Good to know: We are a Claims Management Company (CMC). You do not need to use a CMC to make your complaint to your lender, bank or insurer. If your complaint is not successful you can refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service yourself for free if the firm is still trading. For eligible failed firms, you can refer a claim to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme for free.
If you purchased a car, van, or motorbike using finance in the UK between April 2007 and January 2021, you could be entitled to significant car finance redress through a car finance claim. Recent FCA investigations1 reveal that millions of consumers were overcharged, with the FCA estimating the average overpayment at about £1,1002, meaning you could be owed substantial compensation for hidden commission charges and unfair practices that cost you thousands.
*Our fees range from 18% to 36% (including VAT). Fees only apply if you receive a compensation payment.
Apply NowThe car finance industry has been rocked by revelations of systematic mis-selling that has cost UK consumers millions. Recent investigations by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)1 and landmark court rulings4 have exposed how car dealers and finance brokers were paid secret commissions that were never disclosed to customers, leading to inflated interest rates and thousands of pounds in overcharges.
The numbers are staggering:
Investment bank Jefferies estimates the bill for the finance sector could be as high as £13bn6, while some analysts suggest the scandal could cost lenders from £30bn to £44bn, with concerns that it could be on the scale of the £50bn payment protection insurance (PPI) scandal3.
This widespread misconduct means you likely have grounds for a car finance claim seeking substantial car finance redress.
Apply NowYour car finance claim can be based on two main types of commission arrangements that may entitle you to car finance redress:
Under DCAs (banned in January 20218), car dealers could adjust your interest rate to increase their commission payments. The higher your rate, the more they earned, creating a direct conflict of interest that led to customers paying excessive charges.
The FCA estimates around 40% of car finance deals had such arrangements until they were banned2. If your agreement was before January 28, 2021, you likely have a strong car finance claim for DCA-related car finance redress.
Even without DCAs, dealers received fixed commissions or flat fees that were rarely disclosed. If you weren’t told about these payments, you couldn’t make an informed decision, giving you grounds for a car finance claim seeking car finance redress.
A pivotal Court of Appeal ruling in October 20247 established that undisclosed broker commissions are unlawful without informed customer consent, significantly expanding the scope for car finance claims beyond just DCAs.
You may be entitled to car finance redress through a car finance claim if:
✅ Your agreement was between April 2007 – January 28, 2021
✅ You used PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) or HP (Hire Purchase) finance
✅ You were not fully informed about dealer commissions
✅ Your interest rate seemed higher than expected
✅ Sales tactics felt pressured or rushed
✅ Finance options weren’t properly explained
✅ Affordability checks seemed inadequate
Important: You can claim for multiple vehicles, completed agreements, active agreements, and even repossessed vehicles.
Apply NowThe amount of car finance redress from your car finance claim depends on several factors:
Typical car finance claim payouts:
Factors affecting your car finance redress:
Unlike many newcomers to car finance claims, Allegiant is an established FCA-regulated claims management company9 (Firm Reference Number: 836810) with extensive experience in securing car finance redress for UK consumers.
The regulatory environment strongly supports consumers seeking car finance redress:
FCA Investigation Ongoing: The FCA’s comprehensive review1 into DCA practices continues, with the FCA confirming it will likely consult on a redress scheme if motor finance customers have lost out from widespread failings1.
Extended Deadlines: New rules7 give firms until December 2025 to respond to car finance claims, and consumers until July 2026 to escalate complaints if unsatisfied5.
Court Precedent: Recent Court of Appeal rulings7 have established strong legal grounds for car finance claims, particularly around the principle of ‘informed consent’ for commission payments.
Don’t delay your car finance claim. You generally have:
With millions of consumers potentially affected1 and deadlines approaching, it’s crucial to start your car finance claim as soon as possible to secure your car finance redress.
Don’t let hidden commissions and unfair practices cost you thousands. If you financed a vehicle between 2007–2021, you likely have grounds for a car finance claim that could result in substantial car finance redress.
Why choose professional help for your car finance claim?
The car finance industry profited from unfair practices for years. Now it’s your turn to claim back what you’re rightfully owed through a car finance claim.
Contact Allegiant today to start your journey toward the car finance redress you deserve. With our expertise, FCA regulation, and no win, no fee guarantee, you have nothing to lose and thousands to gain.
Allegiant is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority9 (FRN: 836810). Our no win, no fee terms mean you only pay if your car finance claim is successful and you receive car finance redress. Full terms and conditions will be clearly explained before proceeding with your car finance claim. All compensation figures quoted are based on FCA research and industry data2. Individual results may vary.
†As of 10/06/2025, Allegiant has recovered £956,850 in compensation for 272 customers on Unaffordable Lending claims for car finance agreements
1 https://www.fca.org.uk/news/statements/motor-finance-review-next-steps
2 https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/solicitors-hit-out-at-fca-over-car-finance-mis-selling-delay
3 https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/car-finance-scandal-fca-compensation-060010984.html
4 https://cardealermagazine.co.uk/publish/martin-lewis-says-car-finance-scandal-could-double-in-size-as-fca-extends-scope-of-investigation/309947
5 https://www.fca.org.uk/news/statements/update-motor-finance-work
6 https://cardealermagazine.co.uk/publish/some-car-finance-companies-almost-certainly-guilty-of-commission-failings-says-fca/299264
7 https://www.fca.org.uk/news/statements/firms-given-until-december-2025-respond-motor-finance-commission-complaints
8 https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/reclaim-car-finance/
9 https://register.fca.org.uk/s/firm?id=0010X00004MND0QQAX
10 https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk
11 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/58/section/5
12 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/58/section/14A
Stephen is our Head of Product, with a steadfast dedication to consumer justice and thought leadership . In his early years, Stephen was a Complaints Handler at Lloyds Banking Group. Stephen then worked at the Financial Ombudsman Service for over 10 years in various roles, including Quality Auditor. Stephen ensures Allegiant provides top tier claims handling for our customers.
