Car finance: can I take it and then pay off in full next day?

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Posted 21st Sep 2021
I'm looking for a used car at the moment and naturally every dealership asks if I need finance to buy the car. I have the cash for this purchase.

Is it possible to take out the finance and then pay off the debt in full the next day?

Obviously I would still have the hit of a hard credit check and a few pennies of interest, but taking the finance should help when haggling the price with the dealer.

Is this not possible, or are there often early repayment penalties to pay?
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  1. airbus330's avatar
    airbus330
    Haircut_10021/09/2021 22:44

    Sorry if I'm missing something obvious, but if you have the money …Sorry if I'm missing something obvious, but if you have the money available to buy the car then why not just pay for the car there and then by bank transfer rather than taking out finance and then paying that off straight away?


    Most likely because their are additional discounts available from the manufacturer or dealer if you take the finance package.
    The answer to the question for most controlled finance on cars is yes, but check the small print.
  2. Immoraliste's avatar
    Immoraliste
    Haircut_10021/09/2021 22:44

    Sorry if I'm missing something obvious, but if you have the money …Sorry if I'm missing something obvious, but if you have the money available to buy the car then why not just pay for the car there and then by bank transfer rather than taking out finance and then paying that off straight away?


    Every new car I wanted to buy up-front with cash was at least £1k cheaper under finance as the manufacturer deposit contributions only applied in that case.
  3. bigwheels's avatar
    bigwheels
    Yes is the simple answer.
    My mate ordered his Mercedes and took out finance.
    I think he got about £1500 off.
    The day it was delivered he paid it off, no fees or interest.
    14 day cooling off period
    DC_'s avatar
    DC_
    Would they not take back the deposit contribution if you pay it within 14 days?
  4. mas99's avatar
    mas99
    Toon_army21/09/2021 22:49

    As above I don't understand the logic? If you're paying cash they should …As above I don't understand the logic? If you're paying cash they should offer a better deal, but with the market being so strong right now it will most likely be the same price regardless.I was at VW the other day looking at a car for £25k I said could you do a deal for cash, he said nope!



    Why would they do a deal for cash? They have all sorts of extra hassle and costs to process cash.
    Finance/pcp gives them a chance to tie you into an ongoing long term relationship and they - both dealer and salesman - make more.
  5. deleted75953's avatar
    Anonymous User
    Haircut_10021/09/2021 22:44

    Sorry if I'm missing something obvious, but if you have the money …Sorry if I'm missing something obvious, but if you have the money available to buy the car then why not just pay for the car there and then by bank transfer rather than taking out finance and then paying that off straight away?


    When we got our last car I said to every dealer how much for cash, they wouldn’t take a penny off, but talk finance even telling the dealer you would pay it off the next day and they wanted to do a deal. Having to pay screen price just didn’t sit right.
  6. arCuThEDOWDr's avatar
    arCuThEDOWDr Author
    Haircut_10021/09/2021 22:44

    Sorry if I'm missing something obvious, but if you have the money …Sorry if I'm missing something obvious, but if you have the money available to buy the car then why not just pay for the car there and then by bank transfer rather than taking out finance and then paying that off straight away?


    That's what I wanted to do

    However I've had a few dealerships now ghost me once they know I don't want a finance package.

    It also means I still get s75 protection even if the dealership doesn't accept credit cards for even 1p of the purchase price.
  7. abigsmurf's avatar
    abigsmurf
    Find out what the minimum finance needed is to trigger the discounts.

    You may find you only need to take out £2500 over two years to still get the deposit contribution and other discounts. Can then either pay it off straight away for minimal penalties or just pay it over 2 years for a couple hundred in interest.
  8. Bossworld's avatar
    Bossworld
    "Cash is not king – this is not 1976…

    Car dealers hate cash. Offering a dealer cash will absolutely not get you a better deal. Every one of the used car dealers we spoke to for this feature said rather than give you a better deal for cash they’d be more inclined to avoid it.

    Used car dealer Noacross said: ‘Cash is not a help to us, neither is no PX or no finance deal, so it won’t secure a better deal.’

    Why do they hate it? Car dealers have to make checks as to where money comes from and provide an audit trail. What’s more, most banks these days charge business customers to deposit cash."

    cardealermagazine.co.uk/pub…073

    I've only ever bought one car brand new, rest have been second hand. I bought that brand new one outright, they just told me to use my debit card, there was no incentive to go and draw money out, and that was back in 2009. Even getting serious sums of cash out of a bank usually entails quite a few questions from the bank. (edited)
  9. Haircut_100's avatar
    Haircut_100
    Sorry if I'm missing something obvious, but if you have the money available to buy the car then why not just pay for the car there and then by bank transfer rather than taking out finance and then paying that off straight away?
  10. newbie68's avatar
    newbie68
    Absolutely you can pay it off early, but next day - perhaps not. I've done this a few times (last time 4 years ago with Ford). With Ford the dealer suggested it as I was saving £2.5K and had cash to buy. He asked if I would kindly wait for 30 days and pay the 1st months interest (would not get his commission if I paid within 30 days). He was a good guy - so I obliged and paid maybe £20-30 in interest. No early repayment fee (read the small print - although I'm yet to see one) and I requested a settlement figure and paid on day 33.

