This weekend will be one of the biggest for car sales this year with customers looking to pick up a car with the new 08 registration plate.

The Retail Motor Industry Federation’s National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) expects that around 442,000 new vehicles will be sold or collected by their owners during March. This will be a drop on the 449,287 new vehicles sold in March 2007, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Sue Robinson, director of the NFDA, said: “The new plate will give a boost to sales in what is expected to be a tougher trading year for the industry. Further interest rate rises, a high level of consumer debt and increasing tax burdens and utility bills are unlikely to benefit the retail new car market.

“Despite the twice-yearly number plate change introduced in 2001, many consumers still want to be the first to have a car with a new plate, and the March plate change is proving to be more popular.”