18 January 2012 by Parkers Team

  • Round-up of the best manufacturer promotions
  • Start your search now for the numberplate change
  • Free fuel, money-off deals and interest-free finance

With the March number plate change fast approaching, now could be the right time to start looking around for your new car.

Before you begin your hunt though, it’s worth looking at the new car deals on offer from manufacturers. As well as cash savings, car makers also offer a range of promotions including free fuel and 0% finance.

We’ve scoured the manufacturers’ websites to try to find the best offers available. Here’s our round-up of the leading deals currently on offer:

BMW

Complimentary upgrades seem to be the big deal for the Bavarian brand in the run up to March. Buyers opting for the 5 Series 525i/d model and above, get BMW professional multimedia sat nav, voice control and bluetooth connectivity. There is also a selection of finance offers available right across the range on models like the X5 and the new 1 Series.

Citroen

The big news at the French firm is the offering of free fuel for a year - essentially you get 10,000 miles a year of free fuel with a special debit card. This is available on the C1, C3, C3 Picasso, C4 and C4 Picasso. The deal goes a long way to lowering running costs. For instance, if you’re travelling 10,000 miles per year in a C4 2.0-litre Exclusive, you could save up to £1,129. Citroen is also offering buyers 0% APR on the C4 and C3 models.

Mercedes-Benz

Like BMW, Mercedes-Benz is offering a selection of different upgrades on different models. Buyers can upgrade E-Class Saloon models to the seven-speed automatic gearbox and free metallic paint. Opt for the C-Class Saloon or Estate, and Mercedes is offering an upgrade to AMG body styling which will save buyers up to £1,700. Like most makers, there are a number of low interest offers available.

Nissan

Head to Nissan and potential customers can get a number of services thrown in for nothing. The latest Micra model is available with four years' roadside assistance while Acenta models get touchscreen sat nav, worth £400, for free. The Juke gets a similar selection of offers with three years' roadside assistance and deposit contribution.

Peugeot

Peugeot is continuing to offer its ‘Just Add Fuel’ promotion. Available on a number of specific models, including the 107 Sportium 1.0, 3008 Allure 1.6 and 508 Allure 1.8, buyers pay a monthly fee which covers three years' insurance, warranty, servicing, road tax and roadside assistance. There's also cash offer with £1,700 off a 1.7 Urban Lite or £2,550 off a 308 Access 1.4.

Renault

Similar to the Citroen free fuel offer, Renault is offering customers up to 3,000 miles' worth of free petrol or diesel. The offer is available across most the model range, including the Megane, Clio and Grand Scenic. There are also a number of cash savings available. The Clio Pzaz comes with a discount of £1,000 while buyers can get the Megane Pzaz with a saving of £1,600.

SEAT

There are a number of different money off deals available on SEAT models across the range. Buyers can get a Leon 1.6 TDI SE Copa model for £15,995 - a saving of £2,670. The Exeo saloon also has discounts. The Sport Tech 2.0 TDI 141bhp model comes with £2,085 off at £21,445. It also comes with three years' free servicing.

Skoda

The main focus at Skoda, are the deals currently available on the popular Fabia model. The 1.4-litre SE hatchback version is on offer with a 25% discount. This means buyers will pay £8,995 rather than the regular £11,995 list price. There are also 0% finance deals and 0% VAT available on specific models in the range.

Toyota

Any potential customers visiting Toyota will be able to get 0% APR on some of the Japanese firm’s most popular models. The New Yaris TR model could cost as little as £169 per month, while the Auris Hybrid T Spirit could cost from £269 per month. All the models included in the deal come with the manufacturers’ five-year warranty.

Volkswagen

If you’re after a new Volkswagen then there is a selection of different promotions on offer. For example, go for a Polo S trim model and there’s £500 off plus free insurance (depending on terms and conditions). If you’re feeling rather flush then there is always the rather pricey Phaeton which gets a discount of £5,520. Touareg come with £2,000 off and Touran with a £750 discount.