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Emma Berry
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Absolutely impeccable service from Steven Burns. From Applying to getting a car it was one working day! He talked me through everything. Neg…
A free car finance eligibility checker shows how likely you are to be accepted in a few minutes. Carplus's checker uses a soft search that won't affect your credit score. You can see if you're eligible for car finance and decide whether to apply before any hard credit check.
You can check your car finance or car loan eligibility online by entering a few details, which the Carplus checker compares with the criteria that lenders on our panel use.
The whole check takes a few minutes and shows if you can get car finance before you commit to a full application.
To be eligible for car finance, you'll usually need the following, whether you're buying a new or used car.
Details you'll give us:
Your requirements:
Car requirements:
You won't know for certain if you'll be accepted for car finance until a lender has reviewed your full application. The Carplus eligibility checker shows how likely you are to be accepted before you apply, using a soft search instead of a hard credit check.
If our checker shows a good match, your chances of being accepted are better. If it doesn't, you can change the amount, the car or the term and check again without any impact on your score.
Lenders look at whether you can afford the repayments and how you've managed credit before, along with the car you want to buy.
No, checking your eligibility doesn't affect your credit score, because our eligibility checker uses a soft credit check rather than a hard one. A soft search shows on your own credit file, but other lenders can't see it.
A hard search only happens if a lender is happy to move forward and you choose to make a full application. Other lenders can see a hard search, and several in a short space of time can make them more cautious. Checking with a soft search first lets you find out where you stand without adding a hard search to your file.
You can check your PCP eligibility with the same soft check as any other car finance. Lenders that accept you for one type of car finance won't always accept you for another, so you might be accepted for Hire Purchase (HP), where fixed monthly payments lead to you owning the car. But a lender may turn down Personal Contract Purchase (PCP), where lower monthly payments end with an optional final payment.
PCP lenders look at what the car is likely to be worth at the end of the agreement, so an older or high-mileage car may suit HP better.
You can use the checker with bad credit or no credit history, and a low score doesn't automatically rule you out. Some lenders on the Carplus panel look at your current income, whether the repayments are affordable and how you've managed credit recently, not just your score.
Bad credit means missed payments or defaults on your file, while a 'thin' credit file means lenders have little to go on. With bad credit or a thin file, the interest rate you're offered is likely to be higher.
After the check, you'll see whether you're likely to be accepted and can decide whether to make a full application. Before you go ahead, compare the total amount you'll repay as well as the monthly payment.
If you go ahead, the lender runs a hard credit check and may ask for proof of income or address. Once your agreement is approved and signed, you can buy your car from any reputable UK dealer, and Carplus works with the lender and the dealer on the paperwork. You can then collect the car or arrange delivery where it's available.
If you're not eligible yet, a different amount, a cheaper car or a few months spent improving your credit file can change the result. Avoid applying elsewhere in the meantime, because every full application adds a hard search.
Over 15 lenders. One application searches our panel and 100+ deals, so you don't apply lender by lender.
Advisers who know how car finance works. A UK car finance adviser guides you by phone or online, from your first soft search to collecting your car.
Fast, online and any dealer. Apply in two minutes with a soft search, track your application anywhere, and buy your car from any UK dealer, not a restricted list.
A deal that fits your budget.We look for the lowest-cost deal you're eligible for that sits comfortably alongside your current commitments, and show you the total payable before you commit.
These estimates are subject to credit checks and may change when you apply for finance. this is for example purposes only
60 monthly payments of
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60 monthly payments of
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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.
Carplus's car finance eligibility check is free, and there's no obligation to apply. One check compares your details with several lenders on our panel, so you don't need to apply to each lender in turn.
A good car finance eligibility checker uses a soft search, costs nothing and only runs a hard credit check once you choose to make a full application. Many car finance companies and brokers offer soft-search checks, so check when the hard search happens before you go ahead.
Eligibility checker results show how likely a lender is to accept you, but they aren't a final decision. The outcome can change if a detail you entered was wrong, your circumstances change or the lender finds something during the full application.
A soft search gives lenders a snapshot of your credit file, such as your existing credit accounts and repayment record, without leaving a mark that other lenders can see.
No, a good result doesn't mean you're pre-approved for car finance. The eligibility checker estimates how likely you are to be accepted, and the lender still needs to review your full application, check affordability and verify your details before making a final decision.
