Electric car finance

Buying an electric car on finance can be exciting, but with so many new options it can be tough to find the right one. Find out how we could help you with electric car finance.

Electric car finance

Buying an electric car on finance can be exciting, but with so many new options it can be tough to find the right one. Find out how we could help you with electric car finance.

With the UK’s ban on sales of new petrol, diesel, and hybrid cars set to take effect in 2035, you might be wondering about getting an electric car on finance.

There are many benefits to financing an electric car:

  • There is currently no road tax payable on electric vehicles
  • They produce no emissions
  • They can be cheap to maintain
  • They are exempt from congestion charges, including the London ULEZ charge

What is electric car finance?

Electric car finance is when you borrow money from a lender to cover the cost of an electric car. The lender pays the dealership for your new car, and you will make monthly repayments for the duration of your agreement. Once you make your final repayment, you will legally own the car.

We use a Conditional Sale agreement for our electric vehicle finance. This is different from leasing because when you lease a car, you will never legally own it. If you chose to get your electric car on finance with us, you’ll legally own it once you’ve made the final repayment.

Can I get an electric car on finance?

Yes, just as with a petrol or diesel car, you can buy an electric car on finance. An electric car can be slightly more expensive to buy than a petrol or diesel car, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help you make the switch to electric.

With the UK’s ban on sales of new petrol, diesel, and hybrid cars set to take effect in 2035, you might be wondering about getting an electric car on finance.

There are many benefits to financing an electric car:

  • There is currently no road tax payable on electric vehicles
  • They produce no emissions
  • They can be cheap to maintain
  • They are exempt from congestion charges, including the London ULEZ charge

What is electric car finance?

Electric car finance is when you borrow money from a lender to cover the cost of an electric car. The lender pays the dealership for your new car, and you will make monthly repayments for the duration of your agreement. Once you make your final repayment, you will legally own the car.

We use a Conditional Sale agreement for our electric vehicle finance. This is different from leasing because when you lease a car, you will never legally own it. If you chose to get your electric car on finance with us, you’ll legally own it once you’ve made the final repayment.

Can I get an electric car on finance?

Yes, just as with a petrol or diesel car, you can buy an electric car on finance. An electric car can be slightly more expensive to buy than a petrol or diesel car, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help you make the switch to electric.

What you’ll need to get started with electric car finance:

  • Monthly earnings over £1,000 (after tax)
  • To be aged between 20 and 75
  • A full valid UK driving licence
  • 2 consecutive months of payslips

We can provide an electric car on finance as long as it meets the following criteria:

  • Financing a car from £4,000-£35,000
  • The car can have a mileage up to 120,000 at the start of the agreement (depending on your loan offer)
  • No more than 15 years old by the end of the agreement (depending on your loan offer)

If you have a particular car in mind, great! If not, don’t worry, our team can help you find the right car for you. Apply today to see if we can help.

What you’ll need to get started with electric car finance:

  • Monthly earnings over £1,000 (after tax)
  • To be aged between 20 and 75
  • A full valid UK driving licence
  • 2 consecutive months of payslips

We can provide an electric car on finance as long as it meets the following criteria:

  • Financing a car from £4,000-£35,000
  • The car can have a mileage up to 120,000 at the start of the agreement (depending on your loan offer)
  • No more than 15 years old by the end of the agreement (depending on your loan offer)

If you have a particular car in mind, great! If not, don’t worry, our team can help you find the right car for you. Apply today to see if we can help.

Can I get electric car finance with bad credit?

Can I get electric car finance with bad credit?

If you have bad credit, you might be worried that it stops you from making the switch to electric. Thankfully, that isn’t the case.

We’re one of the UK’s biggest providers of specialist vehicle finance, with over 30 years of experience helping people up and down the UK onto a better road ahead.

We specialise in helping people get bad credit car finance, so we may be able to help you even if:

Electric car being charged

If you have bad credit, you might be worried that it stops you from making the switch to electric. Thankfully, that isn’t the case.

