Can You Claim if You've Sold the Car?

Can you claim if you've sold the car?

Yes — selling, part-exchanging or returning the car doesn't end your right to complain about the finance. The claim concerns the commission on the agreement, which exists regardless of where the car is now.

The same applies if you've settled the finance early, reached the end of the term, or handed the car back. What matters is the agreement and the commission, not the car.

What you need to claim

You'll need the details of the old agreement, not the car. If you've lost your paperwork, the lender can usually resend a copy.

• The lender's name and, ideally, the agreement number — see how to find your lender.
• The approximate start date, so you can check it falls in the affected window.
• Any record of the APR or interest rate, if you still have it.

Does it matter when you sold it?

No — what counts is when the finance started, not when you sold the car. The focus is agreements from 2007–2024.

If the finance began inside that window and carried undisclosed or discretionary commission, it's worth checking — even years after you sold the car. Any figure you see is an estimate, not a promise — nobody is guaranteed a payout, and the amount depends on your own agreement.

How to claim free

Pursue it for free, just as you would with the car still on the drive. Complain to the lender, then the ombudsman if needed.

Estimate with the compensation estimator, then follow how to claim. Claiming is free and you can do it yourself: complain to your lender first, then escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service. You do not need a claims-management company taking a cut.