I ordered a Superb hatch diesel 170 DSG L&K on 18 June with zero VAT and interest free finance and was told I could expect delivery in October or November, which is what I was expecting. I was told that they would would contact me at the end of July after my holiday when they would possible know when it was going to be built.

I heard nothing until last Monday, when they said they were expecting the car to be delivered that day! I was surprised that it had come through so quick, but a bit disappointed that I hadn't been informed earlier that it was going to be ready a couple of months sooner than expected. I hadn't bothered to check up with them as I assumed they didn't have a build week yet.

They then said the car had to registered within 10 days of delivery, which would be two days before the 62 registrations started. I said I was not happy with this as the car would then effectively be six months old with a 12 plate and I probably couldn't collect it until the first weekend of September anyway, when everyone else would be collecting their 62 plates. They did come back to me quite quickly though and said that as it had been delivered much sooner that expected, they would register it on a 62 plate.

The dealer is due to call me today to arrange for the time and day I'll collect the car and to decide on the final value of my part exchange. As I'm 40 miles away, they'll just need the mileage as they saw the car in June, though it has clocked up nearly 4,000 miles in the last two months as we went to Lithuania and Belarus in it in July!

This thing about registering cars within 10 days of delivery is quoted quite often. From my experience, I think it's just a Skoda UK policy to stop dealers abusing the system when cars are in short supply, and ordering all their cars as sold orders when in fact some are for their stock.

All cars ordered by dealers are financed on a dealer stocking plan, and this normally applies a different payment date for stock and sold vehicles. Stock cars will probably not need to be paid for until 180 days after they have been consigned to the dealer, whereas sold cars will be paid for 14 days after consignment (4 days for delivery to the dealer, 10 days in dealer stock). The purpose of this is to stop dealers placing 'bogus' sold orders for cars that are in high demand. This means that a direct debit for the dealer net price of a sold car will hit the dealer's bank account about 10 days after they have received the car; if they haven't taken your money off you, then they are paying for the car.

The dealer can't make you take the car earlier than you want it. Most dealers just put TBA as the delivery date, because they don't want to be held to a date if the car's late! Manufacturers are also aware that customers will normally not take cars in the period immediately before a registration change, and adjust their direct debit dates accordingly.

I'm not saying you're not right but AFAIR these 10 days apply specifically if you have a car on Skoda finance (zero interest).

Edited 28 August, 201213 yr by lmb

Yes, I will be taking the Škoda zero interest rate finance. There's no point in paying now when I can spread it over two years at no extra cost and that was another incentive to change the car.

I understand this very well as I'm taking my as well on Skoda`s finance. I even did some quick calcs and based on 3% interest rate on my saving account, I'm saving around £350 by spreading the other 50% over two years.

Yep they told me it was a VAG finance rule - not a skoda factory/dealer rule.