What is going on with PCP variability?

PCP financing is something of a dark art! Deals tend to vary wildly from dealer to dealer (even for the same make and model) and the advertised offers don't seem to bear much resemblance to how they pan out in reality (I looked into an offer with monthly repayments of €362, but on a 20 per cent deposit the price ballooned to over €600).

Any advice for navigating this form of car financing, especially on how to compare packages?

Martin Moroney (Dublin)

Nov 2016 Filed under: finance

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Expert answer

Hi Martin,

Unfortunately, this being Ireland, there's little (nothing actually) in the way of a central database for these things so the only thing is to shop around. I know - I sound like Mary Harney... PCP is, like any form of finance, wildly variable depending on your deposit, your trade in, your credit score and more. The advertised rates are, as ever, based on a theoretical perfect version that may or may not exist in actuality. Think of them like Ryanair seat prices... 

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Advisor
@neilmbriscoe