How Much Car Finance Do I Qualify For?

Dad checking how much car finance he qualifies for on his phone
Car loans can be a great way to unlock extra spending power and purchase the car you want sooner. The model is hugely popular across the UK, with the latest figures from the Finance & Leasing Association suggesting one in nine new car purchases are paid for using car finance.

While most people are eligible for car loans the amount you can borrow does depend on several key factors. It’s important to consider these when browsing for new cars and hashing out your budget. To help you get an idea of your personal borrowing power we’ve put together a detailed guide to calculating car finance.

Your credit rating

The role of credit ratings is often overlooked when applying for car finance loans. The reality is that credit scores play a hugely important part in determining how much car finance you qualify for. Like home loans, credit ratings are used by lenders to develop an idea of the type of borrower you are. They want to be sure you’ll pay back your debt which is why the process is so carefully vetted.

Ultimately, credit checks are used to determine how much risk is associated with offering you a loan. So how much car finance do you qualify for? Let’s take a look at some of the factors that can affect your credit rating:

  • Payment history

The first thing lenders will look at is your payment history. Even one missed payment can have a negative impact on your credit score so it’s best to stay on top of your debts, even if you’re making the minimum repayment. Regular credit card repayments are one of the best ways to improve your credit score and position yourself as a responsible borrower.

  • Current debt

While credit card debt can be a good thing when applying for a car loan, too much can jeopardise your chances. The trick is to never use more than 30% of your available credit. For example, if your credit card has a limit of £5,000 you don’t want to have a balance owing of more than £1,500. This ratio helps to position you as a responsible and cautious borrower.

  • Previous credit checks

What many borrowers don’t realise is that credit checks can leave a permanent signature on your credit history. Applying for finance can result in the lender carrying out an in-depth credit check, which can appear on your report for up to 12 months. Banks will often carry out hard checks when vetting applicants for credit cards, mortgages and personal loans. It pays to be cautious when it comes to hard credit checks as too many can imply you’re a higher risk applicant. Why? Because too many credit applications in a short timeframe can suggest you’re too reliant on borrowing or are in financial trouble.

Unlocking better interest rates

Not only does your credit rating affect the size of your loan, it can also influence what interest rates you’re eligible for. Applicants with good credit ratings are generally seen as low risk, meaning lenders are willing to offer them better interest rates. Similarly, applicants with low credit ratings are deemed a higher risk and can be penalised with higher interest rates. Applicants with less than desirable credit scores can also be hit with larger fees and charges, another financial hurdle to consider.

At My Car Credit we understand just how important credit ratings are. That’s why we carry out all our initial credit checks using a “soft” approach. Unlike hard checks, soft checks don’t leave a trace on your personal record. This means they can’t be seen by potential lenders and won’t paint you as irresponsible or financially unstable.

Your monthly repayment budget

Your monthly repayment budget will ultimately determine the maximum value of your car loan. When crunching the numbers and calculating your monthly repayment budget be sure to factor in any extra fees and charges that may be associated with your loan. This can include anything from administration charges to ‘balloon payments’ at the end of a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) loan. 

Factoring in interest rates is also important. You need to ensure that your monthly interest rates don’t surpass your maximum monthly payment budget, or your loan will start to increase.

Calculating the length of your loan

The length of your loan will have a big impact on your monthly repayment responsibilities. For example, a loan of £3,000 over two years will require 24 monthly repayments of £125, not including interest and fees. The same loan spread over a five-year period would require monthly repayments of £50. While the cost of a five-year loan may seem lower, the longer term translates to additional interest. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though it is something to be aware of when calculating how much car finance you qualify for.

Using a car finance calculator

Wondering ‘how much car finance do I qualify for?’ In truth, there’s a lot to consider when applying for car finance, which is where a purpose-built calculator can really help. Developed by our team of car finance experts, the My Car Credit car loan approval calculator crunches the numbers for you.

Start with our at-a-glance car finance calculator that asks for your loan amount, preferred repayment term and credit rating score. For a more detailed estimate click ‘Apply Now’ and follow the prompts. Neither will impact your credit score and both are designed to help kickstart your car finance journey and get you in the driver’s seat ASAP.

Want to find out more? Get in touch with the My Car Credit team to discuss your application. With access to more than 25 lenders across all credit requirements, we have the knowledge and expertise to secure you the best possible car loans.

Rates from 9.9% APR. Representative APR 10.9%

Evolution Funding Ltd T/A My Car Credit

My Credit Rating

Excellent

  • You are a home owner
  • You have been on the electoral role for a long period of time
  • You have current credit arrangements and mortgage with no defaults
  • You have no CCJs, credit arrears or missed payments
  • You rarely apply for credit
  • You are employed or self-employed

Good

  • You are on the electoral role
  • You are a home owner or long standing tenant
  • You have a stable employment history
  • You have current credit arrangements with occasional missed payments
  • You have no CCJs

Fair

  • You are or have recently been on the electoral role
  • You may have recently changed address
  • You may have occasional missed payments
  • You may have an old CCJ
  • You may have regularly applied for credit

Poor

  • You may have had frequent changes in address
  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • You may have exceeded credit card limits
  • You may have missed payments on current agreements
  • You may have had a CCJ in the past

Bad

  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • Your credit cards are over their limits
  • You have recent CCJs
  • You may have been refused credit elsewhere
  • You may be in a debt management plan
£

X monthly repayments of
£X

Typical rate

Loan amount

Total payable

X% APR*

£X

£X

*for illustration purposes only

No impact on your credit score*

Representative Example

Borrowing £7,500 at a representative APR of 10.9%, annual interest rate (fixed) 10.87%, 47 monthly payments of £191.50 followed by 1 payment of £201.50 (incl. estimated £10 option to purchase fee), a deposit of £0.00, total cost of credit is £1,702, total amount payable £9,202.

Evolution Funding Limited, trading as My Car Credit, is a credit broker and not a lender.

Please ensure you can afford the repayments for the duration of the loan before entering into a credit agreement.

*Initial application is a soft search. Should you progress, some lenders may perform a hard search on your credit file.

Require more help?

Got a question you can’t find the answer to, or need some advice and guidance around taking out car finance? Our Car Credit Specialists are friendly, experienced, and here to help so get in touch today!

How Do Car Finance Calculators Work?

Couple using a calculator to work out car finance
So, you’ve found a fantastic dealership with the perfect set of wheels, and are looking to drive your new car off the showroom floor as quickly as possible. It’s likely you’ll be wondering how best to fund your new car and whether you’re eligible for car finance. What’s more, you may be questioning how car finance calculators work and how much car finance you’d even qualify for.

My Car Credit is here to answer those burning questions. We’ll walk you through using our straightforward online car payment calculator so that you can get behind the wheel with minimal worries and in control of a repayment scheme that works for you. Read on to find out more.

How car finance calculators work

We understand how stressful it can be determining whether you’re eligible for car finance and finding the best car finance option. Between the paperwork and administration, you can end up getting lost in the fine print and end up with a car finance repayment deal that is both confusing and overly expensive.

