Outstanding finance · Experian
Car finance check
Our car finance check shows any hire purchase, PCP or logbook loan recorded against a car, with the lender and start date, plus a stolen check, for £4.99.
Finance & Stolen Check
£4.99
The fast check that matters most: is money still owed on the car, and is it reported stolen?
Enter the registration
Or start with the free MOT and mileage check.
Why check
Why outstanding finance is a buyer's problem
On hire purchase and PCP the finance company owns the car until the last payment. If a seller sells it with money still owed, the lender can trace the car and may try to take it back.
Private buyers who buy in good faith have some protection under the Hire Purchase Act 1964 for hire purchase and conditional sale, but proving it is stressful, it doesn't cover dealers, and it doesn't cover logbook loans. Checking first takes seconds.
If finance shows up
The check found finance: what to do
- 1
Don't pay the seller yet
Not even a deposit.
- 2
Ask for a settlement letter
The lender can confirm the amount needed to clear the agreement.
- 3
Pay off the finance first
Either the seller settles it and shows you the letter confirming it's cleared, or you pay the lender directly and the seller the balance.
- 4
Check again
Finance records can take a few days to update after settlement.
Questions
Car finance check questions
How do I check if a car has finance on it?
Run a car finance check with the registration. Ours costs £4.99 and includes a stolen check.
Can a finance company take a car I bought?
If you bought it from a private seller in good faith on hire purchase, the law usually protects you. With a logbook loan or from a trader, it may not.
Does the Full Check include finance?
Yes. The Full Check (£9.99) includes finance and stolen, plus write-off, keepers, plates and valuation.
Keep checking
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