We’re one of the UK’s biggest providers of specialist vehicle finance, with over 30 years of experience helping people up and down the UK onto a better road ahead.

We specialise in helping people get bad credit car finance, so we may be able to help you even if:

Electric car being charged

Electric car loan calculator

Summary

  • Monthly payment: £000.00
  • Total to repay: £00,000.00
  • Calculated APR: 00.0%

Representative 30.5% APR

Electric car loan calculator

  • Monthly payment: £000.00
  • Total to repay: £00,000.00
  • Calculated APR: 00.0%

Representative 30.5% APR

How to finance an electric car

If you’re not sure where to get started, why not try out our car finance calculator? Put in how much you’re looking to borrow and your credit score, and you’ll get an idea of what your electric car finance could look like.

Some of the most popular electric cars in the UK include:

Even if you’re not sure which electric car you’d like, get a quote today and see if we could help you.

How to finance an electric car

If you’re not sure where to get started, why not try out our car finance calculator? Put in how much you’re looking to borrow and your credit score, and you’ll get an idea of what your electric car finance could look like.

Some of the most popular electric cars in the UK include:

Even if you’re not sure which electric car you’d like, get a quote today and see if we could help you.

Electric cars we can finance

Electric cars we can finance

We can provide electric vehicle finance for electric cars that fit our lending criteria.

To the right are some examples of cars that fit within our lending criteria and are from dealerships we trust.

According to our EV charging report, some of the cheapest electric cars to charge include:

  • Fiat 500e Hatchback
  • Mini Electric
  • Mazda MX-30
  • Volkswagen e-Up!
  • Fiat 500e
  • Nissan Leaf

If you still aren’t sure which EV you’d like to finance, don’t worry. Our team would be happy to help find the right one for you.

We’re proud to have over 30 years of experience helping people up and down the UK get the vehicle finance they need.

We use a soft credit check at the point of application, which doesn’t affect your credit score. We only use a hard check when you decide to enter into an agreement with us.

It should only take 5 minutes to fill out an online application, and you will get a decision as to whether we can help you.

We can provide electric vehicle finance for electric cars that fit our lending criteria.

Here are some examples of cars that fit within our lending criteria and are from dealerships we trust.

According to our EV charging report, some of the cheapest electric cars to charge include:

  • Fiat 500e Hatchback
  • Mini Electric
  • Mazda MX-30
  • Volkswagen e-Up!
  • Fiat 500e
  • Nissan Leaf

If you still aren’t sure which EV you’d like to finance, don’t worry. Our team would be happy to help find the right one for you.

We’re proud to have over 30 years of experience helping people up and down the UK get the vehicle finance they need.

We use a soft credit check at the point of application, which doesn’t affect your credit score. We only use a hard check when you decide to enter into an agreement with us.

It should only take 5 minutes to fill out an online application, and you will get a decision as to whether we can help you.

What is the best way to finance an electric car?

The most popular ways of financing an electric car include Conditional Sale (CS), Personal Contract Purchase (PCP), and leasing (PCH).

No one can tell you what the best type of car finance is, because it depends on your personal circumstances. These questions might help you decide:

  • How much are you looking to borrow to buy an electric car?
  • Are you comfortable using an electric car, or would a hybrid car on finance be better for you?
  • Do you want to own the car at the end of the agreement?

To help you make an informed decision, we’ve summarised some of the differences between these three types of finance in the below table.

The table below isn’t a full list but it highlights the key differences in terms of how you would own and use the car under each type of finance.

Type of car finance Owning the car Using the car
Conditional Sale (CS) Once you make your final repayment, you will legally own the car You have full use of the car but can't sell or modify it without the lender's permission
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) At the end of the agreement you can make the 'balloon payment' to legally own the car There is a permitted mileage limit and you may be charged if you exceed it
Leasing (PCH) You will never legally own the car and must hand it back to the finance company or dealership There may be a mileage restriction and you may also be charged if there is excess damage or wear and tear

For more detail about the pros and cons of each type of finance, check out our guide which explains how financing a car works.

