Car Finance Check: Outstanding Finance on Vehicle
Check if a car has outstanding PCP, HP, or loan finance before you buy. Most new cars are bought on finance. Make sure the debt is settled.
Short answer: a car finance check costs £4.99 on CarCostCheck, as part of a full history check. It shows whether a finance agreement such as PCP, hire purchase or conditional sale is registered against the car and, if one is, the lender, the agreement type, the start date and the term, so you can ask the seller to settle it before you pay. The same £4.99 also checks for theft and insurance write-offs. Of the 22 UK checks with outstanding finance we priced on 24 October 2026, single checks cost from £3.99 to £39.99. One-time payment, no subscription.
What the finance check covers
Why finance checks matter
When a car is bought on PCP or HP, the finance company owns the vehicle until the agreement has been paid off. If the car is sold before then, the lender may still have a claim on it. A private buyer who bought in good faith without knowing about the finance is usually protected by the Hire Purchase Act 1964, but not for every type of loan or for trade buyers, and sorting it out can take months, so check before you pay.
This is not a rare scenario. Most new cars are bought on some form of finance, and many of them are sold on before the agreement ends. Without a finance check, you have no way of knowing whether the car you are buying is truly owned by the seller.
By law, every seller promises that they have the right to sell the car and that it is free of any finance they have not told you about (section 12 of the Sale of Goods Act 1979). But that promise only gives you a claim against the seller, and some sellers do not even know about the finance if, for example, they inherited the car. Running a finance check before you hand over money is the most reliable way to protect yourself.
Most
New cars bought on finance
Months
How long a dispute with the lender can take
£4.99
Full check including finance
How it works
Enter the reg plate
Type any UK vehicle registration into the search bar. No signup needed.
We check finance records
We verify the vehicle against Experian finance databases for PCP, HP, and secured loans.
Get your result
View the finance status alongside stolen checks, write-off history, and full MOT analysis.
Frequently asked questions
What does a car finance check reveal?▼
A finance check shows whether the vehicle has outstanding PCP (Personal Contract Purchase), HP (Hire Purchase), or a personal loan secured against it. If finance is still owed, the lender has a legal claim on the vehicle. Our check verifies this through Experian.
What happens if I buy a car with outstanding finance?▼
On hire purchase and most PCP deals the finance company owns the car until the agreement is paid off, so the lender may still have a claim on the car after you have paid for it. A private buyer who bought in good faith without knowing about the finance is usually protected by the Hire Purchase Act 1964, but not for every type of loan or for trade buyers, and sorting it out can take months. A £4.99 check before you pay avoids the problem altogether.
How common is outstanding finance on used cars?▼
Very common. Most new cars in the UK are bought on finance, usually PCP or HP, and many are sold on before the agreement has been paid off. This makes a finance check one of the most important steps when buying a used car.
Can a dealer sell a car with outstanding finance?▼
Reputable dealers should settle any outstanding finance before selling, but not every seller does. The law treats every seller as promising that they have the right to sell the car and that it is free of any finance they have not told you about (section 12 of the Sale of Goods Act 1979, or the Consumer Rights Act 2015 when you buy from a dealer). That gives you a claim against the seller, but it is little help if a private seller disappears, which is why running your own check is essential.
What types of finance does the check cover?▼
Our check covers PCP (Personal Contract Purchase), HP (Hire Purchase), conditional sale agreements, and secured personal loans. These are the most common types of vehicle finance in the UK. If any of these are active on the vehicle, we flag it in the report.
How much does a finance check cost?▼
The finance check is included in our premium report at £4.99. This also covers stolen vehicle check, write-off history, keeper count, VIN check, and more. The free check includes full MOT history analysis, mileage verification, and reliability scoring at no cost. See other providers' prices in our cheapest car finance check comparison.
Related checks
Check for outstanding finance now
Enter any UK reg plate. Free MOT analysis included. Premium check with finance, stolen, and write-off for just £4.99.