With consumers watching every penny, it’s really important for dealerships to help their customers find the best-value cars for them to buy.

AM's sister brand Parkers has developed its New Car Awards to celebrate these cars and provide dealers with a free publicity opportunity and free materials to drive footfall to the dealership and boost sales.

To help dealerships publicise winning cars free dealer packs containing press releases can be found on the Parkers New Car Awards microsite: www.parkersnewcarawards.co.uk 

The awards are unique as they are based on the total cost of both purchasing and owning a vehicle, including depreciation, showroom tax and first registration fees, service, repairs, road tax, fuel consumption and even breakdown cover.

Parkers’ editor Kieren Puffett said: "In the current cost-sensitive market these awards deliberately focus on value and gives dealers new opportunities to not only promote the winning cars, but also to show consumers how the cost of buying a new car is not just about the windscreen price, but the whole cost of buying and owning a new car.

Winning manufacturers and dealerships will receive a letter informing them that their brand has won a category.

Winners are encouraged to use their success as a sales tool to identify the cars that are best value for money in their class and help consumers spend money on cars that maximise their cash purchasing power.

Full details of all the winners will be announced on 3rd April 2012.