Buying a new car through a PCP contract has become the most popular way of purchasing and financing new cars in recent years with an estimated 80% of new vehicles bought through this finance option just here in the UK alone.

A Solutions Personal Contract Plan (PCP) is a hugely popular way of financing a brand new car, in nice, affordable monthly payments - that many times includes the price of your car's servicing too.

When your PCP contract ends, you have 3 options: you can either buy the vehicle outright, hand the car back to the dealer where you purchased it or trade it in for a new car. To make sure that you don't get stuck with a surprising bill at the end of your contract, make sure that you have checked over your finance contract for the terms and conditions that you took your car out on as each manufacturer/finance company will have their own set of standards that they expect to receive the car back in, which is usually inclusive of some general wear and tear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it matter what kind of damage is left repaired on your car when you return it?

Yes -whether it's a small dent, a scratch or scuffed alloys, we're finding that the parameters for what counts towards general wear and tear is getting smaller, so we advise that our customers should make sure that they are on top of their repairs and not leaving them to get worse over time.

What sort of condition should we be returning the car back in? 

It's all outlined in the PCP contract but other than reasonable wear and tear - the car should be returned with the bodywork in good condition. It's also important that you make sure your car is being repaired with genuine parts, as in some cases, your warranty could be invalidated if you don't use a manufacturer-approved garage.

Is it true that you can return your car before the end of your agreed contract period?

In some circumstances, your vehicle could potentially be returned earlier than the end of your contract, as it's mostly dependent on the current market-value and when your car has reached the Guaranteed Minimum Future Value that was outlined when you took out your PCP plan. You'll usually get contacted by the dealer when this is the case.

Our Free Bodywork Health Check

We are now offering a Free Bodywork Health Check service at all of our Bodyshop sites, including: High Wycombe, Watford, Wooburn Green, Slough, Colindale, Ruislip and Chalfont. With our free Bodywork Health Check, you can have peace of mind that you've had expert eye take a look at your car before handing it back, so that it's unlikely that there will be any unexpected charges! It includes a walk-around inspection of your vehicle, checking for dents, corrosion, UV damage and even damage caused by bird lime and we're able to provide advice on the best repair for your car is there is any damage - all for free!

It's worth noting that our free Bodywork Health Check is not a complete safeguard as we don't inspect the car's interior and it does not include a take-away report but you will however get free, impartial advice and an estimate of costs for any repairs, so that you can budget for this in advance. Getting your bodywork checked out now could help to retain the future value of your car when it comes to either part-exchanging or it could save you money if you decide to hand the car back at the end of the contract too. If you are interested in taking advantage of our free Bodywork Health Check, give us a call on 0330 096 1903.