The Government and major car manufacturers came up a car scrappage scheme to encourage the public to purchase new cars by offering big discounts on new car purchases if you had your old car scrapped as a part of the buying process. One of the main aims of the scheme was to reduce the amount of older and less efficient vehicles on the road and increase the number of vehicles with reduced emissions and better fuel economy.

The scheme ended in March 2010 but it certainly helped car manufacturers keep selling cars which in turn helped boost the economy. The introduction of the incentive was clearly a welcome move to the potential car buyers who were a bit apprehensive of buying a new car due to the price and state of the economy. The scheme worked so well that some manufacturers have introduced their own scrappage schemes where they are still offering similar discounts if you trade in an older vehicle for a new one built here in the UK.

The scrappage schemes are not designed to benefit everyone though, so you should make sure that you don't sell yourself short, or more accurately, don't sell your car short. These scrappage schemes may seem positive but the maximum discount in most cases is £2,000, this is all well and good but you should check that your car isn't currently valued at a higher amount than this to ensure you get the most money from the deal.

It may be more beneficial to sell your car before you go to the manufacturer if you car is significantly worth more than the £2,000 that is normally offered under the scrappage scheme. This could increase the amount of money that you have to spend on the new car so you can get a better model than you expected.

Getting your current car valued is simple, browsing the car classifieds or taking it to a local garage or showroom can get it valued based on age, condition and in most dealerships' cases the demand for that model. It is wise to go to a number of different people when valuing though as some people may be trying to low ball you and try and buy it off you for a much lower price.

There are a range of car finance deals on the market at the moment and you can find the best of them along with deals on car credit online.

About the Author:
Bob Brightside is an experienced automotive author having worked in the sector for many years.