Factors that can affect your order

New car registration plate months
New car registration plates change in March and September, and you may enjoy the thought of being one of the first to own a new registration plate.

Your Dealership may offer additional promotions or discounts on a particular car at other times of the year, so bear this in mind when deciding to place your order.

Current promotions
There may be several different Dealer and manufacturer promotions available at any one time. See the next question for more information and visit the ‘current promotions’ section.

Stock availability
If you're looking for a short lead time for getting your new car, it's worthwhile asking about existing stock availability, particularly if you're not too worried about exact colour, spec, engine size etc. It’s worth remembering that if you order a vehicle that isn't available in stock, it may take up to four months to build at the factory.

Your own finances
When you decide to buy your car will, of course, depend on when it’s most convenient and achievable within your budget.


How you can sell your current car

When you visit your Dealer, they’ll ask if you have a car you need to sell in order to help buy your new one. If so, you have a couple of options:

Private sale
If you're selling your car privately, you can advertise locally, in newspapers, at online auction sites or with specialist trade magazines websites. Remember however, to take into account the length of time it may take to sell. If it takes longer than you’d anticipated, some points to consider are:

• If you’ve already purchased your new car, owning two cars at the same time can be costly as you’ll be paying twice for insurance and road tax. Or, if you find a buyer for your current car before taking delivery of your new one, you could find yourself without a car for a while.
• If you haven’t bought your new car yet, trading in your current car could releave valuable capital that could be used as a deposit for your new car.

Part exchange
If you're thinking about part-exchanging your current car, your Dealer will complete a Used Car Appraisal form and tell you how much your vehicle would be worth in part exchange.

• There are two values commonly referred to for valuation purposes - retail and trade prices. They are sometimes referred to as ‘top book’ and ‘bottom book’ respectively. You can find out what these would be for your car from various sources, including Glass’s Guide or Parker's. Our online car configurator links to a free valuation service which can provide you with an approximate valuation for your vehicle. To access this, visit www.Ford.co.uk, "Configure Your Vehicle", then select the model you are interested in, and click the "Value My Car" link.
• The Dealer may also offer you an ‘into book’ price. This is the amount above the trade price which the Dealer is prepared to offer for your car and will depend on the mileage, condition, rarity and speed with which they can resell the vehicle you’re trading in.
• Remember that the Dealer must allow for the cost of any necessary reconditioning, servicing, repairs, warranty etc. as well as their handling costs when calculating a trade value price.However you sell your old car, ensure that it's thoroughly clean, inside and out, in order to get the best possible price for it.
  
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• Many models come with substantial benefits such as finance promotions, deposit allowances, customer savings and free features such as Bluetooth^® or a Sport Pack, which may include alloy wheels and sport seats.
• You can find out about any Ford current promotions from your Dealer or at www.ford.co.uk. Usually, the availability of any promotion is dependent on the car being ordered and registered within a specific time period.

Your budget 
It's a good idea to have a maximum figure in mind from the start so you know the limits of your budget. 

• If you’re part-exchanging your old car when buying your new one, the most important figure in assessing and comparing deals is the ‘cost to change.’ This is the gap between the price you can get for your old car and the price you’re paying for your new car. For more information on finding out the value of your current car, speak to your Dealer, and see the previous question too.

Ordering and timings
Once you've chosen your car, your Dealer will ask you to sign an order form and may ask for a deposit. This will allow your Dealer to order the vehicle for you if it’s not already in stock.

When you order your car, your Dealer will normally discuss other products that may benefit you; for example paint protection or Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP). There's more information about GAP in the final question of this section.

• If you have chosen to finance your car through Ford Credit, your Dealer will help you complete your finance proposal. This will normally be done online and processed quickly using the information that you have provided to the Dealer.
• Your Dealer will organise the paperwork for your road fund licence (tax disc) so that it’s ready for you when you take delivery of your car.

Cash/credit or debit card
If you decide to pay by cash, please be aware that Dealers may limit the amount of cash they can accept due to money laundering regulations. If you’re paying by card, please note that Dealers will need to ensure funds clear through their systems before they can allow you to take delivery of your car.

• It’s a myth that you get a better deal for cash, so please ask your Dealer about the available finance packages.

