Personal Contract Purchase (also known as PCP) could allow you to get your hands on a new car without needing to stump up a significant sum of cash all at once.
One of the major selling points of a PCP car finance car deal is that it could mean you can get your hands on a new or nearly new car than you could not otherwise afford. It'll be more reliable than an older car, require less maintenance and, like for like, will be cheaper to run. It'll also likely come with a warranty for ultimate peace of mind.
Something to consider though is that a PCP car finance deal represents a significant long-term financial commitment because you pay for the car over monthly instalments, so it might not be for everyone.
While PCP car finance deals are predominantly offered on new cars, you'll also find them on used cars for sale as well or via a third party plan which you then use to a new or used car.
A Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) is essentially a long term financial agreement which usually takes the form of a lump sum deposit followed by smaller monthly payments with the option to buy the car – with a final balloon instalment – at the end of the agreement.
How does a PCP car deal make financial sense for the dealer, manufacturer or finance company? Well, it's because your lump sum and monthly payments cover the cost of the car's depreciation as well as paying the lender a relatively small income on the loan.
It sounds like complicated maths but the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) requires that everything is clearly broken down when looking at a PCP car deal. So, as well as knowing you're initial deposit, monthly payments and ballon sum final payment, the length of the agreement will also be clearly labelled as will the interest you're paying on the finance, the agreed annual mileage and the cost per mile if you exceed it.
Perhaps the most revealing figure is the offer price – it shows you exactly what you're paying versus the on-the-road price if you were buying the car upfront.
You can check out the latest and best PCP car deals below, while further down the page you'll find more info about PCP deals, from the deposit needed to the optional final payment you can make.
Few cars are better at putting a smile on your face than the Abarth 695, and the price of that fun has dropped thanks to a £3000 deposit conrtibution from the manufacturer. That takes monthly payments down to just £299 for the 75° Anniversario edition.
The Audi Q6 e-tron is a refined and luxurious electric SUV crammed with technology and with an excellent battery range. This Performance Sport model comes with a generous £2500 Audi deposit contribution, which helps take monthly payments down to £631 over a four-year PCP deal. The annual mileage is a generous 10,000, too.
Audi's impressive premium electric SUV is one we really like at heycar, even before there's a cracking deal on it. An Audi Q4 e-tron Sport 45 82kWh with metallic paint can be yours for just £469 a month, with a huge deposit contribution of £8000 thrown in.
The BMW 1 Series is a sporty hatchback alternative to the Audi A3 Sportback that is great to drive. A 118i version, in choice M Sport trim, can be yours for £359 a month on a four-year PCP, with a low representative APR of 3.9%. This means you pay less overall than the Audi deal above, despite Audi's generous deposit contribution. Indeed, BMW is offering a £750 deposit contribution of its own.
The BMW iX2 is a sporty, all-electric small SUV with striking styling and keen handling. An iX2 eDrive20 in M Sport trim could be yours for £579 a month on a four-year deal, with a low APR of 3.9% and a deposit contribution of £2500 from BMW to give you a hand.
Deposit: £7785.63 (plus £2500 manufacturer contribution)
Monthly payments: 47 x £579 (£27,213)
Optional final payment: £19,452.75
Total payable: £56,951.38
Mileage per year: 10,000
Representative APR: 3.9%
Deal ends: 2 January 2025
The BYD Dolphin is an able and affordable new electric car, that is even more accessible thanks to a striking low deposit deal. Pay just £289 up front for the Comfort trim, with BYD contributing a further £249 and knocking £1475 off the price, and you'll pay £289 a month with 0% representative APR.
The Cupra Born is a stylish and fun-to-drive hot hatch with a good battery range, and for £316 per month it's great value. That's the price you can now pick up a Cupra Born V1 59kWh for, with 0% APR and a £4500 deposit contribution from Cupra.
The Dacia Sandero is a famously affordable small car and it is now available for a temptingly small monthly payment. The deposit on this deal for a mid-spec Expression TCE 90 model is a manageable £3699, too.
The Dacia Duster is one of the best value cars you can buy and the mid-high-spec Journey TCE 90 front-wheel drive model will cost you just £107 per month. A great family SUV if you're on a budget.
The Fiat 600e is a new all-electric car from the famed Italian brand. Unlike the smaller Fiat 500e, the Fiat 600e is focused on families, with five-door practicality and a decent boot. The 600e (Red) trim is available for £399 a month with no deposit, thanks to a £3000 Fiat e-Grant saving, and just 1.8% APR.
The new Ford Explorer electric SUV is now open for ordering. The first cars will arrive in September and the company is aiming to launch with a bang thanks to an appealing PCP deal with 0% APR. It means those who can find the £9890 deposit, and £380 a month, won't pay a penny in interest over four years.
The Ford Puma is one of the very best small family SUVs, and you can now have one outside your home for just £350. That price will get you a Titanium 1.0 125 Ecoboost model with the costs spread over four years.
The new Ford Capri is an all-electric interpretation of the classic Capri of the 1970s and '90s, except this time it's a crossover SUV. It's a relatively affordable one at that, with monthly payments from £582 for the Premium version and 0% APR, too.