That’s why we’ve worked so hard to simplify the process, making it as streamlined and hassle-free as possible. Our online calculator is easy to fill in and takes mere minutes to get you answers, crunching the numbers so that you know exactly what you can expect to pay, and when.

What factors our car finance calculators consider

Our calculator helps you establish your monthly repayment terms against the amount you’re looking to borrow. You simply fill in the car loan amount that you’re looking for, and your preferred repayment term, followed by your credit rating. We’ll also ask you for some personal information, such as your email address, current UK address, and employment details.

The calculator will then instantly break down this information and detail the typical rate of interest and monthly payments that you can expect to see depending on your personal circumstances. We’ll also outline the total amount payable, and explain our reasons for this. The calculation is subject to status, but it’s a good indicator of what your options are for car finance.

The benefits of car finance calculators

Using a car finance calculator can help you to establish what type of car finance is right for you. By being able to see any interest rates or monthly payments upfront, you can better see whether the loan offered suits your particular needs and requirements. Don’t forget that a late or missed repayment will affect your credit score, so using a car finance calculator to work out what type of monthly repayment you can afford is a huge advantage. That way, you’ll be better able to budget for your new set of wheels without being unrealistic.

Car finance calculators can be used in one of two ways, depending on where you are in the search for your vehicle. You could use the calculator to work out how much you’ll be paying for a specific car that you have your eyes on. Equally, you can use it pre-emptively before you’ve even found a car to establish whether you’re eligible for car finance. That way, you can establish how much you can afford to borrow before setting out on your search, which might avoid any disappointment further down the line.

Best of all, it’s free to use and there’s no obligation to go ahead. Plus, with us, the rate you see is the rate you get – we won’t surprise you with any extra costs or hidden terms.

Do car finance calculators affect your credit score?

One of the details that we’ll ask you to include when using our car finance calculator is your credit score – whether it’s excellent or good, fair, poor, or bad. Our calculator provides you with a credit rating guide which you can use to judge your rating.

But don’t worry, we’ll only do an initial soft search. This means we’ll conduct a search on your credit file that other lenders can’t see, meaning there’ll be no unexpected impact for you. We make an assessment of your creditworthiness based on the details you provide us and give you an indication of APR (annual percentage rate).

We’ll try to give you an exact APR that’s dependent on your personal circumstances – this is known as your personal APR or real rate. It’s worth knowing, too, that 49% of our customers are likely to get a better rate than the Representative APR, which allows us to clearly advertise our services, so that you can gauge how the rates we offer you compare with other car finance offers.

Our initial soft search is a fantastic way for you to establish whether you’re eligible for car finance without affecting your credit score. But be aware that if you proceed with our car finance, then we will conduct a hard search.

How accurate are car finance calculators?          

Our car finance calculator is specifically designed to be as straightforward and easy to use as possible. It helps you to establish the amount you can expect to pay for your new vehicle. Provided that you give us accurate, up-to-date information, there’s no reason that the car finance calculator would give you incorrect quotes.

That said, it’s worth bearing in mind that the numbers our car finance calculator provides are estimates and not offers. The quotes we supply are contingent on you giving us the correct information, and there are several factors that affect the ultimate cost of car finance.

Use our car finance calculator today

Whatever your car finance needs, My Car Credit is here for you. Our online calculator is easy to fill in and will give you an indication of eligibility and a quote within minutes.

If you choose to proceed with your quote, we have a team of car finance experts just waiting to help you through every step of the process. Backed by a network of over 25 lenders, we’re best placed to get every driver a great deal on finance for their next car. Start your car finance journey today.

Rates from 9.9% APR. Representative APR 10.9%

Evolution Funding Ltd T/A My Car Credit

My Credit Rating

Excellent

  • You are a home owner
  • You have been on the electoral role for a long period of time
  • You have current credit arrangements and mortgage with no defaults
  • You have no CCJs, credit arrears or missed payments
  • You rarely apply for credit
  • You are employed or self-employed

Good

  • You are on the electoral role
  • You are a home owner or long standing tenant
  • You have a stable employment history
  • You have current credit arrangements with occasional missed payments
  • You have no CCJs

Fair

  • You are or have recently been on the electoral role
  • You may have recently changed address
  • You may have occasional missed payments
  • You may have an old CCJ
  • You may have regularly applied for credit

Poor

  • You may have had frequent changes in address
  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • You may have exceeded credit card limits
  • You may have missed payments on current agreements
  • You may have had a CCJ in the past

Bad

  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • Your credit cards are over their limits
  • You have recent CCJs
  • You may have been refused credit elsewhere
  • You may be in a debt management plan
£

X monthly repayments of
£X

Typical rate

Loan amount

Total payable

X% APR*

£X

£X

*for illustration purposes only

No impact on your credit score*

Representative Example

Borrowing £7,500 at a representative APR of 10.9%, annual interest rate (fixed) 10.87%, 47 monthly payments of £191.50 followed by 1 payment of £201.50 (incl. estimated £10 option to purchase fee), a deposit of £0.00, total cost of credit is £1,702, total amount payable £9,202.

Evolution Funding Limited, trading as My Car Credit, is a credit broker and not a lender.

Please ensure you can afford the repayments for the duration of the loan before entering into a credit agreement.

*Initial application is a soft search. Should you progress, some lenders may perform a hard search on your credit file.

Require more help?

Got a question you can’t find the answer to, or need some advice and guidance around taking out car finance? Our Car Credit Specialists are friendly, experienced, and here to help so get in touch today!

Calculate Which Factors Affect the Cost of Car Finance

Woman using a laptop getting the best car finance for her
Brits are no strangers to car finance, with the latest data revealing around 90% of the 2.3 million new cars sold in an average year are financed through an FLA member. Finance can be a great way to unlock more spending power. However, before you apply it’s important to develop a good understanding of how the cost of car finance works.

What many people don’t realise is that the cost of car finance can vary significantly from motorist to motorist. Every applicant is different, and creditors will always adjust the cost of car finance accordingly. So which factors affect the cost of finance? Read on for our expert guide, including how to calculate the factors that affect the cost of car finance.

Cost of car/loan amount

The main factor that determines the cost of car finance is the overall price of the car and the total loan amount. This bottom line figure is what determines everything from monthly repayments to annual interest. While it can be tempting to focus on the price of the car itself it’s important to understand this isn’t the only factor at play. Interest rates, as well as extra fees and charges, can have a big impact on the overall cost of your loan. Before committing to a car loan, it’s always best to crunch the numbers using a cost of car finance calculator.

Deposit

Cash deposits are a major contributor as they directly affect the cost of the car and the loan amount. Deposits are taken off these figures which lowers the amount you need to borrow and brings down the total cost of car credit. For a quick and easy overview, check out our cost of car finance calculator.  

Repayment term

Like home loans, repayment terms will have a big impact on the cost of your car credit. For example, if you plan to settle your car loan within two years, your monthly repayments will be 50% more than with a four-year repayment plan. Opting for the shortest repayment term possible is a good way to slash your interest expenses. Basically, the faster you pay off your loan the less interest you’ll be paying.

