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Ok all Have a dilema. really need your advice.

Struck a deal at the NEC to P/Ex our Bretagne with a Swift, lots of reason why we want out of the Bailey, but the crux of it is that its the wrong layout for us and Im 6'2".. anyway thats by the by... got a good Pex and bought one of the dealer specials, left a deposit with the assurance that our van will be a 2010MY registered in 2010. However and here's the dilema. The dealer states that he needs the transaction complete before end of year to avoid good old Gordons tax hike, which I understand, but on reflection this means that I will have to take and leave my van at the dealer, leave them the balance(to complete all of the monies transfer) but then not collect my van until next year. It didn't strike me at the time that this is high risk surely, as what happens if the dealer goes bump... thats all my money gone(15K)? or am I being to mistrusting? Can I get some form of indemnity insurance or similar?

Your views please

My advice based on what you are saying is to hold on to your van until you see sight of the new van. Sure it might cost you a little more money but again it might not. The truth is no one really knows what is going to happen to the VAT rate in Jan and like yourselves the dealers at the NEC were really playing on it with us as well. There is no reason for not paying the balance on the van by credit card but retaining your old van until the new one arrives. That way they have your intentions confirmed and you wont lose anything that cant be recovered if the worst happens.

Our friends had this happen to them with a motor home whereby they had left their van as part exchange for next years model. Fortunately they heard a whisper and managed to retrieve their van before the gates closed - a lot of others weren't so lucky.

This is where i love the American Escrow system.

When we were looking into this and as I understand it  the salesman told us that they raise an invoice for the VAT in December before the VAT increase it doesn't have to be paid but it is there for the records that the van was 'purchased' before VAT increases...Perhaps get in touch with the dealer again and ask them to explain what happens.

Salesman told us that as well but sales manager contradicted him when push came to shove. Swift could only invoice on dispatch therefore VAT would be at the rate at time of delivery.

One company were willing to hold deal price regardless of VAT rate. Tells me they were either making too much money on the deal if they could absorb the £400 or contrary to the scare mongering they didn't believe the VAT rate was going to change.

Thinking about it, wouldn't it be better to sell your van now privately? You should get more than you would for a part-exchange.

Then go to any dealer with the cash - might find one who can deliver much sooner and as a cash buyer, get a better deal as well?