Car Finance Claim Calculator
This car finance claim calculator estimates your compensation under the FCA's published rules for PCP, hire purchase and conditional sale agreements taken out from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. It shows every step of the working: the commission, the extra interest compared with a lower APR, the compensatory interest and the caps that can lower the figure. It is free, needs no sign up, keeps your figures in your browser and tells you plainly when the answer is £0.
Scheme status as of 8 October 2026: the FCA scheme rules (PS26/3) are in force but partly suspended by the Upper Tribunal since 1 July 2026. The hearing is listed for 14 to 18 December 2026 or 16 to 26 February 2027, and no scheme payments are expected before 2027.
Built and checked by
Car Finance Claim Calculator editorial team
Organisation bylineChecked against PS26/3 and CONRED 5 and 6
Owner to add: named reviewer with a public register entry
Results
Enter your agreement details
Answer the starred questions to see your estimate.
Scheme status as of 8 October 2026: the FCA scheme rules (PS26/3) are in force but partly suspended by the Upper Tribunal since 1 July 2026. The hearing is listed for 14 to 18 December 2026 or 16 to 26 February 2027, and no scheme payments are expected before 2027.
Built and checked by
Car Finance Claim Calculator editorial team
Organisation bylineChecked against PS26/3 and CONRED 5 and 6
Owner to add: named reviewer with a public register entry
You can complain to your lender yourself for free. The FCA says you do not need a claims company or a law firm to take part in its scheme. Find your lender on the FCA's list of lenders, which gives a template complaint letter for each one.
What your estimate shows
Your estimate is one figure when you enter the commission, or a range from £0 to the result at the FCA's high commission level when you leave it blank. The FCA's average is £829 per agreement, but some agreements get more, some less and some nothing, and only your lender decides your figure (FCA, 30 March 2026). How much compensation for mis-sold car finance explains the average, the caps and who gets nothing.
£829
FCA average per agreement
1 in 3
results capped, the FCA says
3% a year
minimum compensatory interest
2007 to 2024
agreements the scheme covers
How the estimate is worked out
The calculator averages two figures, your commission plus interest and the extra interest you paid, then applies the three caps in the FCA's rules (CONRED 5 and 6). The steps run in this order:
- 1Date. Agreements from 6 April 2007 to 31 March 2014 use Scheme 1 (CONRED 6). Agreements from 1 April 2014 to 1 November 2024 use Scheme 2 (CONRED 5).
- 2Arrangement. At least one unfair arrangement applied: a discretionary commission arrangement (DCA), high commission (at least 39% of the total charge for credit and 10% of the amount borrowed) or a tie to one lender. The rules presume unfairness where it was not properly disclosed, and the calculator assumes your lender cannot show otherwise.
- 3Commission leg. The commission, plus compensatory interest from the day the agreement started.
- 4Overcharge leg. What you paid minus what you would have paid at a lower APR, plus interest on each payment's difference. The lower APR is your APR × 0.83 (17% lower) from 1 April 2014, or × 0.79 (21% lower) before.
- 5Average. Half the sum of the two legs. The FCA calls this the hybrid remedy.
- 6Caps. The average is cut to the lowest of three limits, and the FCA says about 1 in 3 results are capped:
- 90% of the commission leg;
- the extra you paid compared with the lowest 5% of APRs for your year, plus interest;
- everything you paid above the amount borrowed, plus interest.
Compensatory interest is simple interest at the annual average Bank of England base rate plus 1 percentage point, with a minimum of 3% a year. The rules fix the rate for every year up to 2028.
Very high commission works differently. Where commission was at least 50% of the total charge for credit and 22.5% of the amount borrowed, with a DCA or a tie, all of it is repaid with interest and no caps apply. These are the cases closest to Mr Johnson's, where the Supreme Court ordered the commission repaid with interest on 1 August 2025, and the FCA expects about 90,000 people to fall in this group.
Worked example: £10,000 at 10% APR over 48 months
This agreement gets an estimate of £913.67, of which £219.61 is interest, because no cap is lower than the average. The example is built from the FCA's rules, not taken from a real case. The agreement was made on 1 June 2019 for £10,000 at 10% APR over 48 months, with £1,000 commission and a DCA. Interest runs to 31 March 2027.
| Step | Figure |
|---|---|
| Monthly payment at 10% APR | £253.63 |
| Total charge for credit (everything paid above £10,000) | £2,174.04 |
| Commission as a share of the charge for credit, and of the amount borrowed | 46.0% and 10.0%: high commission, not very high |
| Lowest-5% APR for 2019 | 3.90%. The 10% APR is above it, so the £0 rule does not apply |
| Commission leg: £1,000 plus £333.74 interest | £1,333.74 |
| Overcharge leg: payments at 10% minus payments at 8.30% (10% × 0.83), £388.13, plus £105.48 interest | £493.61 |
| Average of the two legs | £913.67 |
| Cap 1: 90% of the commission leg | £1,200.36 |
| Cap 2: extra paid compared with a 3.90% APR, plus interest | £1,726.50 |
| Cap 3: everything paid above £10,000, plus interest, with every payment made on time | £2,899.60 |
| Estimate: no cap is lower than the average | £913.67, of which £219.61 is interest |
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Each line is rounded to the penny. The calculator rounds only the final figure, so adding the lines by hand can differ by 1p.