Interest rate

Creditors always charge interest rates on loans and these can have a significant impact on the total amount you pay back. Interest is calculated on the total amount you borrow, which means the higher the loan the more interest you’ll pay. A typical Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is 6.9%, which includes your interest rate and any applicable fees. This means that on a £10,000 loan across three years, you’ll pay 36 monthly payments of about £307, totalling £11,065. This includes the £10,000 you borrowed and £1,065 in interest and fees.

Your monthly payments are set from the start of the agreement and stay the same throughout. However, at the start you’ll be paying more of the interest and less of the loan balance. As you get towards the end of the term, you’ll be repaying less interest and more balance.

Before signing a contract you’ll also want to determine whether your interest rate is fixed or variable. There are pros and cons to each, usually dependent on your personal preferences and financial situation.  

Credit rating

Credit ratings are incredibly important when applying for a car loan. They offer lenders an overview of what your spending habits are like and how responsible you are with money. This allows lenders to calculate the risk factor of offering you a loan and empowers them with the data to adjust interest rates accordingly. The risk is lower for applicants with good credit scores which means lenders are more inclined to offer lower interest rates. In comparison, applicants with lower credit scores are deemed higher risk and may be penalised with higher interest rates.

We always recommend starting with ‘soft’ credit checks as they won’t impact your credit score. Unlike hard checks, they don’t leave a trace on your credit score and aren’t visible to potential lenders. Take out too many hard credit checks and you risk presenting yourself as a volatile and credit-hungry applicant. 

Type of car finance you’re going for

The type of car finance you’re looking to take out will also affect the overall cost of your loan. Hire Purchase (HP) loans are one of the most popular models and involve paying off the full value of the car in monthly instalments. The loan is secured against the vehicle, meaning you won’t officially own the car until you’ve paid off the last instalment. You don’t need to put a deposit down on many HP loans but it will help lower your monthly repayments and overall interest if you do.

Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) loans are another popular credit option. Designed to be more flexible than HP loans, they’re based on a long-term ‘rental’ model that usually spans over three to five years. During this time, you make payments that allow you to use the car over the agreed period. PCP loans often come with mileage limits and damage penalties so it’s important to understand all the fine print before you sign on. When your contract comes to an end, you’re offered the option of returning the car and upgrading to a new vehicle on a similar contract or purchasing it outright with a ‘balloon payment’.

Balloon payments are an interesting concept as they can be financially challenging in themselves. At My Car Credit we understand how difficult it can be to find the cash for car loans which is why we developed a special Balloon Payment Finance plan designed to help you own a car at the end of a PCP contract.

Extra fees and charges

Don’t overlook the additional fees and charges that can often come with car credit. These can include brokerage fees, monthly account-keeping fees, statement fees, late payment fees and penalty charges if you choose to terminate your loan early. All can contribute to the overall cost of your car loan and it’s important to know exactly what you’re paying for.

Securing the best car loans

Need help securing a car loan? At My Car Credit we comb through more than 25 trusted car finance lenders to find you the best deals. We also have a lightning-fast cost of car finance calculator that can be used to estimate your repayments in a matter of clicks.

As part of Evolution Funding, we’re backed by one of the largest motor finance brokers in the UK and have access to the most comprehensive panel of car loan companies. What does this mean for you? It boosts our chances of finding you the best possible car finance deals and ensures your repayments and interest rates are as low as possible. To find out more, get in touch with our friendly team today on enquiries@mycarcredit.co.uk.

Rates from 9.9% APR. Representative APR 10.9%

Evolution Funding Ltd T/A My Car Credit

My Credit Rating

Excellent

  • You are a home owner
  • You have been on the electoral role for a long period of time
  • You have current credit arrangements and mortgage with no defaults
  • You have no CCJs, credit arrears or missed payments
  • You rarely apply for credit
  • You are employed or self-employed

Good

  • You are on the electoral role
  • You are a home owner or long standing tenant
  • You have a stable employment history
  • You have current credit arrangements with occasional missed payments
  • You have no CCJs

Fair

  • You are or have recently been on the electoral role
  • You may have recently changed address
  • You may have occasional missed payments
  • You may have an old CCJ
  • You may have regularly applied for credit

Poor

  • You may have had frequent changes in address
  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • You may have exceeded credit card limits
  • You may have missed payments on current agreements
  • You may have had a CCJ in the past

Bad

  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • Your credit cards are over their limits
  • You have recent CCJs
  • You may have been refused credit elsewhere
  • You may be in a debt management plan
£

X monthly repayments of
£X

Typical rate

Loan amount

Total payable

X% APR*

£X

£X

*for illustration purposes only

No impact on your credit score*

Representative Example

Borrowing £7,500 at a representative APR of 10.9%, annual interest rate (fixed) 10.87%, 47 monthly payments of £191.50 followed by 1 payment of £201.50 (incl. estimated £10 option to purchase fee), a deposit of £0.00, total cost of credit is £1,702, total amount payable £9,202.

Evolution Funding Limited, trading as My Car Credit, is a credit broker and not a lender.

Please ensure you can afford the repayments for the duration of the loan before entering into a credit agreement.

*Initial application is a soft search. Should you progress, some lenders may perform a hard search on your credit file.

Require more help?

Got a question you can’t find the answer to, or need some advice and guidance around taking out car finance? Our Car Credit Specialists are friendly, experienced, and here to help so get in touch today!

7 Factors That Can Affect Your Credit Rating

2 women happy knowing what affects their credit scores

Credit ratings can be complex and at times, extremely frustrating. Even the smallest financial hiccups can leave a lasting footprint on your score. This means that a few missed credit card payments over the years or an outstanding mobile phone debt can compromise your application.

This is why it’s so important to develop a good understanding of your credit rating and the various factors that can affect your score. So, what can affect credit rating? Read on for our guide to factors than can influence your rating, as well as tips on how to boost your score.

Understanding credit ratings

Before we dive in let’s take a look at what credit ratings are and why they matter. Basically, credit ratings are used by prospective lenders to evaluate the overall credit risk of a debtor. Historic financial data is used to predict a borrower’s ability to pay back a debt and calculate the risk of defaulting. A particularly bad credit rating could see some applications rejected. In some cases, it could even rule you out of the lowest rate products.

The latest data from multinational consumer credit reporting agency Equifax reveals just how stubborn credit scores can be. Equifax report that the average Brit is issued with a score of 380. This is considered a ‘fair’ score but is just one point away from the 280-379 category which is considered ‘poor’. The perfect score is 700, suggesting everyday borrowers aren’t necessarily as upstanding as you might think. 

Here’s some of the most common factors that can affect your credit rating:

1. Payment history

Keeping up with your credit card payments is one of best ways to build a good credit score. Even making the minimum monthly payment shows lenders you’re a responsible borrower. It also demonstrates that you can commit to a long-term loan. Missed or late credit payments can tarnish your credit score for up to three years. This is why it’s so important to stay on top of your repayments wherever possible.

2. Hard credit inquiries

Carried out by established financial institutions, hard credit checks dig deep into your credit history. They’re used to help creditors make lending decisions. Hard searches are often carried out when applying for larger loans such as mortgages, credit cards and car loans.

While a hard check or two will only lower your credit score by a few points, frequent checks can damage your score and present you as a higher-risk customer. This is because multiple applications suggest you’re chronically short on cash. It could even indicate that you have an irresponsible attitude towards debt. Hard credit checks can leave a mark on your report for around two years. It’s important to consider if you really need one before authorising a full application.