Learn more about Discretionary Commission Arrangement Claims here
DCA Claims
Learn more about Non Discrestionary Commission Arrangements here
NDA ClaimsAbsolutely. In fact, they’re grounded in solid legal precedent. In October 2024, the Court of Appeal ruled that dealers and brokers must disclose motor-finance commissions; failing to do so meant many borrowers paid inflated rates. The Supreme Court then heard appeals (Close Brothers and FirstRand/MotoNovo) in April 2025, with a final judgment due in July 2025.
Car finance claims can be pursued either on your own or via a claims management company (CMC) or regulated law firm. Both routes follow the same FCA and Ombudsman processes, but the level of support differs
Gather Every Document: Locate your finance agreement, APR schedules, purchase invoices, application forms and any broker/dealer communications.
Submit a Formal Complaint to Your Lender/Broker: Write a clear letter referencing hidden or “discretionary” commission and how it likely inflated your rate. Under normal FCA rules, lenders have eight weeks to issue a “final response,” but these timelines are currently on hold until the Supreme Court judgment in July 2025. Nevertheless, lodging a complaint now preserves your complaint date.
Wait for Final Response / Escalate: Once the Supreme Court rules, lenders must resume handling. If you’re unhappy with their final response (or they miss the eight-week deadline), you escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). The FOS typically resolves straightforward cases in 3–9 months.
Receive Redress: If successful, your lender pays the difference between what you actually paid and what you should have paid, plus interest on those overpayments.
Initial Eligibility Check: The specialist (CMC or solicitor) first verifies whether your finance deal (PCP or HP signed between April 2007 and January 2021) likely involved an undisclosed commission. This quick screening often takes just a few minutes of basic details.
Paperwork Gathering & Review: Instead of you chasing every invoice or APR sheet, the CMC or law firm requests those documents on your behalf. They know exactly which forms lenders require – saving you time and ensuring nothing is overlooked.
Complaint Drafting & Submission: Experts draft a robust complaint letter that cites FCA regulations and relevant case law. They submit it to the lender (or broker) and track responses in real time. If the lender drags its feet, the CMC/law firm can escalate at the eight-week mark on your behalf.
Ombudsman Escalation (If Needed): Should the lender’s final response be unsatisfactory, the CMC or solicitor compiles all evidence and files the case with the FOS – often framing arguments in tighter legal language to strengthen your position.
Negotiation & Settlement: Once liability is acknowledged – either directly or via the FOS – the specialist negotiates the redress calculation (overpayment interest, lost credit benefit, etc.).
Timelines hinge entirely on the Supreme Court’s July 2025 decision and the FCA’s subsequent instructions:
Supreme Court Judgment (July 2025): The Court is set to publish its ruling by late July 2025. Until then, lenders must pause all commission-related complaints.
FCA Announcement (Within 6 Weeks of Ruling): Once the judgment appears, the FCA has pledged to outline (by approximately late August 2025) what the next steps will be. We expect claims to start paying out later in 2025.
“Best” depends on three non-negotiable criteria—regulation, fees and track record—whether you pick a CMC or a law firm:
It is essential to ensure your professional representative is authorised to represent you under a relevant regulator.
Claims Management Companies (CMCs) are regulated by the FCA under the Financial Services and Markets Act.
Law Firms handling these claims are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
No Win, No Fee: Both top CMCs and law firms typically operate on a no win–no fee basis, but the percentage they charge can vary (often 25–35 percent of your redress). Always request their full fee schedule in writing. Look out for hidden extra costs (e.g., VAT, “file handling” fees, or unscheduled disbursements). Here at Allegiant, our prices are clearly stated to include VAT. We have no hidden charges.
Lawyers vs CMC Fees: In some cases, SRA-regulated firms charge slightly higher percentages than CMCs.
Track Record: The best providers (CMCs or law firms) publish anonymised case studies or statistics demonstrating their experience. Allegiant has claimed over £80 million across all claim types.
Independent Reviews: Check Trustpilot, Which? or MoneySavingExpert forums. Beware of five-star packed reviews—look instead for detailed, balanced feedback. High-volume CMCs sometimes trade on aggressive marketing; top law firms usually have steadier, quality-based reputations. Allegiant has an excellent Trustpilot rating Our reviews are not manipulated. Be aware of providers that ask customers to write a 5* review based on a “great” phone call only(!). Look for results based reviews.
In this blog, our Head of Product, Stephen Griffiths, explores the main two branches of commissions associated with car finance.
View nowWe take a look at the essentials all UK drivers should know about vehicle hidden commission claims.
Learn nowLearn about the humble beginnings of the UK’s largest financial scandal since PPI.
Go now
We'll locate and review your car finance agreements
We'll spot and lender failings, and hold them to account
We'll review the lenders offer, or escalate as necessary
Where eligible, we will ensure you are re-united with your cash
Good to know: We are a Claims Management Company (CMC). You do not need to use a CMC to make your complaint to your lender, bank or insurer. If your complaint is not successful you can refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service yourself for free if the firm is still trading. For eligible failed firms, you can refer a claim to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme for free.
