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Car finance compensation checker

Answer five quick questions to see if your car finance is likely to be covered, and how to claim for free.

Private: your answers stay on your phone or computer. We don’t ask for your name or contact details, and nothing is sent to us, to lenders or to claims companies.

1Your car finance
Hire purchase or PCP on a car, van or motorbike. Check each agreement separately
Did the dealer (or a broker) arrange the finance?
Were you told how much commission the dealer was paid?
2A few checks
Was it interest-free (0% APR)?
Has a complaint about it already been settled?
Results update as you answer
Average payout£829
Deadline to complain31 August 2027

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Where things stand (updated 21 October 2026)

30 March 2026The FCA confirmed the compensation scheme: 12.1 million agreements, about £7.5 billion in compensation, about £829 each on average.
2 July 2026The Upper Tribunal suspended parts of the scheme while legal challenges from three lenders and a consumer group are heard.
16 to 26 February 2027The Upper Tribunal hearing. We’ll update this page as soon as there’s a decision.
31 August 2027Deadline to complain to your lender if you haven’t been contacted.

Who the scheme covers

Car, van and motorbike finance taken out between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024, where the dealer or broker was paid commission by the lender and you weren’t properly told about at least one of these:

Left out: interest-free deals, very small commission (£120 or less before April 2014, £150 or less after), and complaints already settled by the Financial Ombudsman or a court.

Do I need a claims company?

No. The FCA says you don’t need a claims company or a solicitor. Complaining to your lender is free, and lenders have to contact people who may be owed money. Claims firms can take over 30% of your compensation.

This checker is different from many you’ll find: it doesn’t ask for your name, email or phone number, and your answers never leave your device. We don’t pass anything to lenders or claims companies.

Letter to your lender

Copy this into an email or letter to your lender. Fill in the parts in brackets.

Dear [lender name], Complaint about commission on my motor finance agreement My name is [your name] and I took out a finance agreement with you on or around [date] for a [car make and model]. The agreement number is [number, if you have it]. The finance was arranged by [dealer name]. I’d like to complain that I wasn’t properly told about the commission paid to the dealer. Please check whether this agreement is covered by the FCA’s motor finance compensation scheme, and tell me what commission was paid and how it was worked out. My address at the time was [address]. My address now is [address]. Yours faithfully, [your name]

While the legal challenges continue, your lender may not give you a final answer straight away. Your complaint still counts and keeps your place.

Watch out for scams

Questions

I’ve paid the finance off. Can I still be covered?

Yes. It doesn’t matter if the agreement has ended or the car has been sold.

I can’t remember my lender.

Look at old bank statements for the monthly payments, or check your credit report, which lists finance agreements from the last 6 years.

When will I get paid?

Payments can only start once the legal challenges are decided. The hearing is from 16 to 26 February 2027.

Sources

Last checked against GOV.UK: 9 October 2026

This calculator gives an estimate based on the rules published by HMRC. It isn’t financial or tax advice. Your figures stay in your browser and aren’t sent anywhere.