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Finance guides

Vehicle refinancing: when a new agreement may help

What vehicle refinancing means, when it may help and the costs and trade-offs to compare first.

Representative 19.9% APR. Credit broker, not a lender. Selected panel, not the whole market. The vehicle may be used as security.

Vehicle refinancing replaces an existing finance balance with a new agreement. It may change the term or monthly payment, but only makes sense when the complete new cost and risks suit your circumstances.

How it works

  1. Ask the current lender for a settlement figure.
  2. Compare that figure with the vehicle value and any new offer.
  3. A new lender assesses you, the vehicle and the balance.
  4. If accepted, the new finance settles the old agreement.

What to check before you apply

  • Early settlement charges or negative equity.
  • The new APR, term and total payable.
  • Whether a longer term adds interest.
  • Vehicle age and mileage limits.

A realistic note

Reducing the monthly payment by extending the term can cost more overall and keep the vehicle tied to finance for longer.

Frequently asked questions

Can I refinance with negative equity?

Options may be limited if settlement is higher than the car's value.

Will refinancing affect my credit file?

A lender usually completes a hard credit search before a final decision.

Can I refinance a PCP final payment?

Some lenders offer this, subject to vehicle and affordability criteria.

Important: We Do Car Finance is a credit-broking service operated by Sandhurst Associates Limited. We are not a lender. Finance is subject to status, affordability and lender criteria. Acceptance is never guaranteed.

Representative example

Representative 19.9% APR

A complete example for a Hire Purchase (HP) agreement. Your rate and payments may differ because they depend on your circumstances and the provider's assessment.

Agreement type
Hire Purchase (HP)
Cash price
£12,000.00
Deposit
£0.00
Amount of credit
£12,000.00
Interest rate
18.29% p.a. fixed
Duration
60 months
Repayments
60 monthly payments
Each repayment
£306.60
Other charges
£0.00
Total charge for credit
£6,396.00
Total amount payable
£18,396.00
Representative APR
19.9% APR
Take the next step

Ready to check your eligibility?

Start with no obligation. Where available, the initial check uses a soft search; a provider may use a hard search before a final decision.

Check my eligibility

Representative 19.9% APR. We are a credit broker, not a lender, and search a selected panel rather than the whole market. We do not charge you a fee. We may receive variable commission from a provider, which may affect the option we introduce. The vehicle may be used as security. How our service works.

Vehicle refinancing: when a new agreement may help | We Do Car Finance