Can I Finance an Automatic Car?

Can you finance an automatic car?

Yes, you absolutely can finance automatic cars. Your finance broker will be able to work with you to find a car finance deal that suits your circumstances, as well as covering the kind of car that you’re looking for, whether that’s a manual or automatic model. In fact, My Car Credit can even help you find car finance with poor credit, working with all kinds of drivers from a range of different backgrounds and with differing requirements.

This is obviously great news if you passed your test in a car with an automatic gearbox, as you’ll only be licensed to drive vehicles with automatic transmissions. However, many drivers simply prefer automatic cars even if they can drive manually.

Automatics can be more fuel efficient depending on your driving style. As well as better fuel economy, they eliminate the need to change gear, providing a smooth driving experience even in high traffic with no need to keep your foot over the clutch pedal. Not to mention making hill starts a breeze.

However, it’s worth noting that automatic cars may be more expensive to finance than manual options.

Why can automatic cars be more expensive to finance?

You’ll likely find that purchasing a manual, as well as insuring it, will tend to be cheaper than purchasing or insuring an automatic.

This is because automatic gearboxes such as continuously variable transmission (CVT) are more complex than manual ones. It requires more sophisticated technology, as the gearbox essentially chooses what gear you’re driving in. You’re just choosing between drive, park and reverse.

As such, automatic gearboxes tend to require more kit – meaning that they’re more expensive to produce, and more expensive to fix too. It also means that automatic vehicles have higher insurance premiums and are more expensive to buy in the first instance.

You’ll likely find that your finance agreement is therefore more expensive too, in order to reflect these costs. This may change over time as automatics become the norm. That’s because electric vehicles don’t need to change gear at all, so there’s no need for a gearbox.

As petrol, diesel and full hybrid cars are phased out, new and used automatic cars will become the norm, which could increase supply in line with demand to reduce costs.

Finance – automatic car options

Despite the higher cost, it’s well worth investigating your finance options if you’re set on cars with automatic gearboxes.

There are three main vehicle finance options, other than paying upfront with cash or via a personal loan. These are personal contract purchase (PCP), hire purchase (HP), and personal contract hire (PCH). All of these different kinds of car financing have advantages, depending on your needs as a driver.

Hire purchase

Hire purchase (HP) is arguably the simplest type of car finance for new and used automatic cars – as well as manual vehicles. The cost of your next car is broken down into monthly payments, plus interest. You then make these payments over the course of the repayment term, which can typically range from 3 to 5 years, until the cost has been paid for in full.

It’s very similar to a conditional sale, except that hire purchase has a small fee when you finish your agreement and purchase the car (rather than upgrading to a different vehicle, for example).

Personal contract purchase

Personal contract purchase (PCP) is another popular option for automatic cars. It’s similar to HP, but with a larger final payment. This is known as a balloon payment, which can be made if you want to buy the car outright.

Alternatively, you can opt out of the final payment and give the car back. In many cases, the money you pay will cover the car’s depreciation over the repayment term, with the balloon payment covering all of the interest (depending on representative APR) or a large portion of it.

Personal contract hire

Also known as leasing, PCH means you pay to use a vehicle for the length of your term. It takes the commitment out of your car search, as you know you’ll be able to switch to a new ride at the end of your deal – whether that’s automatic or manual.

Which is best for you?

Owning outright

One of the main factors when financing your next set of wheels is whether you want to own outright. If you definitely don’t, PCH is the best option, allowing you to continuously switch to your next car and drive newer models. If you definitely do, HP is for you. Alternatively, PCP offers more flexibility with the decision made at the end of your term.

Mileage

Mileage limits are another consideration. These are most common for PCP and PCH agreements to avoid excessive depreciation of the car’s value if you’re handing it back. You’ll need to pay if you exceed mileage limits, with charges per mile agreed as part of your deal.

If you don’t want to worry about mileage, HP may be the most suitable option. However, you’ll still need to check your agreement to make sure you don’t need to pay anything extra.

Availability

However, you may find that your finance provider will only finance an automatic car via one kind of finance deal. Whether or not that deal works for you will depend on your unique circumstances. That’s why it’s worth using a finance broker like My Car Credit, as you’ll be able to get the most competitive deal from our panel of lenders, rather than being restricted to just one.

Secure automatic car finance with My Car Credit

Compared to a manual car, one with an automatic gearbox can provide better fuel economy and an easier drive. With many new cars being automatic, there’s a better range than ever to choose from.

If you’re looking for finance on an automatic vehicle, find out how My Car Credit can help. Whether you want to discuss your finance options or your eligibility for finance, we’re on hand to support you through every step.