Friday, 29 August 2014

New moves push up used car prices

New protection for used car buyers in the shape of FCA guidelines and the new consumer rights legislation may ultimately lead to customers paying higher prices, said iVendi

The company says that the FCA guidelines may squeeze margins available from finance and insurance products while the forthcoming Consumer Rights Bill currently making its way through Parliament could mean that all dealers start to prepare used cars to a higher standard.

Director James Tew said, ‘Traditionally, the used car market provides a choice that is almost unacknowledged but true, that for seemingly identical cars, there are a wide variety of options in terms of pricing and condition.

‘For example, at one extreme, you may have a manufacturer approved car from a franchise dealer that is in a condition and has a support package similar to a new car. At the other, you may have a local, independent dealer that sells a similar car with a much lower degree of preparation and offers no more protection than a three month warranty. The difference in price between these choices can easily be 20%.

‘If it is effective, the Consumer Rights Bill may ultimately take away this choice. All vehicles will have to be prepared to a relatively high standard and will be priced accordingly, with the market differential much reduced.’

James said that the FCA may have a similar effect on pricing, as it could potentially remove some of the unit profitability that the dealer achieves from each vehicle.

He added, ‘Again, if the FCA measures are successful in increasing competition when it comes to products such as motor finance and GAP insurance, and profits are reduced, then dealers may simply have to move the margin elsewhere.

‘It is a long-established marketing approach among some dealers to price cars at the bottom end of the market and then rely on selling finance and insurance products to the customer in order to make a workable profit. This may no longer be possible.

‘The combined effect of these new moves to protect consumers may be to create a flatter used car market with a more uniform proposition but one where the vehicles themselves carry more expensive windscreen prices.’