Three more agreements under the same rules
The same steps give £2,557.64, £499.02 and £0 on three other agreements built from the rules:
| Agreement (interest to 31 March 2027) | What decides it | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 15 March 2012, £6,000 at 18% APR over 60 months, £1,650 commission, undisclosed tie | Very high commission (52.5% of the charge for credit, 27.5% of the amount borrowed) with a tie: all commission repaid with interest, no caps | £2,557.64 |
| 1 September 2017, £8,000 at 24.9% APR over 48 months, £400 commission, DCA | The average of £866.03 is capped at 90% of the £554.47 commission leg | £499.02 |
| 1 March 2016, £15,000 at 2.90% APR over 36 months, £600 commission, DCA | The APR equals 2.90%, the lowest-5% APR for 2016 | £0 |
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The full method, every rate table and the tests the calculator must pass are on the calculator methodology page.
Which agreements count
The FCA scheme covers PCP, hire purchase and conditional sale agreements taken out from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024, where commission was payable by the lender to the dealer or broker. The date splits the scheme in two:
| Scheme 1 | Scheme 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Agreement taken out | 6 April 2007 to 31 March 2014 | 1 April 2014 to 1 November 2024 |
| FCA rules | CONRED 6 | CONRED 5 |
| Lower APR used in the overcharge leg | Your APR × 0.79 | Your APR × 0.83 |
| Commission treated as fair | £120 or less | £150 or less |
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Four more conditions apply:
- Vehicle: any motor vehicle, including a car, van, motorbike or campervan.
- Borrower: a person, a sole trader, a partnership of 2 or 3 people or an unincorporated association. Companies and LLPs are not covered.
- Residence: the borrower lived in the UK when the agreement started.
- Arrangement: a DCA, high commission or a tie, as set out in the steps above.
Finished agreements count as well as running ones, because the scheme looks at the date an agreement started. Agreements held by someone who has since died are covered too, and the car finance claim for a deceased relative page sets out what the lender needs. To test your paperwork before you estimate, the car finance claim checker asks five yes-or-no questions.
Who gets nothing
Four rules give an estimate of £0, even for an agreement inside the dates:
- commission of £150 or less, or £120 or less before 1 April 2014;
- an APR of 0%;
- an APR at or below the lowest 5% of APRs for the year the agreement was made, for example 6.90% in 2007, 2.90% in 2016 and 3.90% in 2024;
- no unfair arrangement: no DCA, no tie and commission below the high commission level.
The lowest-5% rule alone removes about 64,000 agreements, the FCA says, though it does not apply to very high commission cases. A DCA also stops counting where you were charged the lowest rate the dealer could offer.
Five groups of agreement fall outside the scheme altogether:
- personal contract hire, because a lease is not credit;
- agreements taken out before 6 April 2007 or after 1 November 2024;
- borrowing above the FCA's high value limit for the year, from £38,000 in 2008 to £82,000 in 2023 and 2024, unless the vehicle was built or adapted for a disabled driver or passenger;
- agreements over £25,000 made before 6 April 2008, and business finance over £25,000;
- agreements where you accepted compensation, or a court or the Financial Ombudsman decided the complaint.
One more group can be out of time: cases with high commission only, no DCA and no tie, that ended before 26 March 2020 where the paperwork clearly said commission was payable. The calculator flags these, and your lender must explain its decision. Every £0 result names the rule that caused it.
When will car finance claims be paid?
Not before 2027. The FCA expects scheme payments to begin in 2027, and only if the Upper Tribunal upholds the scheme and the judgment is not appealed. Until the legal challenges end, lenders do not have to calculate or pay compensation under the scheme.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 30 March 2026 | The FCA publishes its final rules, PS26/3 |
| 31 March 2026 | The scheme comes into force |
| 1 July 2026 | The Upper Tribunal partly suspends the scheme after four legal challenges |
| 18 November 2026 | Lenders tell people who complained by 30 June 2026, on agreements from 1 April 2014, if they are not owed compensation |
| 14 to 18 December 2026 | First possible hearing window |
| 18 January 2027 | The same letters for agreements before 1 April 2014, where the complaint was made by 31 August 2026 |
| 16 to 26 February 2027 | Second possible hearing window |
| 31 August 2027 | Last date to complain to your lender if it has not contacted you |
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The "not owed" letters do not apply where the lender says the complaint is out of time, or relies on the car maker tie exception. The four challengers are Consumer Voice, Volkswagen Financial Services, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services and CA Auto Finance.
