Instead of having to put down many thousands of pounds as deposit, new car buyers can sign up for a new car with either no payment at all, or a low and affordable up-front sum.
What’s more, if you have an older car that’s worth less than a more modern motor, a zero deposit or low deposit car finance deal means you can still use the trade-in value of your old car to take on a new deal, without having to fork out any extra.
The best zero deposit and low finance car deals are also tailored to ensure monthly payments remain affordable. For those on a budget, they are great all-round deals.
Some zero deposit or low deposit car finance deals see the car manufacturer add a so-called ‘deposit contribution’, instead of the car buyer having to fork out. This incentive helps lower the amount of money being financed, which keeps monthly payments down.
Other zero deposit and low deposit car finance offers are PCP car deals that are tailored to take advantage of a car’s low rate of depreciation. Monthly payments can remain affordable even without a deposit, because the car will still be worth a good amount of money at the end of the deal – lowering the amount you're financing
Expertise is required to create a good zero deposit or low deposit car finance deal. Don’t simply jump in and sign up, because you could pay for any up-front savings further down the line, particularly in terms of steep monthly payments.
To help you, we have picked the most competitive deals that are worth investigating in case they're a fit for your needs. Check out the best zero deposit and low deposit car finance deals here and see how much you could save!
The BYD Atto 3 is a solid and certainly well-equipped electric SUV, and it's available for an impressively low amount. Right now BYD is offering the car in Comfort trim for £389 a month with 0% APR and a low £389 deposit, and it'll even throw in a £4000 deposit contribution plus a retailer discount of over £1800 on the OTR price, too.
Deposit: £389 (+ £4000 BYD deposit contribution)
Monthly payments: 48 x £389 (£18,672)
Optional final payment: £12,829.50
Total payable: £35,809.50
Mileage per year: 6000
Representative APR: 0%
Deal ends: 31 March 2025
If you're looking for practicality, the Citroen e-Berlingo is one of the most versatile electric cars on the market, and it's available for just £399 a month for the short-wheelbase Plus model. You don't need a big deposit, either – £399 will do it, and Citroen will throw in a very generous £5531 deposit contribution.
Deposit: £399 (+ £5531 Citroen deposit contribution)
Monthly payments: 47 x £399 (£15,933)
Optional final payment: £10,625
Total payable: £35,308.40
Mileage per year: 8000
Representative APR: 5.9%
Deal ends: 31 March 2025
The best-selling car in the UK right now, the Kia Sportage has a striking design, loads of interior space and is packed with plenty of equipment. Kia is now offering the Sportage Shadow model with two years' free servicing, no deposit and a £1000 deposit contribution. As with most PCP deals, though, you can adjust things – if you do have a deposit, you could drive down your monthly costs further.
The Dacia Sandero is a deal-hunter's dream. Not only is it astonishingly cheap, the Sandero is also impressively spacious and it's comfortable and easy to drive. As one of the UK's cheapest cars, the Sandero doesn't cost a huge amount to finance. However, that hasn't stopped Dacia chucking in £250 towards your deposit, so we've treated ourselves to a higher-spec Journey trim level here. If you have some savings to spare, there's a 0% APR option over 24 months, too.
One of the best electric cars on the market, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 looks great, has a spacious cabin and promises up to 300 miles on a single battery charge. This feature-packed Advance spec car is on offer with 0% APR, no customer deposit and a £2000 deposit contribution from Hyundai.
This stylish Toyota Aygo X Pure isn't quite available for no deposit – but the £1000 deposit is still very low, and boosted further by a £300 contribution from Toyota. It's then just £236.56 a month for 42 months, with the total amount payable kept in check by a competitive 2.9% representative APR.
Recently upgraded, the Vauxhall Corsa Electric is now available with a low £2000 deposit. Add in a £1950 deposit contribution from Vauxhall, and you could drive a Corsa Electric Design model for just over £400 a month over five years. Just be aware that this is a longer, 60-month deal, so the guaranteed future value (the optional final payment) is rather low. That's not a problem if you plan to keep it, but not great if you want to build equity for a future purchase.
The Mercedes CLA is coming up for replacement. But if you're on the lookout for a posh small coupe and you're OK with not driving the absolute latest model, this zero deposit deal on the outgoing CLA could be worth a look. A £3500 deposit contribution takes care of the deposit, so you don't have to, plus there's free servicing and a relatively low 4.9% APR.
If you're shopping for small cars, then the Suzuki Swift is definitely worthy of consideration. Even the entry-level model has all the equipment you need, the interior has been treated to a big upgrade compared with its predecessor, and it's even really quite good fun to drive. The zero deposit option means a 48-month deal at 7.9% APR with a £500 deposit contribution, but if you can afford a deposit, there's a 24-month 0% APR option with low £139 a month repayments.
When the original Nissan Juke launched, it turned heads thanks to it being one of the most distinctive looking small SUVs on the market. However, the baroque design actually hid a relatively average car. So while the looks are a careful evolution, this time the Juke is much better to drive and better built than the car before. There's varying APR and deposit contributions depending on the trim you opt for, and we've picked a mid-range Juke N-Connecta here.
As with all car finance deals, finding the right deal for you, with monthly payments you can afford, is not quite the full picture. You still need to be approved, which is where your credit rating comes into the mix. Your car dealer will do this for you and run through the finer details when your credit application is approved. They will also give you a full breakdown of the monthly cost and any other payments required by you over the course of your PCP agreement, so you're fully informed before you sign on the dotted line.
Finding a zero deposit or low deposit car finance deal combined with 0% APR is a bit like finding the holy grail. Add in a deposit contribution and you've hit the new-car deal jackpot. However, it's not impossible to find a deal that includes all three elements, with Mercedes-Benz electric cars in particular often worth considering if you want to keep the amount you pay up front to a minimum, and hit 0% APR so you won’t pay any extra in interest over the duration of the deal.
A deposit contribution is a sum of money the car manufacturer puts towards your deposit. This is effectively money off the car, but by putting the cash towards a deposit, it means the customer doesn’t have to fork out up front – and it can also mean the monthly payments are lower, as you’re borrowing less money on finance. It’s always worth looking for deposit contributions if you want to keep your personal deposit as low as possible.
By offering a zero deposit or low deposit car finance deal, manufacturers can make a new car accessible for those who don't have much in the way of savings to put down, or don't have a car to trade in. In a time when cost of living is at the front of the vast majority of people's minds, if they are in the position to be looking for a new car, a zero deposit deal can be very appealing, as it doesn't require a hefty up-front outlay.
You can, but you'll have to look a bit harder for these deals. They sometimes don't hang around for long, either. It is often worth checking out large dealer groups for the latest zero deposit or low deposit car finance deals. It's also worth bearing in mind that finding the deal is one thing, but having your finance application approved is another, as you'll need to pass a stringent credit check as part of the PCP agreement process.
A zero deposit car finance deal is a good way to get into a new car without having to raid your savings account to put down a significant deposit before you've even taken delivery of your new car. Increasingly, carmakers are adding in their own contributions, so you still get a decent amount put down, which lowers the amount you have to borrow on finance and can help trim down your monthly payments, too. Often, 0% APR finance further sweetens the deal, especially if you're looking to switch to an electric car.
Keep me updated by email with the latest advice, news and offers from heycar.
By submitting you agree to our privacy policy