Motorists unaware of PCP risks
Motorists locked into appealing finance deals on new cars could be leaving themselves open to huge bills if the car is written off or stolen before the end of the agreed loan period, according to MotorEasy.
There has been a massive surge in motorists using personal contract purchase (PCP) deals to buy new cars. Last year, 87% of cars were bought on finance, up from 81% in 2015 and an increase of 50% from 2009, leaving UK drivers with a debt of £58bn in car finance.
PCP deals allow motorists to have a new car for a few years, in return for monthly payments. At the end of the term they have the option to pay the remainder and own the car or simply hand it back.
Meanwhile, 450,000 vehicles are written off in accidents each year and a further 76,356 are stolen. MotorEasy believes that very few consumers with PCP deals understand the implications if this happens before the end of their agreement.
The prevalence of PCP deals is causing increasing concern for the motor industry, as there has been a rise in motorists taking out loans on new cars and defaulting on payments. The amount of debt owed by consumers on car finance has risen 15% in the last 12 months.
The ‘protection’ offered by a PCP deal only comes at the end of the agreed term. If the vehicle is written off or stolen beforehand, insurance companies typically only pay the market value of the car at that point.
That could be significantly less than the finance settlement figure at the same point, leaving the motorist with a financial shortfall and a hefty bill to pay off the finance. MotorEasy’s GAP insurance covers the difference between the vehicle market value and the remaining amount of the finance settlement.
