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I would like to borrow
£60
To pay back over
3.5 years

Zuto is a credit broker, not a lender. Our rates start from 9.4% APR. The rate you are offered will depend on your individual circumstances. Representative Example: Borrowing £8,000 over 60 months with a representative APR of 19.9% the amount payable would be £204 a month, with a total cost of credit of £4,264 and a total amount payable of £12,264.

Zuto Limited. Registered in England under number 05722976. Registered office: Winterton House, Winterton Way, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 0LP. Zuto Limited is acting as a broker and not as a lender. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, registration number 452589. Zuto can introduce you to a limited number of finance providers, based on your credit rating, Zuto won't charge you anything for this service, but do get a fee from the lender which varies based on the product or amount borrowed.

How car loans are calculated

There are several factors to consider when it comes to borrowing money for a car purchase. First, there is the question of how much money is available to you. If you are fortunate enough to have a large lump sum, allowing you to buy the car outright, that’s ideal. For many people though, buying a car will involve some sort of borrowing, and one option is to take out a car loan.

So, how much can you borrow?

In part, the answer to this question will depend largely on the type of loan taken out. There are two main types of car loan – a personal loan or a fixed sum loan. The type you choose, as well as your income, determines how car loans are calculated.

Personal loan

A personal loan is a viable option if you have a good credit rating and can prove that you can afford the repayments. With this type of loan, you own the car right from the outset, and there are no restrictions on what you do with it. You will need a good credit score to get a favourable rate of interest.

If you want to buy an older car or high-mileage vehicle, a personal loan might suit you as it’s not secured on the car. A personal loan is also suitable if you want to make modifications to your car.

Fixed sum loan

A fixed sum loan differs from a personal loan because the car is named as an asset in the terms of the finance plan. This means that you cannot sell or otherwise dispose of the vehicle until the loan has been fully paid back.

The fact that the car is treated as an asset by the lender has a distinct advantage. If there are any issues with the car during the first six months of ownership, the lender can assist by offering support.

Like with a personal loan, the car belongs to you from the beginning. You pay a fixed sum over a set length of time, so you know exactly what to budget for.

How much you can borrow

With both types of loan, the lender will calculate how much they are willing to lend based on your income. They will then apply the interest rate – or Annual Percentage Rate (APR) – to work out how much you will pay.

So, the loan is worked out by adding the sum borrowed to the APR to reach the total sum you will repay. You can see what repayments would be using our car finance calculator.

The loan term

What you pay per month also depends on the term of the loan. If you take out a car loan over three years, for example, it means you will pay more per month than if you had opted for a five-year term.

What you need to consider

There are three main factors that come into play when it comes to deciding on whether to opt for a personal or fixed term car loan.

How long you will have the car

First, you need to think about how long you are likely to have the car for. If this may be a relatively short-term purchase, then perhaps it’s best to avoid a fixed-term loan to ensure you are free to sell on or dispose of the car whenever you wish. A personal loan is better suited to those who do not want to commit to a set length of time.

Your credit rating

If you have a good credit score, then personal loans offering the best rates should be available to you. If it’s not so good, a fixed term loan might be a more realistic option.

How much you can pay per month

It’s wise to make your own calculations regarding this, rather than solely relying on the advice of a lender. Add up your income, then deduct all other outgoings to see how much you have left for loan repayments each month.

Other related FAQs

Looking for more related content to this? We’ve picked a selection of related topics that you may find helpful

As well as checking your credit rating, car finance companies will need some details about the vehicle you’re planning to buy – and some information about your current employment and accommodation situation.

Find out more

Dealerships and banks have access to some slightly different finance products. Banks can offer personal loans – and dealers can sometimes offer special promotions like 0% APR. Since you’re free to choose – you should compare all options available to you.

Find out more

It is possible to modify a financed car – but it’s absolutely vital that you check with the company that provides the finance that it’s okay before you do. After modification, you’ll need to inform your finance company, and insurance company that work has been carried out.

Find out more

Whether or not you can return a financed car depends on the type of agreement you have. If you’ve got a hire purchase (HP) or personal contract purchase (PCP) plan, you’re allowed to hand it back – as long as you have paid off at least 50% of the loan, including any fees and interest.

Find out more

In many cases, yes, changing or part-exchanging a car with outstanding finance is possible. Since car finance can’t be moved from one car to another, you (or a dealership you’re getting your next car from) will have to settle the current loan and begin another on your next vehicle.

Find out more

One of the easiest ways to check if you can get car finance is to use online affordability calculators.

Find out more

Settling a car finance agreement is usually just a case of paying back the amount you borrowed, plus any additional fees. If you want to settle early, you may face extra charges.

Find out more

Car finance is calculated according to a number of factors, including the type of agreement you take out, your credit rating, the term of the loan and the size of deposit you pay.

Find out more

In the past, car finance companies sometimes offered payment protection insurance (PPI) with their products. This is no longer the case – and the deadline has now passed for making a claim for mis-sold PPI.

Find out more

Applying for a car loan in someone else’s name is referred to as ‘accommodation finance’. This is likely to be against the finance company’s terms and conditions – and, in some cases, it could be considered to be fraud.

Find out more
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