DELIVERY charges will be a thing of the past by this time next year as the few remaining manufacturers which still separate them out announce all-in pricing. Of the top 30 manufacturers, only BMW, Hyundai, Jaguar and Mercedes have still to revise their price lists to include delivery charges in an on-the-road price - but all have plans to incorporate them in the near future. Daihatsu moved to on-the-road pricing this week.

A Hyundai spokesman said it would be announcing on-the-road prices 'shortly', while Mercedes said it would make the move next March. BMW said the situation was under constant review, and although it would like to publish on-the-road prices, it would not like to be the first prestige manufacturer to do so. However, Jaguar said it had no plans to change to on-the-road pricing.

Debate, however, continues about what constitutes an on-the-road price as some manufacturers have included 12 months' road fund licence or a full tank of petrol, while others have left them out.