Car finance for young drivers

As a young driver, passing your test is just the first of what can feel like many challenges. There's a lot to think about, such as insurance, tax, fuel, and maintenance - not to mention deciding which car is going to be right for you. For a lot of young drivers, the upfront cost of a vehicle can be off-putting or even unaffordable. But there are options out there, and we don't think there's any reason car finance should add to that list of potential headaches for young drivers.

Our job is to help you find finance that works for you, on terms you can afford. And we've got a strong track record - backed up by our 'Exceptional' rating on Feefo. We were also named 'Best Car Finance Provider' at the Consumer Credit Awards for a fifth year running in 2025. So, if you're on the search for car finance as a young driver, look no further!

Craig, Head of Underwriting at First Response Finance, offers his expert insight: 

"One of the main reasons is that young drivers often have limited credit histories. Without a long track record of managing credit - such as credit cards, loans, or even phone contracts - it can be harder for you to prove your financial responsibility. 

"That said, there are still options available. Some providers offer specialised car finance products for younger drivers, often with the help of a joint applicant or guarantor. You need to build up a good credit history, and over time, your chances of being approved will improve."

The cost of your finance will depend on a number of things, including:

• The value of the vehicle 
• The size of your deposit 
• The length of your repayment term
• Your credit rating

Use our simple calculator tool to get an idea of how much your car finance might cost.

We use Experian, one of the UK's top credit reference agencies, to run our credit checks. This helps us to understand your credit history, which is one of several factors we take into consideration when making a decision on your approval for vehicle finance.

Yes! We specialise in bad credit car finance. We don't think having poor credit - or a lack of credit history - should stand in your way. As a young person, chances are you won't have taken out much, or any, credit in the past. That means lenders lack the information needed to assess your suitability as a borrower which can make it more difficult for you to get car finance as a young driver. But we'll always do everything we can to help you.

We’re authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

We're committed to treating customers fairly and giving clear, honest information so you can trust us to put your best interests first every step of the way!

We know that as a young driver, car finance can feel confusing. We're here to help you make sense of it all - and to find you an option that works for you. Here's why you can count on us:

• We've helped more than 300,000 customers take out vehicle finance
• We're five time winners of Feefo's Platinum Trusted Service Award
• We've been named Best Car Finance Provider at the Consumer Credit Awards five years in a row

We're SAF Approved by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), which means that all of our customer-facing employees have passed the Specialist Automotive Finance (SAF) Expert test. This ensures our team members have all the relevant knowledge to advise you on available finance products and help find the right one for you!

Hire Purchase (HP): this is how all our car finance agreements work here at First Response Finance. You pay a deposit towards the value of the car (if needed) and borrow the rest. You then repay via fixed instalments - usually on a monthly basis. Once you've repaid the loan, including the interest, you legally own the car.

There are also a number of different car finance options - which we don't provide - for young drivers...