Reasons A Credit Union Car Loan is Better than a PCP Agreement

PCPs, or Personal Contract Plans, have become a popular way to finance a new car. Many dealerships can offer you a very attractive-sounding deal on the spot – affordable deposit, low monthly payments, trade in the car after 2-3 years… What could possibly go wrong?

Unfortunately, it’s not quite as simple as all that and there are a number of pitfalls to be aware of when entering into a PCP agreement – most of which can be avoided completely by taking out a car loan with Bruff Credit Union instead.

Here are some reasons you should talk to your local credit union rather than enter into a PCP

Ownership
A PCP is a kind of hire-purchase agreement, where you don’t actually own the car until you make the final payment. This means if you want to change cars or encounter difficulties during the term of the contract, you can’t sell the car without the agreement of the finance house/dealer.

With a Bruff Credit Union car loan the car is yours from day one.

Flexibility
Because PCP monthly payments are fixed over the term of the agreement, you can’t pay extra each month to finish up early and you will be charged a fee if you need to restructure the agreement in any way.

With a Bruff Credit Union loan there are no penalties for paying off a loan early, so you can pay more than the minimum each month if you wish.

Balloon Payments
A PCP is broken into three parts – deposit, fixed monthly repayments and a large final payment, often called a balloon payment, that can be anything up to 50% of the value of the car. You won’t own the car outright until you pay off that final amount.

With a Bruff Credit Union loan there are no nasty surprises left at the end of the term – your payments will stay the same throughout.

Mileage
As part of a PCP agreement, there is usually a restriction on how much mileage you put on the car. Going over the agreed maximum mileage can affect the final value of the car and end up costing you more money.

With a Bruff Credit Union car loan there are no restrictions on mileage.

Maintenance
PCP providers often insist you have the car serviced on a strict schedule by someone in the official dealer network. If you come to the end of your term and you’ve either missed a scheduled service or had it done anywhere other than one of their specified locations it could end up costing you a fortune.

With a Bruff Credit Union car loan, there are no terms and conditions in relation to maintenance.

Negative Equity
When you buy a car it immediately begins to lose its value to depreciation, very quickly at first, but it does slow down. This is normal and with a credit union loan it isn’t an issue, because as depreciation slows down your payments catch up and it all balances out.

With a PCP, especially if you’ve paid a low deposit, you may never actually catch up with the car’s depreciation. This really only becomes a problem if you need to change cars or if your financial situation changes and you need to exit the PCP early, because even selling the car won’t be enough to cover what you owe the dealer.

Costs
PCPs are attractive because they consist of a relatively low deposit and low fixed repayments, which makes them seem very reasonable and manageable at the outset. However, you need to look at the total cost over the term – bearing in mind that the car isn’t even yours until the final payment is made – and it may work out more expensive than a credit union car loan.

If you’re planning to buy a new car, don’t get sucked into the first shiny-looking PCP offered by the dealership.

Our Car Loan Rate Sale is NOW ON! Rate of 8.62% (8.99% APR) available now until 28th February 2023.

How to Apply

• Click here to apply online.
• Call 061 382111 to apply by phone.
• Call into our office to apply.
• Email loans@bruffcu.ie with any queries.