The GWM Ora 03 (or you may know it by its original name, the Funky Cat) is an electric car packed with personality and charm, and represents excellent value for money. You can now finance this Pure+model with 3.9% APR over four years.
Honda's very first electric SUV is available in Elegance trim for less than £420 a month with 0% APR. Honda is also chucking in a whopping £3500 deposit contribution, with a five-year service plan, warranty and roadside assistance thrown in as well.
The Honda HR-V is a small SUV that has big car space on the inside thanks to clever design and packaging. It has a fuel-saving hybrid engine as standard, with a £339-per-month finance deal for the Elegance trim adding further appeal. Honda will also give you £2000 towards the deposit.
One of the sportiest SUVs on the market and great fun to drive, the Jaguar F-Pace can be yours for just £419 a month. You'll need a fairly hefty deposit, but the four-year deal for a D200 R-Dynamic SE Black 90th Anniversary Edition has a relatively low APR rate of 4.9%, a £1500 deposit contribution and a fairly generous 10,000 miles a year allowance.
The Jeep Avenger is an exciting model from the American 4x4 brand, which brings its rugged appeal to the small SUV sector. It's available in EV and hybrid guise, but the most affordable is the 1.2-litre turbo petrol version – made even more appealing with a £269 a month PCP deal that includes a £1500 deposit contribution.
The Lexus RZ is a classy, supremely comfortable and top-quality electric SUV, and this offer from Lexus can get one on your driveway for just £499. The offer is for a car with the Premium Pack and includes a £4500 deposit contribution as well as 0% APR.
Mazda's quirky small SUV, the MX-30, is fun-to-drive and is good value at the best of time, but this deal makes it even more appealing. With 0% APR and a whopping £6750 deposit contribution, you could get into a MX-30 Prime-Line model for less than £200 a month.
We’ve said that the MG4 is the best budget electric car, and when it’s available with 0% APR it’s even more attractive. You can drive around in the SE 125kW 51kWh model for just £159 per month, and if you want the more powerful, longer-range models then they’re just £20, £40 or £120 pounds more each month.
The Polestar 2 is a dynamic crossover EV rival to the Tesla Model 3, and a facelift in 2023 made it even more competitive. You can now get a single motor version with the Standard Range battery for £397.92 a month on a 0% finance PCP deal. Other cars in the range are available with 0% APR, too. You'll also get £1000 off the price and a complimentary Plus pack with a Harkan Kardon sound system and panoramic roof worth £4000.
The Suzuki Vitara is a family-friendly SUV on a budget. It's now even more appealing thanks to a £3000 customer saving that takes monthly payments for the 1.4 Boosterjet SZ-T, on a four-year PCP, down to £259. Even the deposit is manageable at just over £5000.
Volkswagen's flagship SUV has loads of space, a state-of-the-art infotainment system and offers a very refined and comfortable driving experience. And now Volkswagen will give you a massive £8000 towards one, on a deal with 6.9% APR and a monthly cost of £684.69. This version is for a Black Edition 3.0 TDI model.
Volvo currently has a stock of EX30 electric SUVs that its trying to shift, and has offered a decent discount and attractive finance terms to clear them out. As well as a £4000 discount, you can get 0% APR over 48 months. We priced one up with a £3500 deposit and got a monthly rate of £576.56. The deposit is variable if you want to pay or or less up front.
The initial payment for a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) used to represent around 10 per cent of the car's value.
However, some recent offers have substanitally reduced that amount, even to the same amount as subsequent monthly payments. Manufacturers sometimes contribute to the deposit though, although be aware that this can typically involve your acceptance of a higher interest rate. To get a good handle on the financial implications, compare the On-The-Road (OTR) price with the Total Amount Payable (TAP) for a clear-cut understanding of the costs.
The lion's share of the expenditure in a PCP car deal agreement comes from the monthly instalments, spread over periods of two to four years. In general, opting for a shorter contract results in reduced interest payments.
The agreed annual mileage limit is crucial as it determines the vehicle's value at the contract's end. Exceeding this limit results in extra charges, typically around 10p per mile. To avoid unexpected costs, it's advisable to set a realistic mileage limit when arranging your agreement. In most PCP car deals, annual mileage is capped at 10,000 miles, but check the terms to ensure this is not less.
At the end of a PCP car deal, a large payment is due if you want to keep the car. This payment is based on how much the car is worth at the end, plus any extra costs – for example, if you went over your mileage limit.
You don't have to make this payment – you can return the car or swap it for a new one. If the car is in really good shape and hasn't been driven a lot, it might be worth more than this final payment, and that extra value can go towards your next car. If you choose to pay and keep the car, you'll be the only owner named on its V5C logbook. But remember, opting to keep the car usually comes with an extra fee.
With a PCP deal, you have to stick to certain rules. For example, you can't drive more than the agreed miles, and you need to service the car on time, as recommended by the manufacturer, and take good care of it. If the car gets damaged, you'll need to fix it before the end of the deal.
It's also a good idea to think about getting Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) insurance. This insurance helps cover the cost if your car is written off and it's worth less than what you still owe on the PCP agreement.
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