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I suspect it comes down to the contract and the actual date you take title. Most invoices state a tax date (the day the invoice is issued usually). The tax you pay will be the tax effective on that day regardless of subsequent changes in tax law. If VW don't issue the invoice until the day you take delivery, you will obligated to pay whatever rate of tax is in effect on that date. I'm willing to bet there is a clause somewhere in the small print of your contract stating that VW are not responsible for any changes in the taxation effective on the sale, in fact its probably a pretty broad statement about any general change in the law.
VW's internal price rises are a different matter.
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Exactly, I can't imagine any dealer (or many businesses for that matter) who don't have "VAT at prevailing rate" somewhere in the small print.
Don't forget, the price of the car isn't changing. That's the contract you have (that's what is price protected against VW price increases). It's the amount of tax the government is charging you that is changing. It cannot be fair to try and suggest the dealer will pay your VAT for you?
VWKev - I'm sorry mate, but I think you are wrong. If you order a car on the 31st December, you will get it in March/April so you will pay the new VAT. As far as I can tell , the only exception to this would be if it was a physical car in the dealers stock that the dealer had already paid for so could therefore invoice to you prior to the VAT increase.
As and when Volkswagen give us information closer to the end of the year, I will be sure to post it up on here.
Cheers