Looking for a way to finance a new or used car? Zuto could help you take charge of your finance before going to a car dealer – you'll establish a budget you can afford and avoid pressured sales at the dealership.
Zuto is a credit broker, not a lender. Its rates start from 10.9% APR. The rate you are offered will depend on your individual circumstances. Representative Example: Borrowing £8,000 over 60 months with a representative APR of 19.7% the amount payable would be £204 a month, with a total cost of credit of £4,219 and a total amount payable of £12,219.
Warning: late repayments can cause you serious money problems. See our debt help guides.
How does Zuto car finance work?
Buying a car outright isn’t a viable option for most of us. Zuto is a credit broker (not a lender) that does its best to provide finance to anyone who can afford it, sourcing flexible car finance for between £2,000 and £48,000, with repayment periods of between 2 and 5 years. Even if you have a bad credit record your application will be considered.
Buying a car on finance requires you to commit to monthly payments, so make sure you carefully work out your budget and choose an affordable option. Don’t forget to take into consideration other costs you’ll need to pay out, such as maintenance costs and car insurance before making your final decision. Late repayments will damage your credit score, making it harder to source future finance.
Simply choose your car and the finance team will pay the dealer. You’ll then pay the finance company in monthly instalments until you have paid off the total amount owed. At the end of the agreement you then have the option to take ownership of the car.
Fixed monthly repayments
Typical repayment period of 24-60 months
Recommended deposit of 10%
For people that want their own long-term car but don’t want a personal loan.
Pay a small admin fee typically between £1-299+ to take ownership of the car.
End your agreement sooner by paying off the total due. There may be an early-repayment charge but you could save on interest.
Conditional Sale
This works exactly the same as a Hire Purchase except you commit to purchasing the car from the start. As soon as you’ve paid off your final instalment the car is yours.
Fixed Monthly Repayments
Typical repayment period of 12-60 months
Recommended deposit of 10%
For people that want their own long-term car but don’t want a personal loan.
Once you’ve paid off your final instalment the car is yours.
End your agreement sooner by paying off the total due. There may be an early repayment charge but you could save on interest.
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP)
With a PCP you pay monthly instalments, but unlike the other options described here, you’re only paying towards part of the total amount. At the end of your repayment period you then have the chance to take ownership of the car by paying a pre-agreed lump sum, often referred to as a balloon payment. Alternatively, you can give the car back and start again with a new vehicle.
Fixed monthly repayments
Typical repayment period of 12-36 months
Recommended deposit of 10%
For people with a good credit score that like to update their car every few years and don’t mind not owning their vehicle.
Smaller monthly repayments for the same car as with the other options.
Take ownership of the car by paying a pre-agreed lump sum at the end of your repayment period.
End your agreement early by paying off the total due (note that because of how depreciation is calculated, this can be an expensive option).
Personal Loan
Personal loans can be described by lenders as car loans, and can be used to finance the purchase of a vehicle. They’re not secured on the vehicle you buy. Simply borrow the money, pay the dealer and the car is yours. You then make monthly repayments to the lender.
Monthly repayments will normally be fixed, but make sure to check.
Typical repayment period of 12-60 months.
You don’t have to put down a deposit (although if you can, it will save you money in interest).
For people with an excellent or good credit rating who want to own a car.
You’ll own the car as soon as you have paid the dealer.
To repay early, you can normally request a final settlement figure. This may save you money in interest. The vehicle is yours to sell at any time.
How it works
Use Zuto’s budget calculator. Use Zuto’s monthly budget calculator for an estimate of the car loan you could secure. Your loan will be based on your monthly budget and the period you wish to repay over. You can additionally provide a rough idea of your credit score for a more accurate estimate.
Get a quote. Zuto will need to know a little about you, so they can match you with the right lender. They’ll require a your personal details, 3 years of address history and employment details.
Find your car. Now that you have a good idea of the budget, you’ll need to find a car suitable for you. Zuto’s experts will then run a full vehicle history check.
Drive away. Zuto will help with all the paperwork and pay the dealer, so that all you need to do is collect your new car.
How much will I pay?
The cost of your loan will depend on factors like how much finance you want, how long you want it for and your credit score.
Long term finance. Generally speaking, if you choose a longer repayment period, you’ll pay less each month but more in total.
Short term finance. Generally speaking, paying back your loan over a shorter period will mean you pay more each month, but less in total.
Deposit size. Paying a larger deposit will cut your monthly repayments and the total amount of interest you pay.
Credit rating. A better credit score will mean you have to pay less in interest.
What is APR?
If you’re comparing any credit-based products, it won’t be long before you’ll come across the Annual Percentage Rate (APR). This figure is designed to provide an annual summary of the cost of a loan. It takes into account both interest and any mandatory charges to be paid (for example an arrangement fee) over the duration of a loan.
All lenders must calculate the APR of their products in the same way and must tell you the APR before you sign an agreement, so for consumers it can be a handy tool for comparison, alongside other features such as the total amount payable.
Bear in mind, however, that lenders are only obliged to award this rate to 51% of those who take out the loan – the other 49% could pay more. That’s why it’s often referred to as the representative APR.
What criteria must I meet?
Zuto do their best to help anyone that can afford to finance a car, whether they’re self employed, under 21 or have a poor credit history. However you will need to meet the following criteria:
Be aged 18 or over.
Have lived in the UK for more than 3 years.
Provide a minimum of 3 years address history.
Have a UK bank account.
What is Zuto good and bad at?
Credit scores. Zuto work with a panel of lenders who are willing to consider financing individuals with poor credit scores. No matter what your previous situation Zuto will do their best to match you with a lender.
More than cars. Zuto can help you finance motorbikes, vans, caravans and pretty much anything else that’s allowed on the road.
Customer reviews. According to Zuto’s website, 98% of customers would recommend them.
Zuto’s easy to use car finance calculator makes it simple to find out the value of car you could finance.
Quick responses. Once the application form has been submitted, the majority of customers will be contacted within 24 hours.
Maximum finance. Zuto offers a maximum finance of £50,000, but you can call to request to borrow more.
Frequently asked questions
Zuto is a credit broker. It aims to match you with one of its lenders to find you the best deal. You have the freedom to buy from wherever you like, just as long as the car passes Zuto’s check.
Early repayment terms will vary according to the type of finance and your specific offer, so you’ll need to check the details of your particular finance offer.
Zuto will try to provide finance based on what people can afford, not what has happened to them in the past. Even if you’ve missed payments before, gone bankrupt or received a county court judgement, Zuto will try to match you with one of their many lenders.
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Chris Lilly is Head of publishing at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more. See full bio
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