See all Motoring AdviceAt long last, the global shortage of new cars appears to be beginning to ease. That’s not to say though that delays in delivery times are going to go away any time soon. Carmakers are still faced with sizeable backlogs of orders, a shortage of vital semiconductors persists and the war in Ukraine is curtailing the supply of components.
In many cases, buyers are facing waiting times for new cars from six months to a year in duration, and while dealers should be getting the hang of the supply situation by now, buyers may still face unexpected delays if the delivery date for their new car is pushed back. That said, it’s usually not a dealer’s fault if a car is delayed as they can often be left in the dark themselves by manufacturers and distributors.
In addition to the frustration that comes from not being able to get their hands on their shiny new car, this also poses other potential problems for buyers. If your new car is delayed, will your trade-in still be worth what your dealer originally offered you for it? What happens if the car that you currently have on a PCP deal or lease is due back by a certain date and your new car isn’t ready by then? Let’s take a look at what you can do if your new car delivery is delayed.
What can I do if my new car delivery is delayed?
Realistically, not a lot — at least not if you’re still in need of a car or you want to avoid potential fees for breaking a contract.
Examine your contract
First of all, you need to carefully read back over any contract you’ve signed related to your new car to get a grasp on where you stand as regards delays. This may point to your entitlements if the vehicle is delayed and what you can potentially do about it. If your contract says anything about a specific delivery date, you’re in a much stronger position when it comes to walking away from any deal; that said, it’s highly unlikely that your contract will say anything about a specific delivery date, and even if you are able to walk away from a deal, that could leave you back at square one and still waiting a year for a new car.
Get delivery dates in writing
If you’re ordering a new car, always try to get an estimated delivery date in writing as, even though it’s an estimate, it still may give you some leverage to negotiate with the dealer if your vehicle is delayed. Even if you didn’t get an estimate in writing when you ordered the car, you should still try to get the dealer to provide you with a written estimate of the delivery date even if the originally-scheduled date has passed.
Get an agreed part-exchange value for your car
Another thing you should also attempt to get in writing is an agreement that even if the delivery date of your new car is delayed and you need to hold onto your current car for a few months longer, it’ll still be worth what the dealer originally promised you for it. This shouldn’t be a major issue; such is the diminished supply of quality used cars right now that quality second-hand vehicles are holding their values extremely well.
Don’t pay more than you originally agreed
Over the course of the last couple of years the prices of new cars have risen as a result of increased manufacturing costs as well as car-makers cashing in on their relative scarcity. Be sure that you’re not going to pay a penny more for your car than what you agreed. An attempt by a dealer to raise the agreed price of your new car may potentially constitute a breach of contract on their end, so it’s worth examining any documentation you have.
Ask for a replacement car if you need one
If you’re going to be left in the lurch should your new car be delayed (such as, for example, if your lease or PCP deal ends), try to get the dealer to provide you with a loan of a car for the duration of the delay between when your old car goes back and your new one arrives. A dealer doesn’t have to do this, but - either as a gesture of goodwill or because you’re threatening to take your business elsewhere - they may do so. Again, it’s good to get this in writing.