Do I need to make a claim myself for the FCA motor finance redress scheme?

Generally no. Firms are required to proactively identify eligible agreements and contact affected customers themselves, so most people do not need to submit a claim. You only need to act if you believe you are eligible and have not been contacted by the relevant deadline.

How do I check if my car finance agreement is eligible for redress?

Check whether your Hire Purchase, PCP or conditional sale agreement was taken out between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024, and whether it involved a Discretionary Commission Arrangement, undisclosed high commission, or an undisclosed contractual tie between the lender and the dealer. If you are unsure who your lender was, your finance agreement paperwork or the dealer that arranged it will usually show this.

What should I do if I haven't been contacted about a redress payout?

Wait until the relevant implementation deadline has passed (30 June 2026 for agreements from April 2014 onward, or 31 August 2026 for earlier agreements), since firms have a window to make contact. If that deadline passes with no contact, reach out to your lender directly and ask whether your agreement has been assessed, or raise a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service before the final 31 August 2027 deadline.

What if my lender rejects my claim or I disagree with the amount offered?

You can escalate the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which is free to use and can independently review the lender's decision. You do not need a claims management company to do this, and using one will reduce any payout you receive since they take a percentage fee.

Is there a fee to claim FCA motor finance redress?

No. Claiming directly through your lender or the Financial Ombudsman Service is free. Claims management companies and solicitors may offer to handle it for a percentage fee, but this is not necessary since the process is designed to be free and largely automatic for consumers.

How to Claim FCA Motor Finance Redress: Step-by-Step Guide

In short: for most people, claiming FCA motor finance redress does not require submitting a claim form at all — firms must proactively identify eligible agreements and contact you. You only need to take action if a deadline has passed with no contact, or if you disagree with what you're offered. Here is exactly what to do, in order.

Step 1: Check whether your agreement could be eligible

Your car finance agreement may be eligible if it was a Hire Purchase, PCP or conditional sale agreement taken out between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024, arranged through a dealer or broker who received commission from the lender. If your paperwork mentions a "discretionary commission" clause, or you simply don't know how the interest rate was set, it's worth checking.

Step 2: Identify your lender

Your finance agreement documents will name the lender (not the dealer) — this is who you'll eventually hear from or need to contact. If you've lost the paperwork, your bank statements showing the monthly payment, or the dealer who arranged the finance, can usually help you identify it. Our lenders hub lists contact routes for major UK car finance providers.

Step 3: Wait for the firm to contact you — this is normally automatic

Firms are required to review their records and proactively contact eligible customers; you are not expected to apply in most cases. Implementation deadlines are 30 June 2026 for agreements from April 2014 onward and 31 August 2026 for earlier agreements, with firms required to make contact within roughly three months of their deadline.

Step 4: If the deadline passes with no contact, reach out yourself

If the relevant deadline has passed and you've heard nothing, contact your lender directly and ask whether your agreement has been assessed under the scheme. Keep a record of when you contacted them and what they said.

Step 5: Escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service if needed

If your lender rejects your claim, doesn't respond, or you disagree with the amount offered, you can raise it with the Financial Ombudsman Service free of charge. The final deadline to complain if you believe you're eligible but haven't been contacted is 31 August 2027.

You don't need to pay anyone to claim this for you

The process is designed to be free. Claims management companies will take a percentage of any payout for doing what you can do yourself for free — going direct to your lender or the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to make a claim myself?

Generally no — firms must proactively identify and contact eligible customers.

Is there a fee to claim?

No. Going direct to your lender or the Financial Ombudsman Service is free.

What if I financed my car through a limited company?

Agreements taken out by a limited company are generally outside consumer credit protections and are unlikely to be covered — the scheme is aimed at private individuals and sole traders financing personally.