The FCA names two routes if the Tribunal overturns the scheme. A revised scheme could face further challenge and delay compensation until 2028 or beyond. Or lenders handle complaints one by one, with 8 weeks to reply before the Financial Ombudsman Service can step in.
Last checked 8 October 2026 against the FCA's statement of 2 July 2026 and PS26/3.
Every new date and ruling is logged on the car finance claims update page.
Claim for free, or use a firm
You can claim for free: complain to your lender yourself, and if you disagree with its decision, the Financial Ombudsman Service is free too. The FCA says you do not need a claims company or a law firm to take part in its scheme. The free route has five steps:
- 1Find your lender on the FCA's list of lenders, which gives contact details and a template complaint letter.
- 2Send the complaint to the lender, not the dealer. A dealer or broker that receives a scheme complaint must pass it to the lender.
- 3Ask the lender to confirm the commission, the APR and whether there was a DCA or a tie.
- 4Reply to the lender's decision within 1 month, to accept or challenge it.
- 5Take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service within 6 months of the decision if you still disagree. The Ombudsman checks whether the lender followed the scheme rules.
Old bank statements, the dealer or your credit file show who the lender was if you no longer have the paperwork.
A claims company or a law firm can make the complaint for you, for a fee. The FCA says fees can be up to 36% of your compensation, including VAT. The fees question below works that out on the example above.
Each step, with the FCA's template letter and the dates lenders must meet, is set out in How to claim mis-sold car finance yourself, for free.
Car finance claim questions
Eight questions people ask about car finance claims, answered from the FCA's rules and statements as of 8 October 2026.
Is this calculator from the FCA or the government?
No. Car Finance Claim Calculator is an independent website that applies the FCA's published rules. It is not the FCA, a government service, a claims company or a law firm. Its estimates follow the rules the FCA published on 30 March 2026 (PS26/3). Under the scheme, your lender works out the amount with the same rules, whichever route you take.
What is a discretionary commission arrangement (DCA)?
A DCA let the dealer or broker set your interest rate within a range, and it earned more commission for a higher rate. The FCA banned these arrangements from 28 January 2021. A DCA counts in the scheme unless you were charged the lowest rate in the range.
How much do solicitors take from car finance claims?
Claims companies and law firms can take up to 36% of your compensation, including VAT, the FCA says. On the £913.67 worked example, 36% is £328.92; on the FCA's £829 average it is about £298. FCA rules cap a claims company's fee at 30% and £420, before VAT, on compensation from £1 to £1,499. A claims company must let you cancel within 14 days.
Is car finance compensation taxable?
The interest part is generally taxable, and lenders typically take basic rate tax off it before paying you (FCA, PS26/3). The calculator shows that interest part separately under every figure: in the worked example, £219.61 of the £913.67 is interest. You can claim back any tax taken above what you owe from HMRC with form R40.
Is there a deadline to make a car finance claim?
Yes: under the published rules (PS26/3), you can complain to your lender until 31 August 2027 if it has not contacted you. If your lender writes to invite you into the scheme, you have 6 months from that letter to reply. A complaint made before the implementation period ended (30 June 2026 for agreements from 1 April 2014, 31 August 2026 for earlier ones) is already in the scheme.
Can I claim if my car finance is paid off?
Yes. The scheme looks at when the agreement started, not whether it is still running. Finished agreements from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024 count. The exception is a case with high commission only that ended before 26 March 2020 with the commission clearly disclosed, which can be out of time.
What if my lender has gone out of business?
A firm that took over the lender's agreements, such as a debt purchaser, can be responsible for compensation under the scheme. A lender that still exists and is solvent stays responsible, even if it has left the market. Where a debt was sold, the original lender tells the buyer if it has to pay part of the compensation. Car finance is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, the FCA says.
What if I am bankrupt or in an IVA?
Compensation on the agreement can belong to your trustee in bankruptcy or your IVA supervisor, not to you, the FCA says. The calculator's estimate does not take this into account, so check with your trustee or supervisor before you rely on it.
Estimates by lender and situation
Each page below covers one lender or one finance type, with that lender's free complaint route and a link back to this calculator.
By lender:
Who runs Car Finance Claim Calculator
Car Finance Claim Calculator is an independent website funded by adverts, not a claims company, a law firm, a lender or the FCA. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. We do not handle, refer or advise on claims, and we do not collect or pass on anyone's claim details.
Every figure on this page was checked on 8 October 2026 against the FCA Handbook (CONRED 5 and 6), the FCA's policy statement PS26/3 and the FCA's statements on the scheme. The editorial policy explains how we check and correct figures, how we make money lists every source of income, and the disclaimer sets out what an estimate can and cannot tell you. More about the site is on About Car Finance Claim Calculator.
Sources: FCA, car finance claims · FCA, scheme confirmed, 30 March 2026 · FCA, scheme partially suspended, 2 July 2026 · PS26/3 · CONRED 5.4 · CONRED 6.4 · Supreme Court judgment, 1 August 2025
Complaining to your lender is free, and so is the Financial Ombudsman Service.