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What is a car finance loan?

Car finance loans are loans that you take out for the specific purpose of buying a car. This type of loan may seem daunting, but in reality it is a simple two-stage process. First of all you must decide what type of finance loan you want, then it’s just a case of choosing which provider offers you the best product. A car finance loan helps to spread the cost of buying a new car and can even allow you to afford better car then you would have been able to purchase without car finance. Like all loans, this type of borrowing does come with interest as well as some extra fees, charges and usage limitations that you should be aware of. Finding a provider that best suits your needs is important when deciding how to finance your new set of wheels.

Find the best deals on car loans and car finance option

CAR FINANCE 247 - A BETTER WAY TO FINANCE YOUR NEXT CAR

What types of car finance loan are there?

There are a few types of financing options available when it comes to the type of loan you can take out to buy a car. Here they are:

Personal Loan

A personal loan is the most common way to finance a car. This involves borrowing money from a bank, building society or other lender to pay for a car. Purchasing a car with a personal loan gives you instant ownership of the car, unlike other finance options. When comparing loans it best to look at the annual percentage rate (APR). The lower the percentage of APR means you’ll be paying less in interest over the course of the loan. When searching through personal loans remembers that the advertised APR might not necessarily be what the lender will gives you. This can vary depending of your credit score and other factors.

Personal Contract Purchase (PCP)

PCP is also a common car-buying financing option when it comes to purchasing a new car and can often have relatively low repayments in comparison to other financing options. With PCP you will often be expected to pay a deposit and this type of finance will typically have a fixed interest rate for the duration of the loan. Terms are usually offered between 12-36 months, but can be made over longer periods. At the end of the term you’ll have three options: return the car, keep the car after making a final payment or trade the car in against a replacement vehicle based of the residual value.

Hire Purchase (HP)

Hire purchase is a simple way to buy a car. You’ll have to pay a deposit, which is usually 10% of the cars value. You’ll then make fixed monthly payments over the agreed term of the HP. The HP lender owns the car until the final payment has been made. There may also be additional fees to pay for ownership of the car at the end of the term. These are called option to purchase fees and up to that point, the person making the payments has no right to sell or modify the car. HP lenders can seize the car if you default on payments during the term of HP finance. If you wish to sell the car during the term then you must settle the outstanding balance before doing so, it is illegal to sell a car with an unsettled HP amount still to pay.

Personal Contact Hire (PCH)

PCH is a financing option where you rent the car for a fixed monthly fee. Terms are typically two to three years and have an agreed annual mileage limit. There is no option to buy the car at the end of the term, you’ll just hand the keys back to the dealer. While you have possession you’ll also be responsible for the car’s maintenance. If you’re not interested in owning the car at the end of the term then this may be worth looking into.

Who can get a car finance loan?

The prerequisites to qualify for a car finance loan will vary between different lenders, but you generally have to be over the age of 18. Lenders will also offer you finance products based on your credit history, so a bad credit history or minimal credit history may make it more difficult to qualify for some types of car finance. Use online credit report tools to help you find lenders who are likely to offer you car finance. Rejected applications for finance can have a negative impact of your credit score and make it even more difficult to acquired car finance in the future.

How do I apply for a car finance loan?

To apply for the a car financing option you think will best suit your needs you’ll need to get some personal information together. Lenders will need details about your address, contact details, income details, expenses, and employment and employer details. Income and expenses are usually calculated on a monthly basis. Before identifying a suitable lender you’ll also need to decide how much you want to borrow, this will impact what type of finance products different lenders are willing to offer you. Most lenders will allow you to apply for their car finance products on their website, but you can also do it over the phone, email and even using a postal service.

Cheapest loans under £5,000

You can compare loans online using price comparison sites to find the best deal for you. With interest rates so low it’s often the case that Personal Loans offer the cheapest option for financing a car. The cheapest loans under £5000 could see your repayments as low as £90 a month over 5 years. Tesco Bank, M&S Bank and Sainsbury’s Bank all offer Personal Loans with an APR as little as 2.9%.  Remember though, you won’t necessarily get the advertised typical APR when looking at loans so you may end up paying more in interest compared to other lenders.

CAR FINANCE 247 - A BETTER WAY TO FINANCE YOUR NEXT CAR

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