Representative 29.9% APR
The term 'used car finance' refers to the process of buying a pre-owned vehicle using a loan. Instead of paying outright, you can make fixed payments over an agreed period, and own the car once the final payment's been made. When you finance a used car with us, you do so through a Hire Purchase agreement. Here's how it works:
Just so you know... you may not always need to put down a deposit. It'll depend on the value of the car and your credit limit. Once you enter the agreement, you'll be the registered keeper of the vehicle and have all the relevant documents, i.e. the log book (V5C). You'll also be responsible for its upkeep.
Unlike Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) or leasing, Hire Purchase for used cars allows you to own the vehicle once the final payment's been made - with no balloon payment needed.
Used car finance allows you to spread the cost of a pre-owned vehicle from as little as 18 months to as long as 61 months, making it more affordable than paying the entire amount upfront.
Making regular payments towards a used car loan helps you establish (or improve) your credit history. Timely repayments reflect positively on credit reports and can strengthen an your creditworthiness.
You can choose from a wide range of used cars that meet your wants, needs and budget.
Our used car finance application process is as simple as one, two, three!
We can help your drive away in a variety of pre-owned vehicles from brands such as Ford, Vauxhall, and Nissan. For more information, check out our fixed and flexible used car finance criteria:
While our criteria help us to lend responsibly, we're flexible on things such as the age of the car and the repayment terms of the agreement.
The cost of your finance will depend on the price of the car, how much you can deposit, and your agreed repayment term. As a result, it's hard for us to give you an exact answer immediately, without knowing all the details. But our simple calculator tool can give you an idea of how much your car finance agreement might cost, with no commitment to apply.
Get a personalised finance quote for a pre-owned car that fits your budget.
When it comes to financing a used car, several common myths can mislead buyers. Let us bust some of those for you:
If we've approved your application for used car finance, our Deal Making team can help you with your search for the perfect vehicle!
You can contact them via:
Where can you get finance on a used car? Craig W, Head of Underwriting at First Response Finance, breaks down the most common options:
"Online lenders like us, are a popular route to getting finance on used cars because of our convenient online application processes and quick decisions on approval."
"We partner with used car dealerships, who can offer the option to apply for vehicle finance and pay for a car in instalments, instead of outright."
"Many high-street banks provide loans that can be used to buy a vehicle. However, they usually have strict lending criteria, so they're not always suitable if you have poor credit."
Not sure if Hire Purchase is the right way for you to go? We've laid out all the arguments for and against:
We've specialised in finance for used cars for over 20 years. We're a provider you can trust, backed up by the fact that we've:
We've been voted the UK's No.1 motor finance lender, and our application process is free, quick and easy.
This page was last reviewed in February 2025.
First Response Finance is a responsible vehicle finance lender, and all decisions are made in the best interests of the customer; based on credit scores, status, and income at the time of application. We'll never approve an application if we believe you might struggle with repayments.
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