How does a PCP work?

MORE than 90 per cent of the new cars sold in the UK are purchased using some kind of finance, so while list prices are often referred to, monthly figures and deposits are arguably more relevant. Most car makers have their own version of a Personal Contract Plan (PCP), by far the most popular finance option for private buyers, and they all work in the same way.

PCPs are best thought of in three parts: the deposit, the monthly repayments, and the optional final payment. The deposit is the cash you’ll put down up front. This can either be a straightforward lump sum, the value of your part-exchange, a deposit contribution from the manufacturer, or a combination of all three.

The size of the deposit will affect the size of your monthly repayments. These are typically made over a 24, 36 or 48-month period, but can be scaled up or down to suit your circumstances. The final part is the optional final payment, which is sometimes referred to as the ‘balloon payment’. Your deposit and monthly payments only go part of the way to paying off the car; in fact, they’re actually paying off its depreciation over the time you’ll have it. To own the car you’ll need to pay the full amount off, but not every buyer does.

Many drivers use the car’s ‘equity’ as the deposit on their next one. This ‘equity’ is made up of overpayments you may have made, since makers often overestimate how much a new car will depreciate to play it safe. This quirk of PCPs means you might not necessarily have to find a big deposit each time you take out a new deal.

If you don’t want to own the car outright or roll any ‘equity’ into a new deal, your third option is to hand the car back with no additional payments, and walk away. “PCP is the most popular finance option for private buyers, and all plans work in the same way”