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Used Car Finance.

Finance a second hand car from any verified UK dealer. Check what you could be eligible for in minutes.

Soft search with no credit impact*

Over 90,000 vehicles to choose from

Get quotes with no deposit

Check Eligibility

Representative 19.8% APR. No impact on your credit score. Our partner uses a soft search to give you a quote. If you proceed, a hard search will be conducted which may impact your credit score. ?

*A soft search has no impact on your credit score. If you choose to proceed with a full application, a hard search will be carried out which may impact your credit score.

Can you get finance on a used car?

Yes. Both HP (Hire Purchase) and PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) are available on used cars, not just new ones. In fact, used car finance makes up a significant proportion of the car finance market in the UK.

Via Brumble, you can finance a used car from any verified UK dealer. There are over 90,000 vehicles available across the dealer network. You find the car you want, check your finance eligibility via a soft search, and if approved, the finance is arranged to cover that specific vehicle.

Used car finance works the same way as new car finance. You agree a deposit (or choose a no-deposit agreement), a term length, and monthly payments. The car is paid for by the lender and you repay them over the agreed term. All applications are subject to status and affordability.

How old can a car be for finance?

Most lenders have limits on the age of the car at the end of the finance agreement, not at the start. Many lenders allow the car to be up to around 14 to 16 years old at the end of the agreement, though this varies. So a 10-year-old car financed over 5 years would be 15 at the end, which could fall within the limits for many lenders.

The maximum age varies between lenders. Some may accept older vehicles, particularly if they are lower-mileage or well-maintained. Others may have stricter limits. Using a broker means your application can be matched against lenders who are comfortable with the specific car you have in mind.

There is usually a minimum value too. Most lenders will not finance a car worth less than around £3,000, as the costs of setting up and administering the agreement do not make sense below that level.

HP or PCP for a used car?

Both HP and PCP work on used cars, but they suit different situations.

HP is often the more popular choice for used cars. You pay off the full value and own the car at the end. There are no mileage limits and no decisions to make at the end of the term. If you plan to keep the car for several years, HP is usually the more cost-effective option overall.

PCP on a used car gives you lower monthly payments, but the balloon payment at the end could be a significant amount. The balloon is based on the car's predicted future value, which is lower for used cars than new ones. PCP can work well if you like to change your car every few years and want lower payments in the meantime.

For a full comparison, see our PCP vs HP guide.

You may occasionally see 0% finance advertised on used cars, though this is rare. If you do, it is worth comparing the vehicle price against the same model at other sellers. See our 0% car finance guide for more on how these promotions work.

What to check before financing a used car

Before committing to a finance agreement on a used car, it is worth doing a few checks to make sure the car is worth the money and does not have any hidden issues.

Check the car's MOT history for free using our MOT checker. This shows you past test results, advisories, and failure reasons. A car with a string of advisories or recent failures could mean expensive repairs ahead.

Check the road tax status and ULEZ compliance with our tax and ULEZ checker. Some older vehicles are not compliant with clean air zones, which could mean daily charges if you drive in cities like London, Birmingham, or Bristol.

Consider getting a vehicle history check to make sure the car has not been written off, stolen, or has outstanding finance on it. Our vehicle check service can help with this.

Finally, compare the asking price against similar cars on the market. If the price seems unusually low or high, there may be a reason worth investigating.

Can you finance a private sale?

In most cases, car finance is only available for vehicles purchased through a dealer, not private sellers. This is because lenders need the dealer to act as a point of sale and handle the paperwork. They also rely on the dealer to verify the car's condition and history.

If you have found a car from a private seller, you would typically need to fund the purchase through other means, such as a personal loan or savings. A personal loan is not secured against the car, so you own it outright from day one, but the interest rates may be higher than car finance.

If the car you want is available at a dealer as well, financing through the dealer using HP or PCP is usually the simpler and often cheaper route. There are over 90,000 vehicles available through our partner dealer network.

Car Finance Calculator.

Wondering how much car finance you can get on your salary? Use our calculator to estimate monthly payments based on the car price, your credit grade and preferred term length.

  • Estimate monthly payments instantly
  • Compare how car price and term length affect cost
  • See the difference between HP and PCP monthly payments

Check your eligibility for both HP and PCP deals in minutes (Representative 19.8% APR) - with no impact on your credit score. Our partner uses a soft search to give you a quote. If you proceed, a hard search will be conducted which may impact your credit score.

Check Your Eligibility

Already Got a Car on Finance?

If you are already paying for a car on finance, make sure you are not overpaying on your car insurance too. Comparing quotes from multiple insurers is the easiest way to check you are getting a competitive deal.

Content produced by

RH

Ryan Hughes

Founder & Director

Ryan is the founder of Brumble and has over a decade of experience in the UK motor finance and insurance industry. He created Brumble to make it easier for UK drivers to understand the insurance and finance world by cutting through the jargon.

Used Car Finance FAQs.

Common questions about used car finance.

PCP is available on used cars as well as new ones. The balloon payment will be lower on a used car because its future value is lower. Used car PCP can be a good way to drive a relatively new car for affordable monthly payments. Subject to status.

Many lenders allow the car to be up to around 14 to 16 years old at the end of the agreement, though this varies. So a 10-year-old car financed over 5 years could fall within the limits for many lenders. Some are more flexible than others, particularly for lower-mileage vehicles.

Generally, no. Car finance is usually only available for vehicles purchased through a dealer, as the lender needs the dealer to handle the sale. If you want to buy from a private seller, a personal loan is the usual alternative. If the same car is available at a dealer, financing through them would be simpler.

The interest rate depends on your credit profile, not typically the age of the car. However, some lenders may apply slightly different criteria for older vehicles. The rate you are offered is based on your individual circumstances. Rates start from 9.9% APR, subject to status.

Check the MOT history for past failures and advisories, verify the road tax and ULEZ status, and consider a vehicle history check for write-offs, outstanding finance, or theft markers. Compare the price against similar cars on the market. Our free MOT checker and tax checker tools can help with most of these.

A deposit is not required on many agreements, but putting one down reduces the amount you borrow, which lowers your monthly payments and total interest. Even a small deposit could make a difference to the terms you are offered. Subject to status and affordability.

It may be possible. Some lenders specialise in working with people who have lower credit scores. A soft search lets you check what you could be eligible for without any impact on your credit file. See our bad credit car finance page for more details.

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