What is Better - PCP or HP Car Finance?

07 Sep 2021

What is Better - PCP or HP Car Finance?

07 Sep 2021

What is Better - PCP or HP Car Finance?

You’ve found your dream car, or you’re at least wanting to start looking. But if you don’t have savings or a generous friend to buy it for you, you might wonder how to pay for your car.

If you’ve already done a brief search for car financing options, you’ll no doubt have come across some technical-looking terms. So, if you’ve been left wondering what HP and PCP are in car finance terms, we’re here to help. 

How do different types of car finance work?

There are so many options available to choose from, and it can be difficult to decide what’s right for you. So, let’s get into it and see what car finance is better: HP, PCP, or a personal loan.

What is HP Car Finance?

With a Hire purchase deal, you’ll pay an upfront deposit and then continue to pay off the rest of the car in fixed monthly instalments, including interest. 

This type of loan is secured against your car, so you don’t actually own the car until it is paid off in full. The dealership that you have an agreement with owns your car until you have fully paid it off.

Pros of Hire Purchase
Cons of Hire Purchase
No Mileage restrictions
You can be repossessed If you fail to make payment
No Balloon payment at end of agreement Missed payments can negatively affect your credit score
You own the car fully after you’ve completed all your monthly payments You do not legally own your car until after your final payment
Your payments are fixed and so they remain the same throughout your agreement  
Can be expensive if you’re only looking for a short-term agreement  
Monthly payments tend to be smaller  
 
 

What is PCP Car Finance?

If you opt for a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP), you will pay fixed monthly payments over a set period of time. You may have the option to pay an initial deposit at the start, making your monthly repayments smaller. 

At the end of your agreement, you can give the car back to the dealership. If there is any equity, use that for a deposit towards a new car, pay what is called the “balloon payment” (however much is left on the car). Or, you can take out a new PCP deal. 

Pros of a PCP Cons of a PCP
Low Interest  You have to pay a large final payment at the end of your agreement if you want to keep the car
You can get cars that you otherwise might not be able to afford  You have to stick to mileage restrictions, or you will face charges 
You don’t have to consider the car depreciating by the end of your agreement  You have to stick to wear and tear restrictions or you will be charged
Smaller monthly payments   
 
 

What is a Personal Loan in Car Finance?

A personal loan is an unsecured loan that you get from a bank or lender. With a personal loan, you pay for the total cost of the car upfront, meaning that you have full ownership of the car from the start. You’ll pay the loan back to the lender in monthly instalments rather than to a dealership.
 
Pros of a personal loan Cons of a personal loan
The dealership cannot repossess your car if you fail to make your payments, as you own the car It’s harder to get accepted if you have a bad credit history
You can choose to buy a car from a dealership or a private seller The best interest rates are reserved for people with good credit 
You can use a portion of the loan to pay for all or some of the car and use the rest for something else, e.g. insurance You can’t usually get a personal loan for more than £25,000
You can negotiate the price of the car   
You can sell your car before the end of your loan agreement as long as you continue your payments   
 

 

Final Thoughts

Choosing a car finance option that’s suitable for you can be challenging, even more so if you have a history of bad credit. But there are options out there. Have a read of our financing cars with bad credit blog if you need further support, or reach out to our friendly team.
 
Hopefully, this blog has outlined the options that are available to you, and will help you in making the decision on what's right for you. 
 
Apply today and see if you’re eligible for a car loan.
 
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Editorial Disclaimer: This content is for entertainment purposes only. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or any other company. This article has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these organisations. NB: The information on this page does not constitute financial advice, please do your own research to ensure that the product/service is right for your individual circumstances.
 
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