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!
If you're interested in a bargain electric car and don't fancy a Dacia Spring, then the Leapmotor T03 could be of interest. Despite its bargain £15,995 price, it's pretty well equipped and well made, and if you're looking for a PCP deal a T03 will set you back just £199 a month with 0% APR and a £653 deposit contribution on a 48-month agreement.
Deposit: £199 (+ £653 Leapmotor contribution)
Monthly payments: 47 x £199 (£9353)
Optional final payment: £5790
Total payable: £15,995
Mileage per year: 6000
Representative APR: 0%
Deal ends: 30 June 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 £475 a month for the Plus M 100kW model with a 52kWh battery. You don't need a big deposit, either – the same £475 as a monthly payment will do it, as Citroen includes £2358 towards your deposit.
Deposit: £475 (+ £2358 Citroen deposit contribution)
Monthly payments: 47 x £475 (£22,325)
Optional final payment: £10,639
Total payable: £35,796.51
Mileage per year: 8000
Representative APR: 5.9%
Deal ends: 30 June 2025
The Kia Sportage has a striking design, loads of interior space and is packed with plenty of equipment, which is why it's one of the best-selling new cars in the UK. Kia is now offering the Sportage Shadow model with 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 Stepway 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 Stepway doesn't cost a huge amount to finance. However, that hasn't stopped Dacia chucking in £250 towards your deposit. If you have some savings to spare, there's a 4.9% APR option over 24 months, too, but with a minimum 25% deposit.
One of the best electric cars on the market, the recently upgraded 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.
The Toyota Aygo X is a supermini pretending to be an SUV, with tiny city-car dimensions hiding behind cartoonish details like the 18-inch alloys and plastic cladding that are not really fooling anyone. However, it's a decent urban runabout available with no deposit and a £300 contribution from Toyota. It's then just £265 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 £750 deposit contribution from Vauxhall, and you could drive a Corsa Electric Yes 2025 model, complete with LED lights, a heated steering wheel and plenty more kit, for just under £420 a month over four years.
>> Click here to get this great Vauxhall Corsa Electric deal
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 contribution takes care of the deposit, so you don't have to, plus there's free servicing and a relatively low 4.9% APR. We've chosen a CLA 200 Sport Executive from lower in the CLA range to keep the monthly payment down.
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 £750-£2000 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.
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