If you’re still not sure whether an electric car is right for you, check out our guide to hybrid and electric cars. It explains more of the pros and cons so you can decide what’s right for you.

What is the best way to finance an electric car?

The most popular ways of financing an electric car include Conditional Sale (CS), Personal Contract Purchase (PCP), and leasing (PCH).

No one can tell you what the best type of car finance is, because it depends on your personal circumstances. These questions might help you decide:

  • How much are you looking to borrow to buy an electric car?
  • Are you comfortable using an electric car, or would a hybrid car on finance be better for you?
  • Do you want to own the car at the end of the agreement?

To help you make an informed decision, we’ve summarised some of the differences between these three types of finance in the below table.

The table below isn’t a full list but it highlights the key differences in terms of how you would own and use the car under each type of finance.

Type of car finance Owning the car Using the car
Conditional Sale (CS) Once you make your final repayment, you will legally own the car You have full use of the car but can't sell or modify it without the lender's permission
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) At the end of the agreement you can make the 'balloon payment' to legally own the car There is a permitted mileage limit and you may be charged if you exceed it
Leasing (PCH) You will never legally own the car and must hand it back to the finance company or dealership There may be a mileage restriction and you may also be charged if there is excess damage or wear and tear

For more detail about the pros and cons of each type of finance, check out our guide which explains how financing a car works.

If you’re still not sure whether an electric car is right for you, check out our guide to hybrid and electric cars. It explains more of the pros and cons so you can decide what’s right for you.

FAQs when buying an electric car on finance

It is hard to say for certain because it depends on lots of factors. Over time, the battery in an electric car becomes less effective as it is used more and more.

Most manufacturers offer a guarantee that their battery will last for a certain amount of years or miles, such as Nissan who have an 8 year or 100,000 mile guarantee on most of their electric car batteries. This varies by manufacturer, so if you’re unsure, check with the manufacturer or dealership.

According to EDF, an electric car battery usually lasts 10-20 years before it needs to be replaced.

It’s important to remember the battery isn’t the only part of an electric car that might need replacing, and an electric car needs to be serviced just as often as any car.

The main factors that affect the range include the make and model of car you buy, how you drive it, and the conditions it is driven in. Whether or not you use the heating and air conditioning also drains the battery, reducing the range you can drive.

Below are examples of the ranges of some electric cars. These are based on what the manufacturers advertise:

The above information is accurate as of 17 May 2023. EV technology is constantly changing and evolving, so these may change over time.

It depends on the size of the car’s battery and the speed of the charging point you use. The bigger the car’s battery and the slower the charging point, the longer it may take to charge from empty to full.

Those are the main factors that affect how long it takes to charge, but there are some other factors you should be aware of:

  • How full the battery is: the rate of charge may slow down as the battery gets closer to 100% charged, depending on the charger you’re using
  • The temperature of the battery: if the battery is too warm or too cold, it can slow down the charging time
  • The car’s maximum rate of charge: some electric cars charge at a faster rate than others, and some manufacturers offer an upgraded model that charges at a faster rate
  • Other people using the same charger: many public charging stations have two plugs coming out of the same unit, if two cars are plugged in at the same time this may slow it down

Knowing where you would charge an electric car is an important thing to think about if you’re considering the switch to electric.

You can either charge your car at home, or you can use a public charging station. To charge your car at home safely and legally, you should get a charging station fitted. Public charging stations can be found at supermarkets and motorway services. If you’re not sure, try Zap Map and it’ll find nearby charging points.

There may be grants available to help with the cost of home charger installation. For the latest information, check out GOV.UK.

According to Admiral, electric cars can be a little bit more expensive to insure and maintain. This can be because some parts like the battery can be costly to replace if they are damaged. Also, they can be more costly to fix as only EV-trained technicians are able to work on them.

