Welcome to 2026. If you’re reading this, you’re likely in the same boat as millions of other UK families: you need reliable transport for the school runs, the weekly shop, and the occasional weekend away, but your budget is tighter than a drum. The automotive landscape has shifted wildly in the last five years. New car prices have crept up, and the push towards electrification has left many wondering if they can afford to keep up. But "affordable" doesn’t have to mean "cheap and nasty." In 2026, affordability is about value. It’s about balancing the upfront cost with fuel economy, insurance groups, road tax (VED), and reliability. A cheap car that spends half its life in the garage isn't affordable.
Now that we are settling into 2026, it’s the perfect time to look in the rearview mirror at the standout vehicles of last year. 2025 was a fascinating year for the UK automotive market. We saw electric vehicles becoming increasingly normal on suburban driveways, hybrid technology cementing itself as the pragmatic choice for many, and the SUV continuing its dominance as the default family transport.
For decades, the choice of a new car was simple: which brand of internal combustion engine (ICE) do you prefer? But as we navigate 2026, that simplicity has vanished. The automotive landscape has hit a definitive tipping point. With "next-generation" battery tech finally hitting the showrooms and petrol prices remaining volatile, the debate between petrol and electric has shifted from a niche environmental discussion to a practical, bottom-line decision for every household.
Life changes fast. Maybe you’ve just started a new job that requires a reliable commuter while your current SUV stays home for family duties. Or perhaps your household is growing, and you’ve realized that sharing one vehicle is no longer sustainable. Whatever the reason, the question remains: Is it actually possible to get another car on finance if you already have one? The short answer is yes.
It’s a familiar itch. You’ve had your current car for three years. It’s been great, but maybe your family has grown, your commute has changed, or you just really want that newer model with the better tech. There’s just one problem: you’re only halfway through your five-year finance agreement. Changing cars while you still have outstanding finance is incredibly common, but it requires a bit of math to ensure you don't end up in a worse financial position .
For many buyers, the financial side of purchasing a vehicle is intimidating. It involves credit scores, interest rates, and confusing acronyms. It’s easy to just nod along with the finance manager and sign wherever they point, just to get the keys faster. A car is likely the second-biggest purchase you’ll ever make. Going in uninformed can cost you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. Before you step onto the lot, arm yourself with these five essential facts about financing a car.
Forget the monotony of the motorway. If you're a driving enthusiast, you know that the real joy of being behind the wheel comes from the challenge of a winding road, the rhythm of shifting gears, and the breath taking scenery that often accompanies the most twisting tarmac. The UK, with its rolling hills, rugged mountains, and dramatic coastlines, is home to some spectacular driving routes that cater specifically to this passion.
Let’s be honest, driving in the UK can sometimes feel like a chore. It’s easy to associate getting behind the wheel with endless motorway contraflows, average speed checks, and the grey sprawl of the M25. But forget the commuter grind for a moment. The UK is undeniably spectacular, and it packs an astonishing variety of landscapes into a relatively small island. From the brooding, ancient peaks of the Highlands to the golden curves of the Cornish coast, some of the world's best driving roads are right on our doorstep.
Unless you are lucky enough to have the full cash amount sitting in your bank account, you will likely need finance to get that new motor on your driveway. In the UK, nearly 90% of new cars are bought using some form of credit. But which type is right for you? It isn't one-size-fits-all. Let’s break down the four main ways to finance a car in the UK in plain English.
It’s being called the " new PPI, " and for good reason. The UK’s car finance scandal is exploding, with analysts predicting that banks could owe drivers up to £20 billion in refunds. If you bought a car on finance anytime in the last 15 years or so, you’ve likely seen the headlines and wondered: "Am I one of the millions affected?" The confusing part is that you probably wouldn’t know if you were mis-sold anything. The car worked fine, and the monthly payments seemed manageable at the time. But beneath the surface of millions of PCP and HP deals, a hidden practice was costing consumers hundreds, sometimes thousands, of pounds extra in interest.