3. Being registered to vote

Lenders will often turn to the electoral roll as a quick and easy way to verify your name and address. Access to government-certified information is also an effective way for lenders to protect themselves against fraud. Failure to register or update your information can affect your credit score by up to 50 points. This can have a significant impact on finance applications.

4. Mobile phone contracts

While mobile phone contracts may seem like a sundry expense, they can have a big impact on your credit score. Like credit card repayments, staying on top of your phone contract is a good way to strengthen your credit score. This is great way of showing lenders that you can commit to a regular payment schedule.

5. Finances of a partner

If you’re married or in a long-term relationship, the finances of your partner will often be factored into your credit score. In some cases, joining forces can strengthen your application. However, if your partner has a ‘thin’ credit history, it may be best to disassociate yourself from them financially.

6. Borrowing percentages

Credit cards can be a good way to build a strong lending history. However, maxing out your cards can have a negative impact on your application. As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to keep your card borrowing below 25%, unless you plan to pay off the full amount every month. This shows lenders you’re responsible and realistic about the money you borrow, and your ability to pay off debt.

7. Utility bills

More than half of major energy providers are now sharing customer data with credit agencies. This makes is essential to maintain good standing with companies such as British Gas and EDF Energy. Utility bills are another good opportunity to establish a good track record with lenders and boost your credit score.

Factors that won’t affect your credit score

We’ve covered some of the biggest factors that will affect your credit score. Now let’s take a look at some of the things that won’t drag you down.

1. Your salary and disposable income

It’s a common misconception that high salaries translate to better credit scores. In fact, lenders are far more interested in how you manage your debts than how much money you earn. For example, an applicant who earns £35,000 a year and pays off their credit card in full every month is far more appealing than an applicant who earns £100,000 a year and has maxed out their credit card and defaulted on several payments. 

2. Soft credit checks

While hard credit checks can leave a lasting footprint, their soft counterparts won’t affect your credit rating. What’s more, they can still give lenders a good overview of your credit history. They’re also known as ‘eligibility checks’ and are great for establishing the likelihood of acceptance before committing to a hard check.

3. Previous mistakes

Losing sleep over a mortgage you deferred on several years ago? Stressing about a credit card that got out of control in your twenties? The good news is mistakes you’ve made in the past don’t always stay around to haunt you.

For example, County Court Judgments (CCJ) issued when a borrower fails to repay money will stay on your record for up to six years. The good news is that they will automatically be removed after that period.

Black marks like Debt Relief Orders or Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVAs) can also have a negative impact on your credit score but won’t necessarily stay on your record forever.

Buying a car with poor credit

Need help securing a car loan? Whether you’re struggling with poor credit car finance or simply need assistance getting the best interest rates, we’re here to help. At My Car Credit we offer tailored car finance to applicants with all types of credit histories. Thankfully, this includes those with less than perfect scores. Get in touch today by emailing enquiries@mycarcredit.co.uk to find out more. We’ll help you secure the keys to your new vehicle as quickly as possible.

Rates from 9.9% APR. Representative APR 10.9%

Evolution Funding Ltd T/A My Car Credit

My Credit Rating

Excellent

  • You are a home owner
  • You have been on the electoral role for a long period of time
  • You have current credit arrangements and mortgage with no defaults
  • You have no CCJs, credit arrears or missed payments
  • You rarely apply for credit
  • You are employed or self-employed

Good

  • You are on the electoral role
  • You are a home owner or long standing tenant
  • You have a stable employment history
  • You have current credit arrangements with occasional missed payments
  • You have no CCJs

Fair

  • You are or have recently been on the electoral role
  • You may have recently changed address
  • You may have occasional missed payments
  • You may have an old CCJ
  • You may have regularly applied for credit

Poor

  • You may have had frequent changes in address
  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • You may have exceeded credit card limits
  • You may have missed payments on current agreements
  • You may have had a CCJ in the past

Bad

  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • Your credit cards are over their limits
  • You have recent CCJs
  • You may have been refused credit elsewhere
  • You may be in a debt management plan
£

X monthly repayments of
£X

Typical rate

Loan amount

Total payable

X% APR*

£X

£X

*for illustration purposes only

No impact on your credit score*

Representative Example

Borrowing £7,500 at a representative APR of 10.9%, annual interest rate (fixed) 10.87%, 47 monthly payments of £191.50 followed by 1 payment of £201.50 (incl. estimated £10 option to purchase fee), a deposit of £0.00, total cost of credit is £1,702, total amount payable £9,202.

Evolution Funding Limited, trading as My Car Credit, is a credit broker and not a lender.

Please ensure you can afford the repayments for the duration of the loan before entering into a credit agreement.

*Initial application is a soft search. Should you progress, some lenders may perform a hard search on your credit file.

Require more help?

Got a question you can’t find the answer to, or need some advice and guidance around taking out car finance? Our Car Credit Specialists are friendly, experienced, and here to help so get in touch today!

What’s the Difference Between Bad Credit & Poor Credit?

Woman at work checking her credit profile on her phone

Credit scores are a prerequisite for a number of financial processes, from loans and car finance to mortgages and tenancy agreements. In short, they show how well you have managed credit in the past, giving companies an indication of how trustworthy you are to keep up with payments on their products or services.

If your credit score is good, very good or exceptional, that will probably be the last you hear about it. But what if your credit score is bad or poor? These slightly vague terms may lead to more challenges with getting the loan, finance or even accommodation you need.

So, what do they actually mean? And is there a difference between bad and poor credit?

Defining bad and poor credit

Credit scores are a numerical representation of your credit history, taking into account various factors like paying your bills on time, carrying balances over on your credit card and even the number of credit checks on your record. The result is a three-digit number which is ranked from very poor or poor to excellent or exceptional, depending on the system.

Two of the most popular systems, VantageScore and FICO Score both use a scale of 350 to 800. With FICO score, 300-570 is poor while 580-669 is fair. Using VantageScore, 300-499 is very poor, 500-600 is poor and 601-660 is fair.

With both systems, from fair downwards is classed as a ‘bad’ credit score, which is why you might hear this broad term used. In short, it refers to anything below a good score, which is a cut off point for some lenders. Within this, there are sub-categories of bad credit like fair, poor and very poor credit, which refer to more specific ranges.

The other meaning of bad credit

The use of the term ‘bad credit score’ admittedly causes some confusion, because bad credit also has another similar meaning. Bad credit refers to a history of managing credit poorly.

If someone has continuously paid bills late, missed payments or built-up debt on their credit card, they will be said to have bad credit. The same is true for companies, who can have bad credit if they have a history of debt and late payments.

How will bad and poor credit affect applications?

The difference between a bad credit score and a poor credit score will matter most when you’re applying for any form of credit. As mentioned, some lenders will draw the line at bad credit, refusing to lend to anyone whose credit history isn’t good or above.

Others will happily lend to those with a ‘bad’ credit score as long as it is still rated as ‘fair’. Thankfully, there are also plenty of lenders who will still offer their services to people with a poor credit score. That means you can get car finance with a poor credit history, as well as other services such as loans or tenancy agreements.

