The What Car? Target Price is a realistic price to pay for a car and is one that should be achievable without concerted haggling. If the pre-registered car on offer is not priced considerably lower than this price, it s not worth buying.

On the other hand, if you spot a current model pre-registered with no miles on the clock, well equipped, in good condition and which will save you £1000 or more, you should certainly consider it.

We found an average saving of £3367 during our research, and discovered plenty of choice too, from small city cars right up to the latest luxury saloons.

What Car? found a three-month-old Ford Mondeo 2.0-litre Zetec for £13,000, which is a saving of £3990 over the list price of £16,990. The car was at a main Ford dealer and was available to drive away immediately.

Online retailer Drivethedeal.com had a selection of delivery-mileage, pre-registered cars advertised on its website, including a Fiat Ulysse 2.2 JTD Prestigio for £18,759, £6230 less than the list price, and a Volvo S80 2.4 SE automatic with nearly £3000 worth of extras for just £20,249. This price represents a huge saving of £6874 over the equivalent new car.

What Car? trade expert Pat Hoy said: I always advise buyers who are looking for a bargain new car to ask dealers if they have any pre-registered models in stock, or whether they have any due in.

A dealer may not want to advertise the fact but, if asked, is usually able to point the buyer in the right direction.

While some car retailers do not shout about their pre-registered deals, Dixon Motors (www.dixonmotors.co.uk) is proud of its Best Seller Range , its line-up of pre-reg vehicles.

The company sold 12,000 of its Best Sellers time.

Anyone buying a pre-registered car should also insist on a thorough condition check, paying particular attention to rust spots or any other signs of ageing.

It doesn t happen so much today, but in the past, cars could be stored in fields for months on end before finding their way into dealerships. Occasionally they would be damaged by the elements or have problems caused by lack of use.

If you are at all suspicious about the age or condition of a pre-registered car, ask the dealer when it was built (he or she can easily find this out with the chassis number) and when it was registered. If the condition is poor, or it s more than six months since the car was registered, walk away.