Wondering whether you should wait to register as a 10 plate?

[p3eps]

I've just been reading Auto Express...

I've read several threads on here with people wondering whether to wait a couple of weeks to get a 10 plate instead of a 59.  Theres a wee bit about it in this weeks magazine.

"You'll recall the drop in values of used cars registered just before we changed from the Y prefix to the 51 plate.  The same happened 20-odd years earlier, when we moved from suffix to a prefix.
I'm sure that we'll see something similar every 10 years under the current scheme.  By 2012, a 59-ref car will be less desirable than one with reflects the current decade - ie a 60-reg."

[Snoopy]

It depends how much you value that 2.5% VAT offer from VW. 
It may cost an extra ~£700 for a 10 plate.

[p3eps]

I suppose I'm lucky that my dealer has agreed to pay half the VAT increase if my car is registered after March 1st.
Still means MY payment would be about £430 though!

[TFSiLover]

I would always wait a few weeks for the new plate depending on cost , it helps the resell and makes you feel like you have a brand new car just that little bit longer..... still a few new number plate spotters out there to impress.

[DDRFan]

i ordered mine in September and the dealer guesses it will be ready around March. i don't really want to cancel, so i'm praying that when it comes out it will actually be March or after so I get the new plate
the dealer did verbally agree if it was ready in the last week in Feb they would keep it and register it in March - i asked him if it was any earlier could he keep it for a while until March to register and he said no

[RickS]

It depends how much you value that 2.5% VAT offer from VW. 
It may cost an extra ~£700 for a 10 plate.

I'm pretty sure my dealer is not passing any VAT increase on to me, even after 1st March. Bear in mind I ordered my car on 29th August and I think a little sweetening is in order; they are also giving me £200 off the new car as a good will gesture for being so patient. If you have been waiting that long for your car I would insist that you don't pay the 2½% even after 1st March; if you are using a good dealer they won't argue about it.
 

[FamilyDub]

If you can tolerate the wait, do it!

Because people, in general are stupid, the prefix that relates to the year (I.e. 05, 06, 07, etc) is worth around £500 more than the 'Fifty' prefix, so the continuing logic would mean a '10' plate would be worth more than the '60'.

People find it hard to judge the age of cars, when the registration does not directly reference the year, apparently. 

I've got no idea where I read/heard/saw this, but I owned a '57' plate at the time, so I remember listening intently!

[Aur]

Would it not be worth considering a GT10 plate. eg GT1 0GLF £390 from the DVLA

[Snoopy]

If you have been waiting that long for your car I would insist that you don't pay the 2½% even after 1st March; if you are using a good dealer they won't argue about it.
 

Good dealer 

[FamilyDub]

Would it not be worth considering a GT10 plate. eg GT1 0GLF £390 from the DVLA

This isn't a private plate thread... 

in short, '10' will be better than '59'.