Find out if a car still has money owed on it before you hand over any cash. Our check searches Experian's finance database for active HP, PCP, lease and logbook loan agreements, and tells you the agreement type, the lender and when it started. It also covers write-offs, stolen records and keeper history. £7.49, no subscription.
Finance data provided by Experian. Results in under a minute.
According to the Finance and Leasing Association, over 2 million consumers took out new car finance agreements in 2025. Many of those cars will be resold before the finance is paid off.
The problem is simple: under HP and PCP, the finance company is the legal owner of the car until the last payment is made. The person driving it is the registered keeper, not the owner. If they sell the car without settling the finance, the lender may seek to repossess it from you. You may then need to recover your money from the seller, which after a private sale is often difficult. If you find yourself in this situation, seek advice from a solicitor or Citizens Advice.
The V5C (logbook) shows the registered keeper, not the legal owner. A seller can hold the V5C, have the keys, and drive the car every day while a finance company legally owns it. The only way to know for certain is to check the finance database.
| Agreement type | Who owns the car? | Risk level |
|---|---|---|
| Hire Purchase (HP) | Finance company until final payment | High |
| PCP | Finance company until balloon payment | High |
| Lease / Contract Hire | Leasing company throughout | Very high |
| Logbook Loan | Keeper owns, but lender has a bill of sale | Very high |
You pay a deposit and then fixed monthly payments over an agreed term, usually three to five years. Once every payment is made, ownership transfers to you automatically. The monthly payments are higher than PCP because you are paying off the full value of the car. If the seller still has HP on the car, the remaining balance is the amount the finance company is owed.
Monthly payments are lower because you are only paying off part of the car's value. At the end of the term, you have three options: make a final balloon payment to own the car outright, hand the car back, or use any equity as a deposit on a new deal. The finance company owns the car throughout. Most PCP cars are handed back or rolled into a new agreement, which means many used cars being sold privately still have PCP outstanding.
A logbook loan is different. The borrower already owns the car and uses it as security for a loan. The lender registers a bill of sale with the High Court. If the borrower defaults, the lender can apply to seize the car. A buyer who unknowingly purchases a car with an active logbook loan has very limited recourse. If you find yourself in this situation, seek legal advice immediately.
Never accept a verbal promise that the finance will be settled after the sale. Once you have paid the seller, you have very little leverage. A genuine seller with nothing to hide will have no problem providing a settlement letter before you exchange money.
No. Finance data is held by credit reference agencies such as Experian and is not available through any free government service. The free car check covers MOT history, mileage, tax status and known faults from DVLA and DVSA, but it cannot access finance records. Any site advertising a "free finance check" is either showing you free data and upselling the actual finance check, or is not checking finance at all.
Our report costs £7.49. There is no subscription and no account required.
The outstanding finance check is part of our full car history report. For £7.49 you get:
It shows whether money is still owed on the car under a hire purchase (HP), personal contract purchase (PCP), lease or logbook loan agreement. If finance is recorded, the report includes the agreement type, the finance provider's name and the date the agreement started. Our check also covers write-off status, stolen vehicle records and keeper history.
Outstanding finance means a previous or current owner bought the car using a secured finance agreement and has not finished paying it off. Under HP and PCP, the finance company is the legal owner of the car until the final payment is made. The registered keeper can drive it but cannot legally sell it until the finance is settled.
Under HP and PCP, the finance company is the legal owner until the agreement is settled. If the seller has not paid it off, the lender may seek to repossess the vehicle even if you paid in full. Your legal rights depend on the type of finance, how you bought the car and the specific circumstances. If you find yourself in this situation, seek advice from a solicitor or Citizens Advice. The safest course is to check before you buy.
With HP, you pay a deposit and fixed monthly payments until you own the car outright. With PCP, monthly payments are lower because you only pay off part of the value, with a final balloon payment at the end if you want to keep the car. In both cases, the finance company owns the car until it is fully paid off and both show as outstanding finance.
A logbook loan is a loan secured against a car you already own. The lender registers a bill of sale with the High Court. If the borrower defaults, the lender can repossess the car. Logbook loans are widely considered the riskiest type of finance to encounter on a used car. If you are affected, seek legal advice.
No. Finance data is held by credit reference agencies such as Experian and is not part of any free government database. Our free car check covers MOT, mileage, tax and known faults, but cannot access finance records.
Do not buy the car. Ask the seller to settle the outstanding finance and provide you with written confirmation from the lender that the agreement is closed. Never proceed on a verbal promise. If the seller refuses or cannot settle, walk away.
No. The V5C shows the registered keeper, not the legal owner. A seller can hold the V5C while a finance company legally owns the car. The V5C is not proof of ownership.
No. Unsecured personal loans, credit cards and overdrafts are not registered against a specific vehicle. Only secured agreements where the car is the collateral — HP, PCP, lease and logbook loans — appear on a finance check.
Under a minute. Enter the registration, pay £7.49, and the report is generated immediately.
Enter the registration below. Finance, write-off, stolen, MOT history, known faults and dealer prices. £7.49.
Finance data from Experian. Results in under a minute. No subscription.
Important: The information on this page is general guidance about vehicle finance and is not legal, financial or professional advice. Every situation is different. If you have bought or are considering buying a car that may have outstanding finance, seek advice from a qualified solicitor or Citizens Advice. GetCarWise provides vehicle data reports; we do not provide legal advice or act as a party in any finance dispute.
Finance, write-off, stolen and keeper data provided by Experian. MOT data from DVSA. Vehicle identity from DVLA. GetCarWise is operated by Get Car Wise Limited (Companies House 17154539). Last updated October 2026.