Are you in the market place for a new ‘15’ plate vehicle?

We’re fast approaching the release of new ‘15’ registration plates on March 1.

Will this be a trigger for you to purchase a brand-new car, or take benefit of the industry for ‘new’ secondhand models that swells each and every spring?

Bumper sales

If 2014 is anything to go by, Brits have lots of appetite for a new set of wheels.

New auto registrations hit a 10-year high of practically 2.5 million last year, the most in any calendar year given that 2004.

There have been a bumper 2,476,435 new auto registrations in 2014, 9.3% a lot more than the preceding year. In reality, only 2002, 2003 and 2004 recorded larger numbers.

Creating large ends meet

The figures have no doubt spread joy to car showrooms across the nation, and will have whetted salesmen’s appetites for the season to come.

But can we afford to splash the money on a new automobile? Certainly households are struggling to make ends meet?

Mike Hawes, chief executive of SMMT, the motor sector association, thinks the improve in sales was fuelled by a development in customer self-assurance.

He says: “UK new auto registrations returned to pre-recession levels in 2014, as pent-up demand from the recession years combined with self-assurance in the economy saw consumer demand for the latest models develop regularly and strongly.”

Ford ahead

Last year’s very best sellers won’t come as any surprise. The Ford Fiesta is top of the table with 131,254, some way ahead of the Ford Concentrate in second place with 85,140.

The Vauxhall Corsa is subsequent in line at 81,783, followed by the Volkswagen Golf at 73,880. In fifth place comes the Vauxhall Astra with 59,689.

Operating in

Buyers may possibly be a lot more confident, but the demand for little automobiles with decrease operating expenses suggests they still count the pennies when getting a automobile.

Minis and superminis now account for about 40% of the new car market place, with numerous buyers impressed by the security and comfort levels on offer in a modest automobile.

Alternator alternatives

Automobiles that run on alternative fuel are also gaining in reputation. Again, our interest is partly driven by the economics of ultra low emissions.

Registrations of plug-in automobiles, for instance, enhanced 4-fold from 3,586 in 2013 to 14,498 in 2014.

There is also now a wider variety and greater awareness of low emission automobiles, so they are seen as a credible and viable option to a regular car.

Model behaviour

Consumers have a decision of much more than 20 models, compared with just 6 in 2011. They come in all shapes and sizes, also, like hatchbacks, SUVs and coupés.

They are undoubtedly no longer niche autos, as every of the 10 very best-promoting brands in the UK has an ultra low emission car in its range.

A range of new plug-in models are due on the forecourts this year. The SMMT as a result expects the sector to continue to expand, though it nevertheless accounts for only a tiny percentage of total sales.

Sense of objective

Car purchases are not all about cost cutting and fuel economy. There is also a expanding trend for dual and multi goal autos, such as 4x4s. These large gas guzzlers now account for nearly 20% of the marketplace.

The UK kept its position as the second biggest industry in the EU, behind Germany.

It also came second in the EU development tables for 2014, pipped to the post by Spain, mainly thanks to a scrappage scheme.

Auction stations

It’s not just the new auto sector that’s powering ahead. The typical value of a employed automobile also went up in December 2014 to the second highest on record, according to information from British Automobile Auctions (BCA).

The average value across all varieties of used auto rose by 5.7% in December, or £434.

The shortage of very good high quality utilised vehicles helped to push up costs and Simon Henstock, BCA’s UK Operations Director, is optimistic about the future.

He says: “The early days of trading in 2015 have been exceptionally busy and with the new plate on March 1st only weeks away, we are getting into one of busiest periods for the motor trade.”

Are you in the market place for a new ‘15’ plate vehicle?