Car finance on Autotrader

APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate. It’s the amount of interest you’ll pay yearly on the money you’ve borrowed, including the various fees that apply, so that you can accurately determine and compare the overall annual cost of your agreement.

APR will be shown on personal contract purchase (PCP), hire purchase (HP) and conditional sale (CS) quotes. It does not apply to personal contract hire (PCH) car leases.

This is a pre-agreed mileage limit imposed for the duration of the finance agreement, designed to protect the car’s value. The size of your deposit, monthly payments and (if applicable) final payment will then be calculated based on this. If you go over the mileage limit, you will need to pay an excess mileage charge at the end of the agreement, normally calculated in pence per mile.

On some adverts on Autotrader, the finance information is provided by the dealer selling the car or lease provider. Where a dealer doesn’t advertise finance on Autotrader, we use information and a finance example from our partner, Zuto. We do this so that no matter who is selling the car, you have the option to look at a monthly finance option.

The prices we show are not guaranteed but are indicative of what is available to the majority of customers who apply. Whether you’re approved, and on what terms, is subject to your status (for example, your income, employment and creditworthiness).

Finance is available to UK residents over 18, and terms and conditions apply. If you have any questions about the finance advertised, it’s best to check with the seller or with Zuto before you apply. If you have any questions about leasing finance you can also get support from our Autotrader Leasing team.

A finance estimate is designed to give you an idea of how a finance agreement could look for this vehicle based on the size of your deposit, mileage and loan term you have entered and the representative APR the seller offers.

An estimate provides a rough idea of monthly payments and total interest, but it isn’t personal to your circumstances (for example, your income, employment and creditworthiness) so the actual details of your finance quote may change when the lender takes this into account.

A finance quote is provided by a lender and outlines the specific terms and conditions of a finance deal. A quote can include:

• The interest rate
• Loan amount
• Monthly payment amount
• Any fees that apply

A finance quote is based on your credit check and financial details. It’s more accurate than a finance estimate and may be based on your personal circumstances.

You can sell your car privately as long as the finance is settled first. The lender technically owns the vehicle until it’s paid off, so outstanding finance must be cleared before the buyer can legally own your car.

If you’re selling to a dealer, they may clear the outstanding finance with your lender as part of the transaction and pay you any equity. If the car is worth less than the finance (negative equity), you’ll need to cover the shortfall or roll it into another deal.

Voluntary termination could be another option if you’ve already paid 50% of the total amount payable in PCP or HP deals, allowing you to return the car instead of selling it.Learn more about selling a car with outstanding finance.


If you’re struggling to make payments and want to know more about your options, you can contact Moneyhelper for free impartial advice.

Yes, you can still get a car on finance with a bad credit score. Some lenders specialise in bad credit car finance, but you may face higher interest rates, need a larger deposit, or be offered stricter terms. Approval often depends on your income, affordability, and employment status rather than just your credit score.