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 £169 a month over 48 months with a £169 customer deposit. This deal includes 0% APR, a £683 deposit contribution and a £1500 Leap Grant equivalent to the government's Electric Car Grant.
Deposit: £169 (+ £683 Leapmotor contribution and £1500 Leap Grant)
Monthly payments: 47 x £169 (£7943)
Optional final payment: £5760
Total payable: £14,495
Mileage per year: 6000
Representative APR: 0%
Deal ends: 30 September 2025
The Citroen e-C3 is a great looking and affordable small car that just happens to be electric, too. It's also usefully affordable, as you can get an e-C3 Plus 83kW with a 44kWh battery for £299 a month thanks in part to the fact that the car qualifies for the £1500 government Electric Car Grant. You don't need a big deposit, either – the same £299 as a monthly payment will do it, as Citroen includes £1705 towards your deposit.
Deposit: £299 (+ £1705 Citroen deposit contribution and £1500 Electric Car Grant)
Monthly payments: 47 x £299 (£14,053)
Optional final payment: £8,173
Total payable: £24,230.08
Mileage per year: 8000
Representative APR: 6.9%
Deal ends: 30 September 2025
The Kia Sportage has loads of interior space and is packed with plenty of equipment, and now benefits from a facelift with a new look designed to bring it in line with the rest of its models. However, its no deposit and £1000 deposit contribution deal remains. As with most PCP deals, though, you can adjust things – if you do have a deposit, or car to part exchange, you could drive down your monthly costs further.
The SEAT Ibiza remains a fine choice of small hatchback, despite arriving all the way back in 2017. Smart, stylish and a better all-rounder than ever before, the Ibiza is still extremely competitive. However, with familiarity, plus newer rivals to consider, SEAT has to work harder to get buyers to get behind the wheel. A £2000 deposit contribution helps, as and the option of not having to put down a deposit yourself. All of which means the Ibiza adds affordability as another string to its bow.
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, a £1000 deposit contribution and a £1500 Hyundai Electric Car grant. The grant matches the one offered by the UK government, but for which the Ioniq 5 is too expensive to qualify.
The Toyota Yaris is a supermini with a Toyota badge that's pretending to be something much more upmarket from Lexus. Despite its tiny size, the Yaris feels nicely put together, packs plenty of high-tech infotainment and safety kit, plus it has a fuel-saving hybrid powertrain. Toyota offers the Yaris with no deposit and an £800 deposit contribution, while if you have a deposit to put down, you can get the car with 0% APR over 24 months instead.
Recently upgraded, the Vauxhall Corsa Electric is now available with a low £1000 deposit. Add in a £1000 deposit contribution from Vauxhall, and you could drive the very well equipped Corsa Electric Yes 2025 model, complete with LED lights, a heated steering wheel and plenty more kit, for under £500 a month over four years.
>> Click here to get this great Vauxhall Corsa Electric deal
The Mercedes A-Class is the first rung on the Mercedes ladder. But despite the entry-level price, the A-Class features some serious big-car features, in particular Merc's decent infotainment system. This zero deposit deal on the A-Class includes a £4750 contribution that takes care of the deposit, so you don't have to, plus there's two free services included, saving £686, three years roadside assistance, 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 5.9% APR with a £500 deposit contribution, but if you can afford a deposit, there's a 24-month 0% APR option with repayments as low as £109 a month.
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 £2500-£3125 deposit contributions depending on the trim you opt for. 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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