Second Hand Electric Car Finance

If you’re considering getting a second-hand car on finance, the good news is the used car market in the UK is booming right now. 😀 Electric vehicles can be expensive to purchase brand new, but there are some great deals to be had on second-hand models.  Read on to learn more about second hand electric car finance.

Is Car Finance Available for Second-Hand Electric Cars?

Yes! Much like conventional vehicles, electric cars can be financed. There are plenty of electric car financing deals in the UK. Many drivers are now switching to EVs because of the low running cost, plus they’re better for the environment. 🍃

Two of the most popular ways of financing a used electric car are Hire Purchase and Personal Contract Purchase. Some drivers also choose car leasing, whilst others take out a personal car loan to buy the electric cars they want.

PCP Car Finance for Used Electric Cars

If you want to have the option to upgrade your car in a few years, a PCP car finance agreement could be the best option. You only need to prepare a deposit, which is usually 10% of the car’s value, and then you have to make the monthly payments throughout the contract. The monthly payments should be cheaper than HP because you are only covering the cost of the depreciation of the car. 

If you decide that you want to own the car you’re driving, you have to pay the optional final payment called the balloon payment. The amount for this is typically stated in your PCP contract, so be sure to check it if you’re considering buying the car. 

What Does "Balloon Payment" Mean ?

The balloon payment is optional, so you’re not obliged to pay it. If you’d rather not own the vehicle, you can return it to the car finance company without paying additional charges. You’ll need to ensure that the car has not exceeded the agreed mileage limit and there is no damage beyond the usual wear and tear. The car finance company will charge penalties if this is the case, which means you’d have to pay them before you can settle the PCP agreement. 

Finally, if you want to have another PCP contract with the same car finance company, you can use the remaining equity of the vehicle as your deposit for the next car. The equity might be able to cover the full cost of the deposit, but with a used electric car, you can expect it to pay part of the deposit. Since the car is already used, there might not be a lot of equity left for the full amount. Nonetheless, it’s still a good option if you want to save money on your next car finance contract. 

Hire Purchase for Second-hand EVs

Hire Purchase car finance is a cost-effective way to own an electric car without spending a huge chunk of your savings. Much like PCP, you also need to put down a deposit and then spread the cost of the car by paying the monthly instalments. Expect the monthly payment amount to be higher than PCP because your payments go toward the full price of the car. 

What’s good about this arrangement is that you don’t have to think about the balloon payment at the end of your HP contract. When you’re done with all the payments, the ownership of the car will be transferred to you. 

How Do I Make HP Monthly Payments Cheaper? 

One way to make your monthly instalments more affordable is to pay a substantial deposit. By doing so, you’d be borrowing less money and paying less interest. You may also consider getting a shorter repayment term if you want to finish the instalments faster. The monthly repayment amount will be higher, but you get to save money since you’ll pay less interest overall. 

If you’d rather have more affordable monthly payments, it can be beneficial to choose a longer contract term. As you can see, it depends on your personal circumstances. Take time to assess what will best suit your financial situation. 

Personal Contract Hire for Used EVs

PCH or car leasing, is also available for electric cars. A car lease is most common for brand-new cars, but it’s not impossible to find a car leasing company that offers second-hand electric vehicles.

Is PCH the Best Option For Me?

PCH is for drivers who’d rather rent a car long-term. If you’re fine with not having the option to buy the vehicle, you may consider leasing the car instead. You would still have to put down a deposit and pay the monthly payments, but they will be much lower than Hire Purchase or Personal Contract Purchase.  Be careful of your mileage and make sure you return it in good condition, just like with PCP.

Why Buy a Second-Hand Electric Car?

• Electric cars are cheaper to run
• Driving is easier and smoother with an EV
• Electric vehicles don't contribute to air pollution

There are many benefits to driving an electric vehicle. You get to save money because charging an EV is much cheaper than diesel or petrol. The driving experience that EVs offer is so much better than conventional cars. You can expect it to be smooth to drive and easy to manoeuvre. Of course, electric cars are much better for the environment because they don’t emit carbon emissions into the atmosphere. 

Is EV Range Anxiety Real?

There are many misconceptions about electric cars, like you can’t drive an EV too far without having to stop and charge it. This is not true. You can enjoy long journeys around the UK with your electric car without needing to stop and charge it.

There are now plenty of charging points across the country, and you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee while your EV is charging. By the time you’re done, you can get behind the wheel again and continue towards your destination. 

Buy a Second Hand Car with Carmoola

Car financing is available for brand-new and second-hand electric vehicles alike. You might even be able to secure an electric car with 0% finance, but this is more likely with a new vehicle. You can choose between Hire Purchase, Personal Contract Purchase, or car leasing when it comes to financing your EV. The best choice is the one that’s most suitable to your preference, circumstances, and budget, so be sure to take the time to evaluate what you need and what you can afford. 👍 

Carmoola offers competitive finance deals for second-hand EVs, so do check us out and learn more about our innovative way of car financing and how it works. It's simply a case of downloading the app, entering your basic information, and you will get a decision as to how much you could potentially borrow in less than 60 seconds! 😀 Be aware that right now we do not offer PCP car finance.