What is a PCP car finance claim?

A PCP car finance claim is a compensation claim against finance providers who mis-sold car finance agreements. Many dealerships received hidden commissions from lenders for arranging finance, which often resulted in customers paying higher interest rates without their knowledge. If you were affected, you may be entitled to a refund of the excess interest paid.

How much compensation can I expect?

The average claim is around £700 per finance agreement, though this can vary significantly depending on the size of your agreement and the level of hidden commission. Some claims have resulted in payouts of several thousand pounds. The FCA expects over £8 billion to be paid out across the industry.

How long does the claims process take?

Most claims are resolved within 3 to 6 months, depending on the lender's response time. Some straightforward cases may be resolved sooner. We'll keep you updated on progress throughout the process.

What does No Win, No Fee mean?

It means you won't pay anything if your claim is unsuccessful. Our fees range from 15% to 30% (plus VAT) of your compensation, depending on the amount recovered. There are no upfront costs, administration charges, or hidden fees.

Am I eligible to make a claim?

You may be eligible if you took out PCP or HP car finance between April 2007 and November 2024 and were not made aware of commission arrangements between the dealer and the finance provider. Even if you've already paid off your finance, you can still claim.

What information do I need to make a claim?

You just need your basic personal details — name, address, date of birth, and contact information. You don't need your original finance documents. Our system can search for your agreements using your details through credit reference agencies.

Can I claim if I have already paid off my finance?

Yes, absolutely. Whether your finance is still active or was paid off years ago, you can still make a claim. Many successful claims relate to finance agreements that ended several years ago.

What happens after I submit my claim?

After you submit, our team reviews your details and searches for eligible finance agreements. If agreements are found, we submit a formal complaint to the lender on your behalf. The lender then investigates and responds, typically within 8 weeks. If the claim is upheld, you receive your compensation minus our fee.

No Win No Fee Car Finance Claims: How It Works

PCP Claim Finder Team8 April 20266 min read

What Does "No Win, No Fee" Actually Mean?

No win, no fee is exactly what it sounds like. If your claim is unsuccessful, you do not pay us a penny. No upfront costs, no hidden charges, no invoices in the post. Nothing.

You only pay a fee if your claim succeeds and you receive compensation. The fee is a pre-agreed percentage of the compensation you are awarded. This means our interests are completely aligned with yours — we only get paid when you get paid.

This model exists specifically to remove the financial barrier to claiming. You should not have to risk your own money to recover money that was taken from you through mis-sold car finance.

How the Fee Structure Works

Here is a clear breakdown of how the costs work:

Before Your Claim

Initial check: Free
Eligibility assessment: Free
Investigation: Free
Case preparation: Free
Submitting the complaint: Free

You pay nothing at any point before, during, or after the claims process — unless you win.

If Your Claim Succeeds

When the lender pays compensation, our fee is deducted from that compensation. You receive the remainder.

For example, if your compensation is £2,000 and the agreed fee is 25% (inclusive of VAT):

Our fee: £500
You receive: £1,500

The exact percentage is agreed with you before we start work on your claim. You will see the fee schedule in your agreement with us, and you are free to ask questions about it before signing.

If Your Claim Does Not Succeed

You pay: £0
We absorb all costs of the investigation and claims process

There are no admin fees, no processing charges, and no cancellation penalties.

What Percentage Do Claims Companies Charge?

Fees vary across the industry, but they are regulated. The FCA has capped the fees that claims management companies can charge for financial product claims.

The current cap is 50% inclusive of VAT for PPI claims, and similar caps apply to other financial claims. However, most reputable car finance claims companies, including ours, charge significantly less than the maximum.

Typical fees for car finance claims range from 15% to 35% inclusive of VAT, depending on the complexity of the case and the amount recovered.

We are transparent about our fees from the start. You will know exactly what percentage applies to your claim before you commit to anything.

Why Do Claims Companies Charge a Fee at All?

