September is regarded as one of the busiest months for new car sales owing to availability of the new “65” plate. Roughly more than 400,000 new cars were registered in September 2014, a rise of more than 5% than September 2013. As the U.K. economy gets back on track, car sales in the country have been on the rise for a straight 41 months.

Considering this rise in sales, there are several vehicles that can be had with significant discounts including BMW Active hybrid 7 SE at £14,153 off, Volvo S80 at £7200 and Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 CDI receiving a £6500 discount.

Whatcar.com editor Jim Holder advises that however tempting buyers are to quickly buy new vehicles just in time for the arrival of the new “65” plate, there are some things to keep in mind before making an investment. He goes to state that dealers often try to capitalize on the arrival of the new registration plate in September, but there are some more bargains that can be had if you negotiate well. Research is a crucial aspect when looking for bargains, and must be done much before you set foot in a dealership. Whether that is added extras on your car such as a roof-rack or alloy wheel or even car insurance for young drivers for a year thrown in.

If you determine the model of vehicle you have in mind and the price you should be paying, it’s you who will be making the most out of the bargain, and not the salesman. Here are a few more tips to help you drive a hard bargain every step of the way, and enjoy a higher discount when the deal is sealed.

1. Perform diligent research, and determine the most you’d pay for the vehicle before visiting the dealer. Try your best to negotiate lower, and if the dealer won’t comply, then get in touch with industry experts.
2. Believe it or not, commission from car sales is not the only biggest income earner for car salesmen, but commission from financing as well. Some car salesmen will even give up their profits on car sales just to make money on the finance deal. The best thing to do is to shop around for the best finance deal, and get a written quote from the dealer.
3. A salesman may at times indicate that he has to discuss the deal further with his/her manager, but this is a blatant attempt minimize your efforts to negotiate. In order to avoid this, ask politely to deal with the decision maker directly.
4. And if you think the sales manager is on your side, think again! Although they may often overrule salesmen, and offer you one day discounts, the bargains they offer may not ultimately be in your best interest.
5. Dealers also try to earn commissions on car accessories than the actual car itself so apart from determining the maximum price you want to pay for a vehicle, it is important to know what extras you may or may not need.

Don’t let a dealer rip away your hard earned money. Follow the tips above to enjoy the best discounts on a new vehicle.