Moving on from poor credit

At My Car Credit, we understand that poor credit doesn’t always mean you’re a bad applicant. A bad or poor credit score can be down to a number of factors, all of which can be changed over time. That’s why we aim to make buying a car with poor credit easier.

With a network of 27 trusted lenders, we’re committed to finding a fair deal for all customers, whatever their credit history. To find out more, contact us today on enquiries@mycarcredit.co.uk.

Rates from 9.9% APR. Representative APR 10.9%

Evolution Funding Ltd T/A My Car Credit

My Credit Rating

Excellent

  • You are a home owner
  • You have been on the electoral role for a long period of time
  • You have current credit arrangements and mortgage with no defaults
  • You have no CCJs, credit arrears or missed payments
  • You rarely apply for credit
  • You are employed or self-employed

Good

  • You are on the electoral role
  • You are a home owner or long standing tenant
  • You have a stable employment history
  • You have current credit arrangements with occasional missed payments
  • You have no CCJs

Fair

  • You are or have recently been on the electoral role
  • You may have recently changed address
  • You may have occasional missed payments
  • You may have an old CCJ
  • You may have regularly applied for credit

Poor

  • You may have had frequent changes in address
  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • You may have exceeded credit card limits
  • You may have missed payments on current agreements
  • You may have had a CCJ in the past

Bad

  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • Your credit cards are over their limits
  • You have recent CCJs
  • You may have been refused credit elsewhere
  • You may be in a debt management plan
£

X monthly repayments of
£X

Typical rate

Loan amount

Total payable

X% APR*

£X

£X

*for illustration purposes only

No impact on your credit score*

Representative Example

Borrowing £7,500 at a representative APR of 10.9%, annual interest rate (fixed) 10.87%, 47 monthly payments of £191.50 followed by 1 payment of £201.50 (incl. estimated £10 option to purchase fee), a deposit of £0.00, total cost of credit is £1,702, total amount payable £9,202.

Evolution Funding Limited, trading as My Car Credit, is a credit broker and not a lender.

Please ensure you can afford the repayments for the duration of the loan before entering into a credit agreement.

*Initial application is a soft search. Should you progress, some lenders may perform a hard search on your credit file.

Require more help?

Got a question you can’t find the answer to, or need some advice and guidance around taking out car finance? Our Car Credit Specialists are friendly, experienced, and here to help so get in touch today!

4 Factors That Impact the Cost of Car Finance

New car bought using car finance

Car finance is a great way to spread the cost of a new car. What’s more, it allows you to get a better vehicle and potentially save money on repairs and replacements in the long run. However, the cost of car finance itself can vary quite a bit. This depends on a number of factors, which we’ll discuss in this post.

1.   Cost of the car

The most obvious factor that affects the cost of car finance is the value of the car you’re looking to buy. Car finance is essentially a loan that you take out to pay the dealership or seller. The higher the value of the car, the more money you’ll need to borrow. This will make the monthly repayments higher as well as adding to the interest you’ll need to pay. So, to minimise the cost, more affordable cars are better.

2.   Credit score

Next on the list is your credit score. There are of course plenty of lenders which will provide car loans for poor credit. However, the score itself may affect the rate of interest which lenders will offer you.

Customers with good credit scores are seen as a safe bet, meaning lenders will be able to give them the lower interest rates. On the other hand, those with bad or poor credit scores are a bit more of a risk for lenders. As a result, they may need to pay a higher interest rate to balance out the risk to the lender.

3.   Length of repayment

Much like a standard loan, car finance can be taken out over a variety of repayment terms. Given that cars are quite a large purchase, 24 months is typically the minimum term for car finance. Alternatively, you might want to spread the cost over a longer period such as 36 months (3 years), 48 months (4 years) or even 60 months (5 years).

Paying back your car finance over a shorter term like 24 months will make the monthly cost of car finance higher. This is the result of the cost being spread over fewer instalments. However, it will generally reduce the overall cost of car finance because you will be paying the money back sooner, incurring fewer interest charges.

4.   Car finance provider

This brings us to another consideration – the provider you choose. Interest rates are one of the biggest factors when it comes to the cost of your car finance. Put simply, this is the cost added on to your loan over time as a charge for lending you the money.

Interest rates vary depending on which provider you choose, which is why it’s important to do your research before applying for car finance.

Car finance for poor credit

If you want to find a good deal on poor credit car finance, don’t hesitate to get in touch with My Car Credit. We use a large panel of trusted UK lenders to find a fair deal for all applicants. This allows you to minimise the overall cost for your new car and spread it across a repayment term that suits you.

Rates from 9.9% APR. Representative APR 10.9%

Evolution Funding Ltd T/A My Car Credit

My Credit Rating

Excellent

  • You are a home owner
  • You have been on the electoral role for a long period of time
  • You have current credit arrangements and mortgage with no defaults
  • You have no CCJs, credit arrears or missed payments
  • You rarely apply for credit
  • You are employed or self-employed

Good

  • You are on the electoral role
  • You are a home owner or long standing tenant
  • You have a stable employment history
  • You have current credit arrangements with occasional missed payments
  • You have no CCJs

Fair

  • You are or have recently been on the electoral role
  • You may have recently changed address
  • You may have occasional missed payments
  • You may have an old CCJ
  • You may have regularly applied for credit

Poor

  • You may have had frequent changes in address
  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • You may have exceeded credit card limits
  • You may have missed payments on current agreements
  • You may have had a CCJ in the past

Bad

  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • Your credit cards are over their limits
  • You have recent CCJs
  • You may have been refused credit elsewhere
  • You may be in a debt management plan
£

X monthly repayments of
£X

Typical rate

Loan amount

Total payable

X% APR*

£X

£X

*for illustration purposes only

No impact on your credit score*

Representative Example

Borrowing £7,500 at a representative APR of 10.9%, annual interest rate (fixed) 10.87%, 47 monthly payments of £191.50 followed by 1 payment of £201.50 (incl. estimated £10 option to purchase fee), a deposit of £0.00, total cost of credit is £1,702, total amount payable £9,202.

Evolution Funding Limited, trading as My Car Credit, is a credit broker and not a lender.

Please ensure you can afford the repayments for the duration of the loan before entering into a credit agreement.

*Initial application is a soft search. Should you progress, some lenders may perform a hard search on your credit file.

Require more help?

Got a question you can’t find the answer to, or need some advice and guidance around taking out car finance? Our Car Credit Specialists are friendly, experienced, and here to help so get in touch today!

Do Credit Checks Affect Your Score?

Woman happy after checking her credit score

Credit checks are a necessary step for all types of credit applications including loans, car finance and home tenancy agreements. But for those who are already concerned about their credit rating, there is an understandable worry that the check itself might do damage to your score.

In this post, we’ll clear things up when it comes to credit checks and how they affect your score in the UK.

What is a credit check?

In short, credit checks are a way of checking your history, behaviour and associations when it comes to credit. They look at:

  • What credit you’ve taken out
  • Whether it’s been paid back
  • When it’s paid back (on time and regularly or late and irregularly)
  • Financial associations – including people with whom you share joint bank accounts or mortgages

Aside from checking your credit score online, credit checks can be broken down into soft and hard credit checks, which refer to the level of detail being assessed.

