What is Hire Purchase?

Hire Purchase (HP) is a popular type of car finance that lets you spread the cost of your vehicle, plus any interest and the option to purchase fee at the end, by paying fixed monthly repayments over 12 to 60 months to suit your budget.

No minimum deposit is required, so you can choose to either finance the vehicle entirely, or put down a deposit to reduce the monthly payments.

When you have paid off the finance agreement, and settled the option to purchase fee, the vehicle becomes yours.


You may also qualify for additional borrowing to:

  • pay off your previous vehicle finance (also known as settlement shortfall or negative equity)
  • cover additional products like service plans, tyre insurance or extended warranties.

This will be added to the total amount borrowed. For more details, ask your dealership. 

Hire Purchase explained

If you've found your dream car, van or motorcycle and you're looking to finance it, you'll want to check out your finance options. So, how does a Hire Purchase work? Watch our explainer video to fully understand what a HP agreement is and how it works.

Benefits of HP

For customers comparing hire purchase vs personal contract purchase, take a look at some of the key benefits of a HP agreement:

  • Fixed monthly repayments that make budgeting easier.
  • No mileage restrictions.
  • Flexible deposit options.
  • Opportunity to settle the agreement early.
  • Full ownership once all payments have been made.

HP could be a good option for you, if:

  • you want the option to pay a deposit (but don’t have to)
  • you like equal repayments, which can be spread over 12 to 60 months to suit your budget
  • you don’t want any mileage restrictions
  • you want the option to pay off the full agreement early
  • you want to own the vehicle at the end

Remember:

  • Finance is subject to affordability checks and is only available to UK residents aged 18 and over.
  • If you don't keep up with your repayments, the vehicle may be repossessed.
  • You don’t own the vehicle until you’ve fully repaid the finance and the option to purchase fee at the end.

FAQs

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