    Can't remember the details but legally all finance agreement can be settled at any point with paying interest on the time its taken out
  11. deleted2402824's avatar
    Anonymous User
    Toon_army21/09/2021 22:49

    As above I don't understand the logic? If you're paying cash they should …As above I don't understand the logic? If you're paying cash they should offer a better deal, but with the market being so strong right now it will most likely be the same price regardless.I was at VW the other day looking at a car for £25k I said could you do a deal for cash, he said nope!


    Ford do 0% finance (PCP) so even if you had the cash you’d be an idiot to pay cash with the discounts for finance and the fact you can earn interest on your cash over that period.
  12. FreeDeal's avatar
    FreeDeal
    Haircut_10021/09/2021 22:44

    Sorry if I'm missing something obvious, but if you have the money …Sorry if I'm missing something obvious, but if you have the money available to buy the car then why not just pay for the car there and then by bank transfer rather than taking out finance and then paying that off straight away?


    Usually because dealers will give you a better offer if you take their finance. As they will get commission.
    But should be okay. Just say am I allowed to over pay a little. See what they say (edited)
  13. Toon_army's avatar
    Toon_army
    As above I don't understand the logic? If you're paying cash they should offer a better deal, but with the market being so strong right now it will most likely be the same price regardless.
    I was at VW the other day looking at a car for £25k I said could you do a deal for cash, he said nope!
  14. mas99's avatar
    mas99
    I think that the only thing you need to be careful of is how you go about settling.

    I *think* that there is a difference between paying the finance off and withdrawing under the 14 day cooling off - technically if you use the cooling off period then the manufacturer/dealer contribution may be lost (ie you have to repay it). I would always read the paperwork carefully.

    I've bought VAG cars and paid off the finance straight away - asking for settlement value and paying it, not withdrawing from the finance.
  15. arCuThEDOWDr's avatar
    arCuThEDOWDr Author
    mas9921/09/2021 23:00

    I think that the only thing you need to be careful of is how you go about …I think that the only thing you need to be careful of is how you go about settling. I *think* that there is a difference between paying the finance off and withdrawing under the 14 day cooling off - technically if you use the cooling off period then the manufacturer/dealer contribution may be lost (ie you have to repay it). I would always read the paperwork carefully.I've bought VAG cars and paid off the finance straight away - asking for settlement value and paying it, not withdrawing from the finance.


    Understood, did you ever find the settlement price was more than the price paid for the car (after any deposit contribution)?

    It just seems to me that every cash buyer should do this as it clearly helps with haggling, so I'm expecting some sort of Early Repayment Charge to ensure the finance company doesn't make a loss on you. (edited)
  16. Toon_army's avatar
    Toon_army
    arCuThEDOWDr21/09/2021 23:19

    Probably depends on what commission they get from whoever provides their …Probably depends on what commission they get from whoever provides their finance I guess? That presumably varies by dealer and purchase price.I'll certainly ask if cash is king for them, but after I've already shown interest in finance (see earlier comment).


    Yeah thats the way I've always seen it, cash is king... but with the way cars are at the moment price wise, they might not want to budge at all! I'm I'm no rush, I know what cars are worth and have a little run around to use until something pops up.
  17. CharlieCheeze's avatar
    CharlieCheeze
    Absolutely do this. You will get a better price with finance, normally. Longer the finance deal the better (price reduction wise).
    Make sure you pay in full within the cooling off period to avoid any early repayment charges and you're good to go
  18. deleted2646400's avatar
    Anonymous User
    Toon_army21/09/2021 23:17

    I've always had deals for cash when buying from dealers! When I bought my …I've always had deals for cash when buying from dealers! When I bought my mk3 Focus RS the salesman even said if I paid cash he could sort me a better deal.A woman I work with her husband got £10k or £20k knocked off his McLaren 720s because he paid cash. So clearly dealers out there like cash sales.


    Think they did something to avoid vat, hence the discount for paying in physical cash
  19. Toon_army's avatar
    Toon_army
    deleted264640021/09/2021 23:30

    Think they did something to avoid vat, hence the discount for paying in phy …Think they did something to avoid vat, hence the discount for paying in physical cash


    I know they don't like cash cash, I took £16k to buy an Audi S3 about 8 years ago from Audi and they wouldn't sell me it saying its to much cash and something to do with money laundering.
    It might have all changed now though, hence them saying no to cash deals unless I just got them on a bad day (edited)
  20. Charger1969's avatar
    Charger1969
    I think people are focusing on the 'cash' comment when the OP is talking he has cash in bank but will digitally pay it off but even so yeah dealers don't like straight sales cash or debit unless it's a trade deal and the onus is on you.