As the name suggests, soft credit checks take a brief look at your credit report to get an idea of your behaviour. These are typically an initial step in the application process to get a better idea of whether you’ll be successful.

On the other hand, hard credit checks are a comprehensive assessment of your credit history. These will typically be performed later in the process, as a final step to approve your application.

Do they affect your credit score?

Credit checks are one of the many factors that affect your credit score. But it depends on the type of check being done. Soft checks are not visible to other companies, so they won’t affect your credit score going forward. The same is true when checking your credit report yourself.

However, because hard credit checks are only done when companies are considering you for an application, they can have an impact on your score. Hard credit checks will be visible on your report, and too many in a short space of time could reduce your chances of being approved for credit. This is particularly true where your application for credit has been unsuccessful. However, the initial soft credit check should help you avoid this situation.

How we check your credit score

At My Car Credit, we only perform a soft credit check initially, to make sure there’s no impact on your credit score. This gives us a better idea of whether you’ll be successful before proceeding with the application. This in turn enables us to provide poor credit car loans to more people across the UK.

Rates from 9.9% APR. Representative APR 10.9%

Evolution Funding Ltd T/A My Car Credit

My Credit Rating

Excellent

  • You are a home owner
  • You have been on the electoral role for a long period of time
  • You have current credit arrangements and mortgage with no defaults
  • You have no CCJs, credit arrears or missed payments
  • You rarely apply for credit
  • You are employed or self-employed

Good

  • You are on the electoral role
  • You are a home owner or long standing tenant
  • You have a stable employment history
  • You have current credit arrangements with occasional missed payments
  • You have no CCJs

Fair

  • You are or have recently been on the electoral role
  • You may have recently changed address
  • You may have occasional missed payments
  • You may have an old CCJ
  • You may have regularly applied for credit

Poor

  • You may have had frequent changes in address
  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • You may have exceeded credit card limits
  • You may have missed payments on current agreements
  • You may have had a CCJ in the past

Bad

  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • Your credit cards are over their limits
  • You have recent CCJs
  • You may have been refused credit elsewhere
  • You may be in a debt management plan
£

X monthly repayments of
£X

Typical rate

Loan amount

Total payable

X% APR*

£X

£X

*for illustration purposes only

No impact on your credit score*

Representative Example

Borrowing £7,500 at a representative APR of 10.9%, annual interest rate (fixed) 10.87%, 47 monthly payments of £191.50 followed by 1 payment of £201.50 (incl. estimated £10 option to purchase fee), a deposit of £0.00, total cost of credit is £1,702, total amount payable £9,202.

Evolution Funding Limited, trading as My Car Credit, is a credit broker and not a lender.

Please ensure you can afford the repayments for the duration of the loan before entering into a credit agreement.

*Initial application is a soft search. Should you progress, some lenders may perform a hard search on your credit file.

Require more help?

Got a question you can’t find the answer to, or need some advice and guidance around taking out car finance? Our Car Credit Specialists are friendly, experienced, and here to help so get in touch today!

Check for car finance without affecting your credit score

woman using her ipad to check for car finance online

It's natural that customers shopping around for car finance can be concerned that an initial credit search will negatively influence their credit score. Initial credit searches usually result in a mark on your credit score - especially when they are abandoned. Very often, customers like to check for car finance before they make a decision or before they've even found a car.

At My Car Credit, we help customers check whether they’re eligible for car finance before they formally apply. This is a great way of taking the worry out of assessing your options. We do this by carrying out a ‘soft search’ credit check at the very start of your application for car finance deals.

What is a car finance soft search?

soft search is a type of credit check which allows us to see your financial history (i.e. how you’ve managed your loans and finances) without having this information exposed to lenders.

Here’s how it works. Start by using our car finance calculator to get an idea of your monthly payments and finance rate, based on your credit profile, loan amount and preferred contract length. Next, we ask you to complete a short online application form. This car finance checker should take no longer than three minutes to complete. We’ll require a few personal details such as name, address, date of birth, contact details, and employment details. You will then receive an instant online decision on screen, with confirmation by email and text.

A tailored approach to car finance

We understand that no two customers are the same. In addition, there are many different factors that can affect the outcome of your application. Our commitment is to find you the best finance solution possible. To do this, we adhere to lending regulations. This involves placing all our prospective customers into one of two categories: prime and subprime.

  • Prime customers (those with a good credit status) will receive an actual annual percentage rate (APR) – this interest rate is a transparent one, i.e. in the majority of cases this will be the rate a customer will pay.
  • Subprime customers (those with an impaired credit history) will receive confirmation of their application. The My Car Credit team will work hard with our panel of 30+ lenders to get the best deal for your circumstances.

Why does my credit rating matter for car finance?

Your credit rating is a barometer of how well you’ve used credit in the past and currently. It gives prospective lenders an idea of how likely you are to keep up with monthly repayments. For example, applicants with bad credit or ‘poor’ credit are typically higher risk when it comes to that monthly payment.

To account for this risk, many lenders will increase the interest rate for hire purchase or PCP when applicants have poor credit. That increases the total cost of your car finance loan.

In some cases, a low credit score can even mean you’re not eligible for car finance. However, we use a large panel of lenders with a commitment to find you a car finance deal based on your monthly budget. Even if you think you’re not eligible for car finance, it’s worth using a car finance checker with a broker like My Car Credit.

Soft credit checks are a car finance eligibility checker

A soft credit check is convenient and provides all the key information needed to get the wheels in motion. However, the key benefit of a soft check is that it is not visible to lenders on your credit report. This means that it won’t affect your credit score or your future ability to obtain finance. This is true even in the event that you are declined for finance with us.

If you were to ask for a copy of your credit report, only you will be able to see the soft search on there. Within reason, you can have as many soft searches as you like without affecting your credit score. Essentially, a soft search checks for the same type of data that a ‘hard’ credit search would. The difference is, there is no risk of putting a mark on your credit file.

Because of this, we can use a soft search as a car finance eligibility checker. It gives us a glimpse into your financial situation, including your credit score, employment status, address history and whether you’re on the electoral roll. Using that quick eligibility checker, we will make a decision about your car finance agreement and whether you are eligible for car finance.

Important! Whilst the initial soft search will not leave a mark on your credit file, progressing to a full application may require some lenders to perform a hard search. This allows them to complete their full due diligence of your financial status. A hard search will show on your credit file and can be seen by other potential lenders.

What does all this mean for you?

The approach at My Car Credit means you have the freedom to shop around for car finance before making a decision. It also ensures that you aren’t penalised if you are refused car finance..

There is also no obligation or fee attached to the soft search application process with us. If you’re not sure that the quoted rate is right for your circumstances, you are free to take the information away with you. However, if you are happy to proceed with the rate you’ve been quoted, simply complete your application with us – it’s as easy as that.

Put simply: A soft search is a fantastic way of starting your car finance application without the worry of affecting your credit score. Soft search provides a very good indication of where you stand in terms of being approved for credit. It’s worth noting, it is not a replacement for checking your credit history and improving your credit score before making an application.

