, local manufacturers are still benefiting. As some car parts are imported, local manufacturers are passing these savings on to the customer. When looking for a bargain on a 2010 model car be aware of the difference between compliance plates and build plates. If you purchase a car with a compliance date of 2010 the car will be seen as a 2009 model and therefore will already have one year of depreciation. Ensure that your 2010 model car has a build date of 2010.