PCP Car Finance Deals & Best Offers

How does PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) Car Finance Work?

What is (Personal Contract Purchase) PCP Car Financing?

Personal Contract Purchase, also known as PCP finance, is a type of car finance arrangement where you will usually pay an initial deposit followed by monthly instalments. Once your agreed contract term has finished, your repayments will stop and you will have the option of buying the car.

PCP can be broken down into three main parts:

1. The deposit. At Wilsons, our PCP deals do not have a minimum deposit amount, but you can choose to put down a deposit of any size which would mean you'll have to borrow less.

2. The amount you borrow. This is determined by how much the finance company predicts the car will depreciate its value over the term of the deal minus the deposit you've put down. You will pay this amount off during your deal's term plus interest, so you're not paying off the full value of the car.

3. The balloon payment. If you want to keep the car, you will have to pay the amount often referred to as the Guaranteed Minimum Future Value (GMFV). This is how much the car is expected to be worth after your finance deal ends and is agreed at the start of your deal. You do not have to pay this, but it is the sum you have to pay if you want to keep the car.

As with any PCP agreement that you take out with Wilsons, you must have fully comprehensive insurance. At the beginning of the contract, our team will help you choose a deposit to suit your budget, the length of your payment plan (which is between 24 and 48 months) and the estimated mileage you are likely to incur. We understand that everyone has different needs and we offer flexible finance packages to suit you.

PCP Car Deals Explained

At the beginning of your PCP contract, a GMFV is estimated for the car. This is the car's expected value when your contract ends. This simply means that the money you're borrowing and repaying is the difference between what the car's cost currently is and what the car will be worth at the end of your contract. This difference will be paid off in cheap monthly instalments.​

To fully explain how PCP works, let's imagine that you sign up for a PCP deal over three years to buy a car worth £18,000. You put a deposit of £2,000 down and the finance company estimates that the car will be worth at least £8,000 after three years. The PCP deal would look like this:

To 'borrow' (loan) the vehicle you pay:

Deposit: £2,000
Loan: £8,000 (£10,000 - £2,000) plus interest

Total: £10,000 plus interest

To buy the vehicle you pay:

Deposit: £2,000
Loan: £8,000 (£10,000 - £2,000) plus interest
Balloon payment: £8,000

​Total: £18,000 plus interest


What happens once the PCP finance has finished?

Once you have come to the end of your monthly payments you will have three options:

1. Buy the car by paying the balloon payment. The balloon payment will be the GMFV agreed at the beginning of the lease agreement. If you decide to pay this then you will own the car outright.

2. Hand the car back and walk away. The finance company has already predicted the GMFV, so handing the car back will settle the deal. This means that you have nothing more to pay, subject to any additional charges (see below for more information).

3. Get a new car. Part exchange your car, subject to settlement of your existing finance agreement and start a new deal on a new car which is subject to status.


What charges could I face if I decide not to buy the car?

You could face charges if you decide to hand the car back, whether that is part exchanging it, or just handing it back and walking away:

Over-mileage charges - When agreeing on a PCP deal, at the start you will specify how far the car will be driven each year so that the car's worth can be assessed at the end of the deal to set the balloon payment. ​A car that has done tens of thousands of miles will be worth a lot less than a car that has been used more infrequently.

It is important to be as accurate as possible because if you exceed the agreed mileage limit, you will be subject to a charge of 7p-10p for every mile that you are over. Although this sounds negligible, 1,000 miles over the agreed limit is equivalent to £100 at 10p a mile at the end of the lease agreement.

​Damage charges​ - Similarly to when you rent a car, the finance company will check it for any damages when you go to hand it back. While normal wear and tear is acceptable, the car needs to be in a saleable condition. This means that you will likely be asked to pay to put right any large scratches or dinks in the bodywork.

PCP Deals Advantages

1. You're able to afford a new car for a lower fixed monthly payment than a personal loan or Hire Purchase.
2. Guaranteed future value eliminates the risk of negative equity and protects against depreciation.
3. Flexible options at the end of the agreement to fit in with your personal circumstances.
4. It could enable you to drive a more expensive car than you might otherwise be able to afford.

PCP Deals Disatvantages

1. You won't own the car during the contract period and the vehicle is at risk of repossession if you do not maintain your contractual payments.
2. You will only own the car at the end of the agreement if you pay the balloon payment.
3. Additional charges will occur if you go over the agreed set mileage.
4. The future value is based on keeping the car in good condition and you will be charged extra for any damages deemed not normal wear and tear.

How To Find Out More about Deposit, Payments or Other Car Loans

Please get in touch with Wilsons to select a new vehicle and discover more about the PCP options available at our dealership. As PCP agreements can only be chosen from dealers and aren't on price comparison websites, you won't find these offers anywhere else. Read more about our Car Finance Deals here or learn about other financing methods like Hire Purchase and Business Contract Hire.

Call 01372 736 000 for more information about Personal Contract Purchase car financing (PCP finance) or other car loans.

Transport For London

Cars need to meet minimum emission standards when travelling in the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) or the daily charge must be paid.

Minimum emission standards

Petrol: Euro 4
Diesel: Euro 6

The ULEZ will be enforced based on the declared emissions of the vehicle rather than the age. However:

Information from Transport For London

Check this car on the TFL website before purchasing: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/

All our vehicles are subject to an Admin Fee. Our Admin Fee covers any additional administration needed during your transaction, including a thorough provenance check (HPI Check). The admin fee also includes the cost to fully valet, register and, if necessary, MOT your vehicle (if less than 6 months left of current MOT).

Our administration fee is a variable fee which covers the additional administration needed when transacting with different categories of customers as specified. Retail Customers £199.00 - (Private buyers - NOT an owner, partner or director of a new/used vehicle sales company). Retail Customers using a finance broker outside our official panel of lenders paying funds direct to Wilsons Epsom - £399.00. All fees are inclusive of VAT.