Use our car finance checker today

My Car Credit can help you get a new car even when other lenders have failed. That’s because we consider more than just your credit score for eligiblity. With a panel of lenders to borrow from, we can assess your loan based on your monthly budget to dig deeper into eligibility – all in a short space of time.

Sound good? It all starts with our car finance calculator. Enter your loan details today to see whether you’re eligible with our panel of lenders.

Rates from 9.9% APR. Representative APR 10.9%

Evolution Funding Ltd T/A My Car Credit

My Credit Rating

Excellent

  • You are a home owner
  • You have been on the electoral role for a long period of time
  • You have current credit arrangements and mortgage with no defaults
  • You have no CCJs, credit arrears or missed payments
  • You rarely apply for credit
  • You are employed or self-employed

Good

  • You are on the electoral role
  • You are a home owner or long standing tenant
  • You have a stable employment history
  • You have current credit arrangements with occasional missed payments
  • You have no CCJs

Fair

  • You are or have recently been on the electoral role
  • You may have recently changed address
  • You may have occasional missed payments
  • You may have an old CCJ
  • You may have regularly applied for credit

Poor

  • You may have had frequent changes in address
  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • You may have exceeded credit card limits
  • You may have missed payments on current agreements
  • You may have had a CCJ in the past

Bad

  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • Your credit cards are over their limits
  • You have recent CCJs
  • You may have been refused credit elsewhere
  • You may be in a debt management plan
£

X monthly repayments of
£X

Typical rate

Loan amount

Total payable

X% APR*

£X

£X

*for illustration purposes only

No impact on your credit score*

Representative Example

Borrowing £7,500 at a representative APR of 10.9%, annual interest rate (fixed) 10.87%, 47 monthly payments of £191.50 followed by 1 payment of £201.50 (incl. estimated £10 option to purchase fee), a deposit of £0.00, total cost of credit is £1,702, total amount payable £9,202.

Evolution Funding Limited, trading as My Car Credit, is a credit broker and not a lender.

Please ensure you can afford the repayments for the duration of the loan before entering into a credit agreement.

*Initial application is a soft search. Should you progress, some lenders may perform a hard search on your credit file.

Require more help?

Got a question you can’t find the answer to, or need some advice and guidance around taking out car finance? Our Car Credit Specialists are friendly, experienced, and here to help so get in touch today!

Will I Get Accepted for Car Finance?

White mini convertible purchased with car loan parked on road

In the UK, there are multiple options when it comes to paying for your car. Given that a car is the second most expensive purchase you will probably ever make, after a house, it’s very important you get the right option for you.

You can purchase a car outright – which isn’t for everybody – or you can opt for car finance. Some car dealerships offer their own finance options, but this is problematic. How will you know if your application for finance will be accepted? And do you really want to visit a car dealer, choose a car and apply in-store – with the risk of being rejected in-person? There must be an easier way… 

Read on as we answer all of your questions about car finance approval.

What actually is car finance?

Car finance is a credit agreement made between you and the lender, organised either directly with the lender, via your car dealer or using a car finance broker. Car finance involves paying for your car through an initial deposit payment, and then paying off the rest of the costs through monthly instalments. In the UK, it is common that car dealerships offer car finance options when consumers purchase a new car.

Can I get car finance?

There are several factors that can impact whether you can get car finance in the UK:

  1. Age – To take out a car finance plan, you must be aged 18 to 75 years’ old.
  2. Residency – You need to be a resident in the UK for at least three or more years. Most companies will not take on temporary residents.
  3. Credit score – For most lenders, this is a big one. The better your credit score, the more likely you are to get approved, but some brokers – like My Car Credit – work with lenders who will take on applicants with poor or bad credit scores.
  4. The car – The car needs to be less than 8 years old when you first take out the finance plan, and it must be less than 12 years old when the finance plan ends.
  5. Employment – Being able to prove you are in stable employment will be favourable for most lenders. Normally, they ask for your previous three months’ bank statements and payslips to prove this.
  6. Benefits – Most lenders will require at least half your benefits to be income based. Benefits that would count as a form of income are, Carers’ Allowance, Local Council Tax Support, Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit (long term incapacity), Tax Credits, Pension Credit and State Retirement Pension. For any other disability benefits, lenders are more flexible due to the nature of the benefit and will often accept government-funded allowance.
  7. Retirement – Despite being out of employment, retired applicants may be in a good financial position. They would still be required to have proof of their income, whether that be from a pension, investment or property rental income.

What is a credit score?

A credit score is an expression which represents the creditworthiness of an individual. It shows someone’s credit history and lets lenders know what kind of borrower they are and how likely it is that they will manage repayments.

When you apply for car finance, your credit score will be looked at by your lender. People with a higher credit score are more likely to be successful when applying for car finance, and sometimes they can even get better interest rates. This is because they are considered as a ‘lower risk’ when compared to others with a lower credit score.

Lenders will use your credit score to tailor a car finance plan to you. If you have a higher credit score, some lenders will approve your car finance quicker and can often offer you lower interest rates.

Can I still get car finance if I have a poor credit score?

A credit score can impact on your eligibility for car finance, but a poor or bad credit score doesn’t always rule you out. If you have a poor credit score, you will have to jump through hoops with some lenders. The worse the score, the more hoops you will have to jump through.

However, at My Car Credit, we aim to find a car finance option that works for people with a whole range of credit scores and personal circumstances. You can use our car finance calculator to work out if you will be accepted for car finance with your credit score – and to find the best car finance option for you from our large panel of lenders.

Would I get accepted for car finance?

You could go straight through your car dealer for your car finance option, but they often prefer to only offer car finance to good or excellent credit scores. At My Car Credit, we consider all individual circumstances, with the aim of making car finance as simple and accessible as possible.

We have the largest panel of car finance lenders meaning that we are more likely to get someone a car finance agreement. Our smart technology allows us to place you with the best lender for your circumstances in a matter of seconds. We also have a team of manual underwriters, who can assess your individual circumstances where we haven’t been able to find you a deal automatically.

Find out if you can get car finance

At My Car Credit, we aim to help you through every step of the car finance process to make the process as hassle-free as possible.

For an instant quote, and to see what car finance plan you are eligible for, please use our simple car finance calculator. We are open 7 days a week and our website has loads of helpful tips, guidelines and answers to any questions you have.

For more information, call us on 01246 458 810 or email us at enquiries@mycarcredit.co.uk.

