some good news5 Apr 2017 17:22
March was the best month to date for UK car registrations, according to the car industry trade body.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said 562,337 new cars were registered in March, up 8.4% on the same month last year.
Those figures were boosted by a change in the number plate in March and planned changes to the Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), it said.
Many customers would have benefited by buying their car before 1 April.
Changes in the way cars are taxed came into effect on that date.
In particular, anyone planning to buy a low-emission car would have had an incentive to buy before 1 April.
"These record figures are undoubtedly boosted by consumers reacting to new VED changes, pulling forward purchases into March, especially those ultra-low emission vehicles that will no longer benefit from a zero-rate fee," said Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive.