Can I get car finance with a provisional license?

If you have a vehicle in mind that you’d like to buy, we have a panel of lenders who are happy to accept applications for car finance with a provisional license – including student car finance. How much you can borrow, though, will largely depend on your personal circumstances.

We’ve outlined how you can improve your chances of finance eligibility, whether you need a guarantor when applying for car finance without a driving license, and the benefits of a joint application.

As most provisional drivers are usually quite young, it’s often not the status of their licence that can cause an issue, but their lack of credit history instead. Fortunately, Zuto works with lenders who specialise in offering bad credit score car finance, so we might be able to help.

If you have a low score, here are some simple ways you can improve your credit rating to increase the chance of being approved for car finance:

• Make sure you’re on the electoral roll
• If possible, try to use some credit little and often, ensuring you’re paying the balance on time each month.
• Pay any bills you have on time
• Avoid applying for multiple credit applications in a short space of time

If you’re unsure whether you’re eligible, apply for car finance today and receive a quote without impacting your credit score.

Because we work with a varied panel of lenders, it’s possible to qualify for either Zuto PCP finance and hire purchase finance without a full driving license:

• Hire purchase: you pay off the full value of the car, meaning you own the vehicle at the end of the agreement.
• Personal contract purchase: you only pay off the depreciation on the car, meaning monthly payments are typically lower but you don’t own the vehicle at the end of the term.

A guarantor is somebody who agrees to cover your car loan if you fall behind on payments.

We help drivers apply for car finance without a guarantor. Even if you don’t have a full license, all you need to do is provide evidence that you are able to maintain the finance payments. Ways to improve chances of eligibility include:

• Demonstrating a regular income
• Paying a deposit to reduce the amount you borrow
• Opting for a more affordable car with lower monthly payments

If you’re considering car finance without a driving license (or have a provisional), a joint loan application might be the best solution for your circumstances. By signing alongside someone who has a good credit score and a full UK driving licence, you’re likely to improve your chances of being approved – even if you have bad credit yourself.

The difference between a joint car finance application and applying with a guarantor is that the former has two registered names on the agreement. In contrast, having a guarantor means you have a financial safety net, but you’re still the sole debtor. Additionally, while anyone can be a guarantor, a joint application requires you to live at the same address.

At Zuto, we consider each car loan application based on personal circumstances, and work with lenders who are able to offer car finance for provisional license holders. Get in touch with our team today to discuss your options, or check out even more help and advice from our experts.