Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) is a car finance option where the buyer pays an initial deposit followed by fixed monthly installments over a set term, usually three or four years. At the end of the term, the buyer has three options:
- return the car with no further payments (subject to mileage and condition restrictions)
- make the final payment to purchase the car outright including the Guaranteed Minimum Future Value (GMFV), or;
- use any equity in the car as a deposit for a new PCP agreement.
PCP is popular for new car buyers because it offers flexibility and lower monthly payments, making it attractive to those who want to drive a newer or higher-value car without the large upfront cost.
The lower monthly payments in a PCP agreement are primarily due to the inclusion of the GMFV. The GMFV represents the estimated residual value of the vehicle at the end of the contract term. With a PCP agreement, the buyer is not financing the entire purchase price of the vehicle during the contract period, but rather the difference between the initial purchase price and the residual value.