On the plus side, they can be easier to maintain in other ways, because there is no oil to change, no engine to clean and maintain, and fewer parts.

Our recent study on EV charging costs found there are many electric cars that cost less than £15 to fully charge at home:

  1. Fiat 500e Hatchback: £6.39
  2. Mini Electric: £8.67
  3. Mazda MX-30: £9.00
  4. Volkswagen e-Up!: £9.69
  5. Fiat 500e: £11.19
  6. Nissan Leaf: £11.70
  7. Hyundai Kona Electric (39 kWh model): £11.76

It’s important to know that the cost of charging depends on the electric car, how much you charge it, and what sort of charger you are using. Also, the costs of electric may change, which will affect the cost of charging.

The above information is from our study which took place in April 2023.

FAQs when buying an electric car on finance

It is hard to say for certain because it depends on lots of factors. Over time, the battery in an electric car becomes less effective as it is used more and more.

Most manufacturers offer a guarantee that their battery will last for a certain amount of years or miles, such as Nissan who have an 8 year or 100,000 mile guarantee on most of their electric car batteries. This varies by manufacturer, so if you’re unsure, check with the manufacturer or dealership.

According to EDF, an electric car battery usually lasts 10-20 years before it needs to be replaced.

It’s important to remember the battery isn’t the only part of an electric car that might need replacing, and an electric car needs to be serviced just as often as any car.

The main factors that affect the range include the make and model of car you buy, how you drive it, and the conditions it is driven in. Whether or not you use the heating and air conditioning also drains the battery, reducing the range you can drive.

Below are examples of the ranges of some electric cars. These are based on what the manufacturers advertise:

The above information is accurate as of 17 May 2023. EV technology is constantly changing and evolving, so these may change over time.

It depends on the size of the car’s battery and the speed of the charging point you use. The bigger the car’s battery and the slower the charging point, the longer it may take to charge from empty to full.

Those are the main factors that affect how long it takes to charge, but there are some other factors you should be aware of:

  • How full the battery is: the rate of charge may slow down as the battery gets closer to 100% charged, depending on the charger you’re using
  • The temperature of the battery: if the battery is too warm or too cold, it can slow down the charging time
  • The car’s maximum rate of charge: some electric cars charge at a faster rate than others, and some manufacturers offer an upgraded model that charges at a faster rate
  • Other people using the same charger: many public charging stations have two plugs coming out of the same unit, if two cars are plugged in at the same time this may slow it down

Knowing where you would charge an electric car is an important thing to think about if you’re considering the switch to electric.

You can either charge your car at home, or you can use a public charging station. To charge your car at home safely and legally, you should get a charging station fitted. Public charging stations can be found at supermarkets and motorway services. If you’re not sure, try Zap Map and it’ll find nearby charging points.

There may be grants available to help with the cost of home charger installation. For the latest information, check out GOV.UK.

According to Admiral, electric cars can be a little bit more expensive to insure and maintain. This can be because some parts like the battery can be costly to replace if they are damaged. Also, they can be more costly to fix as only EV-trained technicians are able to work on them.

On the plus side, they can be easier to maintain in other ways, because there is no oil to change, no engine to clean and maintain, and fewer parts.

Our recent study on EV charging costs found there are many electric cars that cost less than £15 to fully charge at home:

  1. Fiat 500e Hatchback: £6.39
  2. Mini Electric: £8.67
  3. Mazda MX-30: £9.00
  4. Volkswagen e-Up!: £9.69
  5. Fiat 500e: £11.19
  6. Nissan Leaf: £11.70
  7. Hyundai Kona Electric (39 kWh model): £11.76

It’s important to know that the cost of charging depends on the electric car, how much you charge it, and what sort of charger you are using. Also, the costs of electric may change, which will affect the cost of charging.

The above information is from our study which took place in April 2023.

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