Car sales during March reached a record-high as buyers attempted to avoid changes to vehicle tax legislation.
From the start of April, all new cars except for zero-emissions vehicles will be subjected to higher tax costs, but cars registered prior to that date will fall under the older tax limits.
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows the total number of registrations in March was 562,337 – 8.4 per cent higher than in March 2016.
So far, 820,016 new cars have been registered since the start of 2017 – a record number for the country’s car industry.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, said: “These record figures are undoubtedly boosted by consumers reacting to new VED changes, pulling forward purchases into March, especially those ultra-low emission vehicles that will no longer benefit from a zero-rate fee.”
However, it is expected that car sales in April will be lower than normal because of the rush buyer in the previous month.