    Finance earns them more cash, they will offset the money they get let's say they will earn 2k out of finance on the purchase price you may get a discount of 25% of what they earn so will drop the price 500 quid, figures are just a guesstimate

    If the finance is not front loaded and has a final figure that must be paid or there is a max you can pay off per one time or per month shouldn't be any reason not to be able to pay it off.
  21. mas99's avatar
    mas99
    arCuThEDOWDr21/09/2021 23:18

    Understood, did you ever find the settlement price was more than the price …Understood, did you ever find the settlement price was more than the price paid for the car (after any deposit contribution)? It just seems to me that every cash buyer should do this as it clearly helps with haggling, so I'm expecting some sort of Early Repayment Charge to ensure the finance company doesn't make a loss on you.



    Nope. just paid the interest for the few days that the credit was outstanding.

    Always read the docs though.
  22. Mich8ll8's avatar
    Mich8ll8
    I done this with my car…took on finance and paid it off a month later with no issues!
  23. alictait's avatar
    alictait
    Done this the last 3 times I have bought from Audi, get 2 free services and a 2yr warranty when I done it. No problems whatsoever with VW Finance. (edited)
  24. alictait's avatar
    alictait
    I’m sure the last time I done it I took about 5k on finance. I told the garage exactly what I was doing, the interest was about £8 I think for me if I remember correctly. Pay it off ASAP.
    arCuThEDOWDr22/09/2021 23:57

    I don't understand, do you mean the interest accrued up to the date I …I don't understand, do you mean the interest accrued up to the date I settle?

  25. arCuThEDOWDr's avatar
    arCuThEDOWDr Author
    bigwheels21/09/2021 22:55

    Yes is the simple answer.My mate ordered his Mercedes and took out …Yes is the simple answer.My mate ordered his Mercedes and took out finance.I think he got about £1500 off.The day it was delivered he paid it off, no fees or interest.14 day cooling off period


    That's exactly what I was hoping
  26. Toon_army's avatar
    Toon_army
    mas9921/09/2021 23:02

    Why would they do a deal for cash? They have all sorts of extra hassle …Why would they do a deal for cash? They have all sorts of extra hassle and costs to process cash.Finance/pcp gives them a chance to tie you into an ongoing long term relationship and they - both dealer and salesman - make more.

    I've always had deals for cash when buying from dealers! When I bought my mk3 Focus RS the salesman even said if I paid cash he could sort me a better deal.
    A woman I work with her husband got £10k or £20k knocked off his McLaren 720s because he paid cash. So clearly dealers out there like cash sales.
  27. arCuThEDOWDr's avatar
    arCuThEDOWDr Author
    Toon_army21/09/2021 23:17

    I've always had deals for cash when buying from dealers! When I bought my …I've always had deals for cash when buying from dealers! When I bought my mk3 Focus RS the salesman even said if I paid cash he could sort me a better deal.A woman I work with her husband got £10k or £20k knocked off his McLaren 720s because he paid cash. So clearly dealers out there like cash sales.


    Probably depends on what commission they get from whoever provides their finance I guess? That presumably varies by dealer and purchase price.

    I'll certainly ask if cash is king for them, but after I've already shown interest in finance (see earlier comment). (edited)
  28. notalwaysright19's avatar
    notalwaysright19
    Toon_army21/09/2021 22:49

    As above I don't understand the logic? If you're paying cash they should …As above I don't understand the logic? If you're paying cash they should offer a better deal, but with the market being so strong right now it will most likely be the same price regardless.I was at VW the other day looking at a car for £25k I said could you do a deal for cash, he said nope!


    It's crazy isn't it!

    The world has gone mad.
  29. ashmac's avatar
    ashmac
    Yes but you will still have to pay part of the interest that you would have to pay
  30. arCuThEDOWDr's avatar
    arCuThEDOWDr Author
    ashmac22/09/2021 23:56

    Yes but you will still have to pay part of the interest that you would …Yes but you will still have to pay part of the interest that you would have to pay


    I don't understand, do you mean the interest accrued up to the date I settle? (edited)
  31. DC_'s avatar
    DC_
    Hi! Would paying it off early be the same for either HP or PCP?
  32. valmiki's avatar
    valmiki
    OP I'll be doing this in a few weeks when the new car is delivered (£2.5k discount for using Finance). From what I understood of the advice I had at the time, they key is to make sure you want to "settle" the finance, and not "pay off" or "cancel" the finance.
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