Nobody likes applying for car finance only to find out later it was never a realistic option. Spending a few minutes to check car finance eligibility using an online tool will help you get a personalised quote without doing anything that could affect your score.
If you're planning to buy your next car, an eligibility checker is a useful place to start.
Nobody wants to accumulate unnecessary hard credit checks, especially if they're still weighing up their options. That's why our eligibility checker uses a soft search first. We compare your details with our panel of lenders, without leaving the kind of mark that could affect your credit score.
If a lender is happy to move forward, you'll then decide whether to continue with your application, and a hard credit search will be performed. You can check your eligibility upfront, and the rest of the process will be much easier to navigate.
These estimates are subject to credit checks and may change when you apply for finance. this is for example purposes only
Maximum borrowable amount
Rates from 9.9% APR: the exact rate you will be offered will be based on your circumstances, subject to status. Representative Hire purchase (HP) example: borrowing £7,000 over 5 years with a representative APR of 21.9%, the annual interest rate of 21.9% (Fixed) and a deposit of £0, the amount payable would be £185.33 per month, with a total cost of credit of £4,119.81 and a total amount payable of £11,119.81. We look to find the best rate from our panel of lenders and will offer you the best deal that you're eligible for. We receive a fixed fee commission per finance agreement, or we receive a commission based on a percentage of the total amount of finance taken. This will not affect the interest rate offered or the total amount repayable. Our service is free.
An eligibility checker for car finance helps you narrow down your options. After you enter some personal information, the eligibility checker compares it with the criteria used by many lenders. The amount you want to borrow, your income, and your overall financial situation all build a picture of what car finance options could be available.
If there's a suitable option, you'll be invited to continue with a full application for car finance. That's when the lender takes a closer look before deciding whether to make an offer, what interest rate and APR to apply, and how much you could borrow. The whole process only takes a few minutes.
To be eligible, you'll need to meet a few basic requirements:
| To apply for car finance you need to | Requirements | Car must meet the following criteria: |
|---|---|---|
| Provide your full name, date of birth, and nationality | Be aged 18-75 years old | Cost between £4,000 and £40,000 |
| Share your recent address history | Pay an initial deposit if the lender requires one | Have no more than 120,000 miles on the clock |
| Confirm your employment status | Receive a monthly income of at least £1,000 | Be no older than 14 years at the end of the finance agreement |
| Show your income and regular monthly outgoings |
A car finance eligibility checker then looks at the information submitted and helps you see where you stand.
Not always. Being eligible for one type doesn't mean you'll qualify for car finance agreements across the board.
For example, you might be accepted for Hire Purchase, with fixed monthly payments until the car is yours, but not Personal Contract Purchase, where lower monthly payments are followed by an option to purchase the car with a final payment. When the final balloon payment is made, you can keep the vehicle.
It comes down to your credit profile, affordability, the amount you want to borrow, and even the car you've chosen.
Start by using a car finance eligibility checker. You'll be asked for a few basic details, such as your address history, income, employment status, and some personal information. The checker then runs a soft search to estimate your car loan eligibility.
A few moments later, you'll receive an eligibility result showing whether you're likely to match the criteria used by participating lenders. If you'd rather not waste time applying for car finance that's unlikely to work out, an eligibility checker will help you head in the right direction from the start.
Most of our clients are. A bad credit rating doesn't automatically rule you out, even if you've missed payments in the past. Lenders will consider your current employment status and income, whether the monthly payments look affordable, how stable your finances are today, and how you've managed credit more recently. Some specifically offer finance for people with less-than-perfect credit.
The easiest way to find out is to use an eligibility checker. It will give you an indication of whether you could be eligible for car finance and help you decide if it's worth taking the next step.
Compare and find the best car finance deals quickly and easily even with bad or poor credit. When comparing deals, you can also factor in the part-exchange value of your current car to reduce the overall cost.
Getting a finance quote with Carplus won't affect your credit score, but a hard search will be completed before completion of the deal
No-deposit car finance options are also available. Check your eligibility today with a soft search and find out what you qualify for.
Get your UK car finance decision in minutes. Check your eligibility first. Apply in confidence with Carplus
Many lenders start with a soft search. It lets them take a look at parts of your credit file, along with the personal details you've provided, without impacting your credit score. If you choose to take the next step and apply in full, the lender will then perform a hard credit check.
Yes, the checker is available for free. A credit broker generally sends your details to several lenders rather than just one. You can learn about several car finance offers through a single application instead of applying again and again. Just check when a hard credit check happens before you move forward.
No. An eligibility checker estimates how likely you are to be accepted based on the information you've entered and the lenders' usual requirements. The lender still needs to review your application properly before making a final decision, and that could include extra affordability checks or verifying the details you've provided.
They're a good starting point, but they're exactly that: a starting point.
The result is based on the information available at the time. If you've entered incorrect details, your circumstances have changed, or the lender uncovers something during the full application, the outcome may be different.
You won't know for certain until a lender has made a decision. What you can do is use a car finance eligibility checker to see how your application is likely to be viewed before taking the next step.
A soft credit check gives lenders a snapshot of your financial background without leaving a mark that other lenders can see. Exactly what they can access varies. But it often includes information from your credit history, such as existing credit accounts, your repayment record, and any public information linked to your credit file.
Take a few minutes to compare more than just the monthly payment. The interest rate, total amount you'll repay, and any other fees all affect how much the agreement costs in the end. If an offer still looks right after you've checked the details, you can decide whether to submit a full application.