Finance
Finance can be a cost-effective way of buying your car, particularly if there are finance promotions or deposit allowances available on the model you're buying. More information on financing your car through Ford is available in this section, in the 'Buying and Protecting your Ford' section, and from your Dealer.

• Please ask your Dealer about the finance packages they can offer. Getting a quote from your Dealer is easy, or you use Ford's Online Finance calculator once you've configured your car.
• One benefit of taking Dealer finance is the convenience. There will be no need to wait for cheques or personal funds to clear before you can take delivery of your new car and your Dealer will take care of all the paperwork.
• Finance rates must be quoted as an Annual Percentage Rate (APR), which take into account a number of variables such as the annual flat interest rate, any fees, the length of the agreement and any deposit.
• It's important that you are comfortable with the amount you wish to borrow and any subsequent monthly instalments are affordable.
• There are a variety of finance plans available, and the Finance and Leasing Association at www.financingyourcar.org can offer you impartial advice.

Finance from Ford
Ford Credit is Ford's own bank, meaning that they have specialist experience in providing automotive finance. If you choose to finance your new Ford through Ford Credit, your Dealer can process your application quickly, without causing any delays to the delivery of your car.

You can find out more about Ford Credit's finance products, and read some FAQs on the Ford website. Please also feel free to speak to your Dealer, who can help you find the right finance product for you.

The right finance plan for you will depend on your individual circumstances. For example, factors like the amount of deposit you have, how long you would like to keep the car for, and your regular monthly income will help determine your choice. Here are details of products available from Ford Credit:

• Ford Acquire: Hire Purchase
  Hire Purchase, otherwise referred to as HP, is a traditional type of loan that many people are familiar with. You agree to pay regular instalments over an agreed fixed term, at the end of which you gain ownership of the car by paying an ‘option to purchase’ fee.
• Ford Options: Personal Contract Purchase (PCP)
  Personal Contract Purchase is ideally suited for people who like to enjoy a new car every two or three years. As with Hire Purchase, you agree to pay regular instalments over an agreed term, then at the end of the contract you have the option to part exchange the car against a new one, return it or buy it outright.

Finance from Ford: what happens next?

1. Your Dealer will provide a full explanation of the finance plans and ensure that the plan you choose meets your needs. Once you've decided, the Dealer will pass your details to Ford Credit for a decision. As a responsible lender, Ford Credit may ask you for further information to ensure that the finance plan is affordable to you.
2. If you are approved and decide to take up the finance offer, you will be invited to sign the finance documentation, which will need to be cross-referenced with your identification. Usually Ford Credit will only require two forms of identification:

• A full copy of your driving licence
• A secondary source of identification, e.g. a debit/credit card, passport or utility bill

Finance agreements regulated by the Consumer Credit Act will also require you to review a Pre-Contract Information document. This document is in a prescribed format, and will allow you to compare your chosen finance plan with other similar offers from other providers.

Car insurance
You'll need to make sure your car is insured. A fully comprehensive policy is recommended and is a mandatory requirement should you finance your car through Ford Credit.

When buying a new Ford you can usually take advantage of a 7 Day Free Introduction to Ford Insure. Ford Insure provides annual car insurance cover that has been rated 5 Star by the independent finance reviewer Defaqto, meaning it is one of the best policies available in the market.

Annual cover from Ford Insure offers a combination of great value and extensive features. All repairs are carried out at Ford Authorised Repairers using only genuine Ford parts and a courtesy car is provided for the duration of all repairs. These are just two of many great features that are included within the policy to give you maximum peace of mind.

You can get a Ford Insure motor insurance quotation and purchase a policy online in the 'Buying and Protecting your Ford' section.

Ford Insure is underwritten and administered by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc (No.93792). Registered in England and Wales at St. Mark’s Court, Chart Way, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1XL. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

GAP insurance
In the event that your car is stolen or written off, fully comprehensive car insurance only pays out the market value of the vehicle. This may be considerably less than the cost of purchasing another new car and may be less than the settlement figure on your loan.

GAP insurance covers the 'gap' between the value payout and the original price of your vehicle. This insurance can normally only be purchased at the same time as your car and coverage normally lasts for two or three years.