Splashing out thousands of pounds on a new car is no small undertaking, but you’d be amazed at how flippant people can be when it comes to parting with their hard-earned cash in return for some shiny new wheels.

Would you believe that some people don’t even know what car they want before ambling into a showroom? It’s hard to comprehend, but if you speak to a few people in the trade you’ll find it’s surprisingly common.

March is one of the busiest car buying periods of the year, but before you’re sucked in by being the first in your road with the spanking new 15-plate suffix, there’s plenty you can do to ensure that you get the best possible deal.

It’s not rocket science – basically do your homework and shop around. Right from the start know everything about the car that you’ve got your heart set on, right down to the engine size, trim and – importantly – how much its list price is. You can usually find its exact price on the relevant manufacturer’s website.

Using the list price as a guide, contact a few dealers to see what they might be able to offer and try to get detailed, broken-down quotes in writing, as they’ll give you much more leverage when it comes to negotiating a purchase.

When it comes to the deal, stick to what you want and don’t be cornered into settling for a different specification. The salesperson will have plenty of patter and it’s easy to get charmed, but at the same time don’t be on the offensive – you’re much more likely to get a decent discount if you’re actually nice to do business with!

One essential is to negotiate any discount before the discussion turns to how you’re going to fund your new car. The best deals come if you’re taking finance, so don’t say if you’re in the fortunate position to pay cash.

As a rule, the more expensive the car, the greater the discount. However, if a particular model is in high demand, it’s not unusual for a dealership to stick to the list price. If that’s the case, then chance your arm for a couple of extras – even a set of floor mats for a prestige model can cost as much as £150 – or maybe ask for an extended warranty or service plan.

Buying a brand-new car should be an enjoyable experience and if you can resist the pressure – at one point you’re guaranteed to hear “if we can deal today, this is what we can do...” – then you’ll be in the driving seat of not only a new car, but also the deal to get it. Good luck!