Best car deals: the biggest cash and finance discounts on new cars

New plates launch twice a year – in March and September – and these are by far the biggest months for new car sales. This month sees the launch of the '75' plate, but if you're in the market for a new car it's not easy to know what a good deal looks like.

That's where our unique pricing data comes in, allowing us to reveal the cars with the biggest cash and finance discounts, so you know exactly what you should expect to pay.

Read on to find out how we calculate these discounts, the models with the most money off their list prices and the 'in-stock' deals that could save you even more.

Please note: the information in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice. Please refer to the particular terms and conditions of a provider before committing to any financial products.

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How we calculate new car discounts

We calculate new car discounts by combining real-world mystery shopping, detailed market research and rigorous validation. This includes analysis of dealer discounts, manufacturer incentives, PCP finance terms and other key factors that shape transaction pricing.

Unless otherwise stated, all manufacturer-related data and pricing apply to all UK franchised dealers. Dealer-related pricing discounts are based on a 'whole of market' view (i.e. achievable at any UK franchised dealer).

The result is data that reflects genuine, achievable discounts and finance offers, so you'll know how much you should be paying for your new car. 

All figures calculated 28 August, 2025.

Top 5 average cash discounts

Cash discounts keep rising: the average is now 7.6% (£4,027 per car), nearly nine per cent higher than last month.

Seat is out in front with an average cash discount across the range of 20.4% or £6112 per car. This means buyers get a bigger saving paying cash than if they take a manufacturer-backed PCP offer. That’s unusual in the new car market and highlights Seat’s desire to be very visibly seen as offering great value.

The increased discounting activity sparked by the government’s EV-grant announcement has seen electric-car cash savings jump by a quarter to 9% (£5,010 per car) compared to last month. The brands offering the biggest discounts right now are Vauxhall at 18.9% (£6,097 per car), Dacia at 17.2% (£2,632 per car), and BMW at 14.6% (£11,100 per car).

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Three of the top five cash discounts are on petrol models, proof that, despite the EV spotlight, manufacturers still have a lot of petrol cars to shift.

Both Peugeot and Seat have stepped up cash support to win buyers, and KGM is maintaining a hefty £8,000 factory contribution on petrol Torres models.

Best cheap cars for 2025: whether you're buying new or used, see the cheaper models that scored best

Top 5 average total PCP savings

It’s no surprise this month’s Top 5 are all electric. The Government’s EV grant announcement triggered a round of discounting that’s finally pushing EV affordability to where it needs to be for wider private uptake. 

Over the last quarter, average PCP payments have fallen by as much as 13% across most segments (sports cars and convertibles are the exceptions).

The best performing segments are small SUVs (down from £337 to £293) MPVs (down from £577 to £522) and family cars (down from £373 to £339).

As EVs get cheaper, petrol/diesel and hybrid models will have to stay competitive, unless and until manufacturers start scaling back their production.

Below we’ve listed five PCP finance offers that caught our eye.

There's plenty of movement this month. The Vauxhall Mokka takes the biggest step, with APR down from 7.9% to 4.9% and the finance deposit allowance jumping from £3,000 to £9,250, easing monthly PCP payments. The Peugeot 208 keeps APR steady but lifts its deposit allowance from £1,200 to £5,700, with a similar effect. 

The Nissan Ariya swaps 0% for 4.99% APR but counters with a higher deposit allowance (£2,750 to £3,500) and a list-price cut of just over £3,000, which is a rare move. The Cupra Born leaves the APR and deposit allowance unchanged, yet an extra £1,500 EV grant-based discount still trims the monthly payment. And the Audi Q4 benefits from a little more dealer support, shaving costs at the margins.

Confused about the different car finance products? Our expert guide to car finance explains all

In-stock deals

Dealers want to free up cash, so in-stock cars that they already own will sometimes come with a higher discount. That means you can often secure better savings compared to ordering a new build to your chosen specification.

However, there are some potential downsides to be aware of when buying in-stock cars:

• The choice of colour and specification may be limited
• Cars may be pre-registered, meaning you won't be the first recorded owner (this could impact the car’s future value when you come to sell)
• Savings may be tied to taking a manufacturer-backed finance offer – always confirm the details with the dealer
• The car may be located at a dealership a long way from you

Here are five standout in-stock deals that we’ve spotted:

Electric cars are the stand-out picks in this month’s in-stock review. With discounts running from 20% to over 30% on brand-new cars, the value is compelling if you’re flexible on spec and colour.

It may be the start of a broader shift, as with factory-order discounts increasing, dealers usually trim prices on in-stock, nearly-new and used cars to keep clear price gaps that encourage buyers. The VW ID.3 stands out, with an in-stock saving more than double what you’d typically get on a factory order.

It’s worth checking dealer websites and sites such as Autotrader for in-stock new cars from various manufacturers. If you’re planning to order a car, always ask whether there’s an in-stock alternative with a better deal available.

If you find a strong in-stock offer, act quickly as these cars tend to sell fast.

Best cars for 2025: view the models that scored best in our tough lab and road tests

Market overview: discounts up, but confusion over EV grant

Since the Government’s EV-grant announcement, many brands have added their own discounts, often at least matching the £1,500 figure. Whether that support ends up as an official grant or stays as manufacturer money is beside the point: EVs are becoming cheaper.

Over the past year, the average discount on ICE and hybrid cars has slipped 1.8%, while EV savings have risen by more than 27%. EVs now average a 12.1% discount (£6,774 per car), for the first time sitting well above ICE cars at 9.2% (£4,868).

That extra discount is showing up in finance, too: the average EV PCP payment fell month-on-month from £474 to £455, while petrol nudged up from £359 to £364.

Combined with the September plate change, this should help manufacturers chase the Government’s EV target of 28% of all new-car sales.

By brand (all fuels), the largest average Total Fair Price discounts are: Vauxhall 19.4% (£5,748 per car), Seat 18.4% (£5,527), and Nissan 16.1% (£6,292). At the other end, MINI, Polestar and XPeng are far less generous, averaging 1.1% or £700 per car.

September will be pivotal. If sales orders surge, especially for EVs, discounts are likely to stabilise or even ease back, testing how price-sensitive buyers really are. If sales underwhelm, the final quarter of 2025 could be a great time to look for extra new car bargains.

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