Santander Consumer Car Finance: How It Works, Rates & Alternatives

Who is Santander Consumer Finance?

Santander Consumer is a direct lender, not a broker — it provides the funds itself, usually for cars bought through a dealer, and runs some manufacturer-badged finance schemes.

Because Santander Consumer lends its own money, the agreement is between you and Santander Consumer (even where it appears under a car brand's name). It must be FCA-authorised and run an affordability check before lending.

What products does Santander Consumer offer?

Santander Consumer typically provides Hire Purchase (HP) and PCP through dealers, on new and used cars.

• Hire Purchase (HP): own the car after the final payment — see the HP calculator.
• PCP: a lower monthly with an optional final balloon — see the PCP calculator.
• Manufacturer schemes: some branded car finance is funded by Santander Consumer behind the scenes — see manufacturer finance.

What rates and eligibility does Santander Consumer look at?

Your Santander Consumer rate depends on your credit profile and the car, not a single headline figure — the APR is set after a credit and affordability check.

Manufacturer schemes sometimes offer low or 0% headline rates that may not be the cheapest once you compare them with a cash discount. Turn any quote into its real cost with our APR calculator, which shows the total interest in pounds.

How Santander Consumer compares — your alternatives

Santander Consumer is one of several dealer-finance lenders; the cheapest option is whichever has the lowest APR over the shortest term you can afford.

Compare on the total amount payable, not the monthly. Check the figures on the main calculator before you decide.