car-finance-top2

We make getting car finance simple so you can be on the road in no time with over 17 lenders and 70 products compared.

  • Get a free no-obligation quote - no impact to your credit file
  • Purchase any vehicle from any dealer or privately
  • Don’t pay broker fees - transparent process
  • Found a car? Check the history & value for free
Price calculator

Car finance calculator

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 do interest rates work on car loans?

If you’re planning to buy a new or used car and need to borrow money to finance your purchase, there are various types of loans to choose from. Regardless of the agreement you opt for, you will be required to pay interest. 

Read on to find out more about your options and the sort of interest rates you can expect to pay.

Lease, sale or return

Personal contract plans are where you lease the car for a monthly sum, rather than ever owning it outright.

Hire purchase agreements also involve fixed payments, but give you the option of buying the car at the end for an additional fee.

Conditional sale agreements are designed for those who know they want to own the car at the end of the agreement. Once the final instalment is paid on these deals, the car belongs to you.

Car loans

There are also car loans available, with two main types on the market - personal loans or fixed sum loans.

Personal loans are a good bet for those with a good credit rating, and those who want to own the car from the beginning.

Fixed sum loans are secured on the car, so unlike with personal loans, you don’t fully own the car until the loan is repaid. This means you cannot modify or sell the car while the loan is being paid. However, one plus is that you can get help from the lender if there are issues with the car during the first six months.

In your interest

So, how do interest rates work on car loans? Put simply, the interest rates decides how much extra you will pay for the car, above the actual sum borrowed.

If you take out a car loan, what you pay in real terms for the car is determined by the interest rate. It’s very important to get the best possible deal, as a lower rate will mean you pay back less money.

You will borrow a set amount to buy the car - either its full price or the price minus a deposit, if you have one. The interest is then added to this amount to get the total amount you will pay. This is then divided into monthly payments.

Car loans are generally generally available with repayment periods of between one and seven years, with the majority of loans having terms of two to five years. Usually, the more you borrow, the better rate of interest will be applied. This rate is referred to as the annual percentage rate, or APR. When you’re looking at car loan options, you can compare the APRs to see which offers the best value.

It can be more complicated than it seems, however. The advertised rates are ‘representative’ APRs. Regulations mean that at least 51% of people who apply for the loan must get that rate, but the other 49% may not. Some, or even many, of that 49% might be given a higher rate.

Points to consider

There are a number of factors that can affect the interest rate you pay. As mentioned previously, lower rates tend to be available for bigger loans. So, if you’re only borrowing a small amount, you will probably face a higher rate of interest.

Your credit score will also have a big impact on the interest rates offered to you. If you have a favourable score, lenders will see you as lower risk - and will therefore be prepared to lend to your at lower rates of interest. Conversely, if you have a poor credit rating, you will be viewed as higher risk and may only have access to less competitive deals in terms of interest rates.

So, if you currently have a bad credit rating, it could be beneficial to take steps to improve it. There are a number of ways to do this. For example, if you aren’t on it already, get on the electoral register. Try to keep up with any existing loan and credit repayments too, as this will help you to build up your score.

Other related FAQs

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

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

Find out more

You can approach lenders directly to get a car loan for a used car. However, it’s often best to use an online broker instead. This approach can save you time and help you to find the most competitive deals.

Find out more

If you want to sell a used car with a loan, check the details of your agreement carefully. Unless you’re the legal owner of the car, you won’t be able to sell it until you’ve paid a settlement figure.

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

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

No, you cannot transfer your car finance to another car. However, depending on your circumstances, you may be able to settle your current finance agreement and begin a new one on a different vehicle.

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

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

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
Registered office
About Car.co.uk
Products & services
Our media
Car.co.uk is a trading name of New Reg Limited which is Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 626225). New Reg Limited is a loan broker and not a lender. The information contained on this website is for editorial purposes only and not intended as financial advice. New Reg Limited has partnered with Autoguard Group for the purpose of offering car warranties in accordance with the terms and conditions documented on the warranty check-out page.
© 2023 Car.co.uk
Terms & conditions / Cookie policy / Privacy policy