How best to purchase a new car?

[SnowySunshine]

Quick couple of questions, because I'm completely ignorant of all things car-related.

DP currently has a car, but has recently moved & the insurance is too expensive now. We would still like a car, but need one cheaper to insure, etc. My question is do you think we'd be better off trading it in / doing a part-exchange / whatever, or selling it privately & buying separately?

& do you think there's any difference in the car market before / after Christmas? Would there be any (dis)advantage to either?

Thank you

Traditionally I think you'd get more selling a car privately. In the current climate I don't think that is necessarily the case. Dealers are desperate to make sales and will make vastly inflated offers.

We just got £900 for a car that had only scrap value of approx £80, as part of a trade-in. It was an old wreck. We expected the dealer to just laugh at us.

Definately selling it privately either in your local free-ads or in the auto trader (which I have used before).
Am currently in the process of putting my car on there again as I can get 2k more privately than what the garage have offered me for it.

However I have no idea if cars are selling at the moment but I do think that if someone wants it then they'll buy it.

Good luck

How do you 'bargain' with dealers?
Can you do it for used cars as well as new?
I need to trade in my old car and get a larger one, as DC2 arrives in Jan. I want to sell this one by beginning of March, as then MOT, tax, insurance, and service all due, and it really would be best to avoid doing all those twice!
Is end of feb a good time, as they will be getting ready for new reg in march?
My car is going to be 5 years old in march, but has really low mileage...

Trade dealers off against each other if you can. We went to 3 dealers (same make of car) and got them to trump each other's offers.

bear in mind you will never win against a dealer, whatever they offer you in part ex they will bump on somehow by making you pay more for a car, or not including tax or a new MOT etc.
Wherever you can, sell privately

Thanks for the advice everyone - you've given us a few things to consider Knew I could rely on MN!