Fair question. Running a claims operation involves real costs:

Legal and regulatory expertise — Understanding the FCA's rules, commission structures, and complaints procedures requires specialist knowledge
Investigation work — Tracking down agreement details, calculating overpayments, and building your case takes time and resources
Communication with lenders — Corresponding with finance companies, responding to their queries, and negotiating on your behalf
Ombudsman escalation — If the lender rejects your complaint, preparing and managing a case through the FOS requires additional work
Regulatory compliance — Claims management companies are regulated by the FCA and must meet strict standards

You could submit a complaint to the lender yourself, free of charge. Many people do. But the process can be time-consuming, the lender's responses can be difficult to interpret, and knowing when to accept an offer versus when to push for more requires experience.

A claims company handles all of this for you, and under the no win, no fee model, they take on the financial risk.

Can I Claim Directly and Avoid the Fee?

Yes, you can. You have every right to submit a complaint to your lender directly, and there is no charge for doing so. If the lender rejects your complaint, you can also refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service yourself, free of charge.

Here are the trade-offs to consider:

Claiming Yourself

Advantages:

No fee to pay
Full control over the process
You keep 100% of any compensation

Disadvantages:

You need to understand the rules around commission disclosure and mis-selling
You need to identify the correct lender and know how to frame your complaint
You need to assess whether any offer from the lender is fair
You handle all communication and paperwork
If the complaint is rejected, you need to prepare the FOS case yourself
The process can take months, and you are managing it all

Using a Claims Company

Advantages:

Everything is handled for you
Specialist knowledge means your case is presented as strongly as possible
No financial risk — you only pay if you win
We know whether a lender's offer is fair and will push back if it is not
If escalation to the FOS is needed, we manage the entire process

Disadvantages:

A percentage of your compensation goes to fees

For most people, the convenience, expertise, and risk-free nature of no win, no fee makes it the preferred option. But the choice is yours.

What Happens If the Lender Makes a Low Offer?

This is one of the areas where working with a claims company adds real value. Lenders sometimes make initial offers that are lower than what you are entitled to. They may:

Calculate the refund using a method that understates the overpayment
Exclude the 8% simple interest that should be added
Offer a settlement that does not fully reflect the commission paid

If we believe an offer is below what you should receive, we will advise you and, with your agreement, push back or escalate the complaint. You do not have to accept the first offer — and having someone in your corner who knows the right numbers makes a significant difference.

Are There Any Hidden Costs?

No. Our no win, no fee agreement is straightforward:

No upfront fees of any kind
No admin charges for starting or running your claim
No cancellation fees if you change your mind before a settlement is reached
No costs for unsuccessful claims — if we cannot get you compensation, you owe nothing

The only payment you make is the agreed percentage of successful compensation. That is it.

How Do I Know the Fee Is Fair?

Several safeguards protect you:

FCA regulation — Claims management companies are regulated and must meet conduct standards, including transparency about fees
Fee caps — The FCA sets maximum fee levels
Written agreement — Your fee percentage is set out in a written agreement before work begins
Cooling-off period — After signing, you have a 14-day cooling-off period during which you can cancel without charge
Right to cancel — You can withdraw from the process at any time before a settlement is reached

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I pay anything if my claim is referred to the Ombudsman? No. Whether the claim is resolved directly with the lender or goes through the FOS, the no win, no fee terms remain the same. You only pay if you win.

What if I have already started a claim myself? If you have already submitted a complaint to the lender directly and want us to take over, we can usually do that. Talk to us about the specifics.

What if the lender has already rejected my complaint? We can still help. A rejection from the lender is not the end of the road — the FOS frequently overturns lender decisions. Contact us to discuss your options.

Is there a minimum claim size? We do not turn away valid claims based on size. However, the economics of very small claims mean both parties get a better outcome when the compensation is meaningful. We will be upfront about this when we assess your case.

Get Started Risk-Free

No win, no fee means exactly what it says: you have nothing to lose. If you had car finance through a dealer, there is a strong chance you were overcharged, and the money should come back to you.

Start your free claim check now — there is no cost, no obligation, and no risk. Learn more about how our process works, what services we offer, or get in touch with our team if you have questions before starting.