Rates from 9.9% APR. Representative APR 10.9%

Evolution Funding Ltd T/A My Car Credit

My Credit Rating

Excellent

  • You are a home owner
  • You have been on the electoral role for a long period of time
  • You have current credit arrangements and mortgage with no defaults
  • You have no CCJs, credit arrears or missed payments
  • You rarely apply for credit
  • You are employed or self-employed

Good

  • You are on the electoral role
  • You are a home owner or long standing tenant
  • You have a stable employment history
  • You have current credit arrangements with occasional missed payments
  • You have no CCJs

Fair

  • You are or have recently been on the electoral role
  • You may have recently changed address
  • You may have occasional missed payments
  • You may have an old CCJ
  • You may have regularly applied for credit

Poor

  • You may have had frequent changes in address
  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • You may have exceeded credit card limits
  • You may have missed payments on current agreements
  • You may have had a CCJ in the past

Bad

  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • Your credit cards are over their limits
  • You have recent CCJs
  • You may have been refused credit elsewhere
  • You may be in a debt management plan
£

X monthly repayments of
£X

Typical rate

Loan amount

Total payable

X% APR*

£X

£X

*for illustration purposes only

No impact on your credit score*

Representative Example

Borrowing £7,500 at a representative APR of 10.9%, annual interest rate (fixed) 10.87%, 47 monthly payments of £191.50 followed by 1 payment of £201.50 (incl. estimated £10 option to purchase fee), a deposit of £0.00, total cost of credit is £1,702, total amount payable £9,202.

Evolution Funding Limited, trading as My Car Credit, is a credit broker and not a lender.

Please ensure you can afford the repayments for the duration of the loan before entering into a credit agreement.

*Initial application is a soft search. Should you progress, some lenders may perform a hard search on your credit file.

Require more help?

Got a question you can’t find the answer to, or need some advice and guidance around taking out car finance? Our Car Credit Specialists are friendly, experienced, and here to help so get in touch today!

How to Get Car Finance with Poor Credit

Young lady looking happily at her phone due to getting car finance with poor credit

Between July 2018 and June 2019, 9 out of every 10 cars sold in the UK were paid through some sort of car finance. With that in mind, it’s clear that finance has become the most popular way to buy a car. However, many people are still unsure about their eligibility. Can you get car finance with poor credit, for instance?

In this post, we’ll explore how car finance works and how to get car finance with a poor credit score.

What exactly is car finance?

The FLA defines car finance as a plan that spreads the cost of a new or used car. Instead of paying the full amount for the car upfront, consumers can pay monthly towards the overall cost of their purchased car.

In the UK, it is common for car dealerships to offer finance options to their customers. Alternatively, you can get finance through dedicated finance brokers, who will offer a wide range of financial deals to their customers via a panel of lenders. This allows them to find the best available deals to suit each individual customer.

What impacts whether I am eligible for car finance?

Many factors can impact your eligibility for car finance:

  1. Age – To take out a car finance plan, you must be aged 18 to 75 years’ old.
  2. Residency – You need to be a resident in the UK for at least three or more years. Most companies will not take on temporary residents.
  3. Credit score – For most lenders, this is a big one. The better your credit score, the more likely you are to get approved.
  4. The car you want to take a finance plan out on – The car needs to be less than 8 years old when you first take out the finance plan, and it must be less than 12 years old when the finance plan ends.
  5. Employment – Being able to prove you are in stable employment will be favourable for most lenders. Normally, they ask for your previous three months’ bank statements and payslips to prove this.
  6. Benefits – Most lenders will require at least half your benefits to be income based. Benefits that would count as a form of income are Carers’ Allowance, Local Council Tax Support, Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit (long term incapacity), Tax Credits, Pension Credit, and State Retirement Pension. For any other disability benefits, lenders are more flexible due to the nature of the benefit and will often accept government-funded allowance.
  7. Retirement – Despite being out of employment, many retired applicants will be in a good financial position. They would still be required to have proof of their income, whether that be from a pension, investment or property.

How credit affects car finance eligibility

A credit score is a numerical expression, which represents the creditworthiness of an individual. It represents someone’s credit history and tells lenders a lot about what kind of borrower they are and how likely it is that they will manage repayments.

When you apply for car finance, your credit score will be looked at by your lender. People with a higher credit score are more likely to be successful when applying for car finance, and sometimes they can even get better interest rates. This is because they are considered as ‘lower risk’ when compared to others with a higher credit score.

Lenders will use your credit score to tailor a car finance plan to you. If you have a higher credit score, lenders can often approve your car finance quicker and offer you lower interest rates.

Can I get car finance with poor credit?

Many dealerships prefer to only offer car finance plans to good or excellent credit scores, which is not good news if your credit score is not particularly great. The lower your credit score, the more hoops they will make you jump through.

While poor credit can make some finance applications tricky, it doesn’t mean you can’t get credit full stop. At My Car Credit, we are committed to finding a finance package that suits you, wherever possible. With the largest panel of lenders out of any other UK broker, we are better placed to get you approved for car finance with a poor credit score compared to other brokers.

Our clever technology allows us to use data-driven decisions to place you with the best lender. We also have a team of manual underwriters who can assess each customer’s individual circumstances to ensure we always give you the best deal on car finance available from our lenders.

Our simple-to-use car finance calculator allows you to see if you will be eligible for car finance with poor credit. Taking your credit score into account, you can get a clear idea of the finance on offer, changing the loan amount and repayment term to suit you.

Where can I go to get car finance with poor credit?

If you’re looking to get car finance with poor credit, My Car Credit can help. Simply enter your credit score, loan amount and repayment terms on our simple car finance calculator and let us do all the legwork.

We’re fully FCA compliant, meaning our customers know exactly what they are getting from us. If you want to find out more about the car finance we can offer you with poor credit, get in touch with our team today. You can call us on 01246 458 810 or email enquiries@mycarcredit.co.uk.

Rates from 9.9% APR. Representative APR 10.9%

Evolution Funding Ltd T/A My Car Credit

My Credit Rating

Excellent

  • You are a home owner
  • You have been on the electoral role for a long period of time
  • You have current credit arrangements and mortgage with no defaults
  • You have no CCJs, credit arrears or missed payments
  • You rarely apply for credit
  • You are employed or self-employed

Good

  • You are on the electoral role
  • You are a home owner or long standing tenant
  • You have a stable employment history
  • You have current credit arrangements with occasional missed payments
  • You have no CCJs

Fair

  • You are or have recently been on the electoral role
  • You may have recently changed address
  • You may have occasional missed payments
  • You may have an old CCJ
  • You may have regularly applied for credit

Poor

  • You may have had frequent changes in address
  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • You may have exceeded credit card limits
  • You may have missed payments on current agreements
  • You may have had a CCJ in the past

Bad

  • You may not be traceable on the voters roll
  • Your credit cards are over their limits
  • You have recent CCJs
  • You may have been refused credit elsewhere
  • You may be in a debt management plan
£

X monthly repayments of
£X

Typical rate

Loan amount

Total payable

X% APR*

£X

£X

*for illustration purposes only

No impact on your credit score*

Representative Example

Borrowing £7,500 at a representative APR of 10.9%, annual interest rate (fixed) 10.87%, 47 monthly payments of £191.50 followed by 1 payment of £201.50 (incl. estimated £10 option to purchase fee), a deposit of £0.00, total cost of credit is £1,702, total amount payable £9,202.

Evolution Funding Limited, trading as My Car Credit, is a credit broker and not a lender.

Please ensure you can afford the repayments for the duration of the loan before entering into a credit agreement.

*Initial application is a soft search. Should you progress, some lenders may perform a hard search on your credit file.

Require more help?

Got a question you can’t find the answer to, or need some advice and guidance around taking out car finance? Our Car Credit Specialists are friendly, experienced, and here to help so get in touch today!