Example result based on the prefilled values.
HP-style Monthly
£548.24
HP-style Total to Own
£28,815.29
PCP-style Monthly
£548.24
PCP Optional Final Payment
£0.00
PCP Total to Own
£28,815.29
Continue your plan
Useful next calculations
Rates & sources
Illustrative HP-style and PCP-style amortisation using the cash price, deposit, APR, term, fees and optional final payment entered. It is not a lender quote or an affordability decision.
Source: MoneyHelper — how to buy a car — check the linked guidance and any live quote before acting.
When to use this calculator
- When you need a fast estimate before making a bigger decision.
- When you want to compare a few scenarios using the same assumptions.
- When you need a clearer starting point before using a detailed quote or formal document.
- When you want to sanity-check a figure you have seen elsewhere before you rely on it.
- When you are preparing for a conversation with an adviser, supplier, or lender and want to arrive with realistic numbers.
A realistic UK planning example
Use these sample inputs as a quick scenario test, then change one variable at a time to compare outcomes.
Car Cash Price (£)
£0.30
Deposit (£)
£50,000
APR (%)
5%
Term (Years)
25 years
After entering these figures, review hp-style monthly, hp-style total to own and pcp-style monthly together rather than in isolation — each metric tells a different part of the story. Then rerun the tool with one input adjusted to see which variable has the biggest effect on all three outputs before you settle on a plan.
How to read your results
HP-style Monthly
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
HP-style Total to Own
This is the headline outcome of the calculation, but it is most useful when read alongside the supporting metrics below it rather than in isolation. Try changing one input at a time and watching how this total moves to understand which driver has the biggest impact.
PCP-style Monthly
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
PCP Optional Final Payment
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
PCP Total to Own
This is the headline outcome of the calculation, but it is most useful when read alongside the supporting metrics below it rather than in isolation. Try changing one input at a time and watching how this total moves to understand which driver has the biggest impact.
Method & assumptionsAuthoritative sources
This calculator compares two generic fixed-rate amortisation assumptions using the figures you enter. The HP-style calculation repays the whole financed balance over the term. The PCP-style calculation defers the optional final payment until the end; it shows the total if you choose to make that payment and own the car. It is not a lender quote, eligibility decision or recommendation.
The tool adds the finance fees you enter to the balance and caps the optional final payment at that balance. It does not model option-to-purchase fees, mileage or vehicle-condition charges, insurance, servicing, part exchange, early settlement or any lender-specific contract terms. MoneyHelper explains that PCP has a deposit, monthly payments and an optional large final payment to own the car; the FCA also notes that mileage and condition can affect the return option. Check the agreement's APR, total amount payable, final payment, mileage and condition terms before committing.
Official references
Common mistakes
- !Using optimistic assumptions without testing a more cautious scenario as well.
- !Comparing outputs from different tools without checking that the inputs match.
- !Treating the result as a final quote instead of a planning estimate.
- !Rounding inputs too aggressively, which can produce an output that is noticeably different from your actual situation.
- !Stopping at a single run of the tool rather than adjusting the key variable up and down to understand the range of plausible outcomes.
What to do next
- Try at least one more scenario so you can compare a realistic range instead of a single estimate.
- Use the related calculators below to cross-check the decision from another angle.
- Open one of the linked guides if you need more context before you act on the result.
- Write down the key outputs from your best two or three scenarios so you have something concrete to compare when you make the final decision.
- If the result surprises you, change one input at a time to isolate which variable is driving the outcome before drawing conclusions.
Frequently asked
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