End of PCP. What did you do?

afatbollix · 26-03-2026 10:20AM

When I look at a PCP I want to just pay off the depreciation. If I'm lucky, I get a high balloon payment and I win on the depreciation game at the end.

Currently winning on both my cars so will be handing them back at the end.

I treat them as a lease really, So I always expect to hand the car back at the end.

sk8board · 26-03-2026 10:40AM

if you go to a VW dealer, almost all their stock will be cars of people who flipped into a new PCP, or to a lesser extent people who handed the car back.

I know our last car was traded in at €25k, listed by them for €29k (highish for the market at the time, but a top spec and low mileage), and was sold a few weeks later. As our PCPs are all 0%, they definitely made far more on the trade in than on the new car.

main dealers target selling a new car twice, once when new and once at 3 years old.

DaveyDave · 26-03-2026 11:52AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124341166#Comment_124341166

What brands are you looking at? Cupra are selling their secondhand EVs like hot cakes. My Born trade-in was gone in 2-3 weeks. Could be a different story with the likes of Hyundai where they brought out a new generation of Kona or Peugeot that have EVs that aren't as good.

Bass Reeves · 26-03-2026 01:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124341760#Comment_124341760

I see Ioniqe 5's sitting in forecourts, nice cars 7OKW I think low milage still there 5-6 weeks

Have an MB EQA bought 2025 with 1k on it

tk123 · 22-04-2026 11:15AM

Can anyone advise on what happens if you want to hand the car back? Do they come to me and assess it or do I go to them etc? I have a small scratch that the car picked up last year when it was being serviced (I was under a lot of stress at the time so didn’t complain or do anything about it) and one of the alloys is scuffed .. I was reminded I have smart repair with the car so wondering if I should try and get these sorted first? I tried smart repair years ago and they weren’t great - couldn’t fix the scratch etc .. I went elsewhere for a quote and they polished it out for free!

ELM327 · 22-04-2026 11:24AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124328582#Comment_124328582

Hello, I am handing my Ora back at end of June. Nice to meet you. They want the GFMV of 16k for the car but it's worth 9-10 max. That's even with a 10k deposit 3 years ago.

MojoMaker · 22-04-2026 11:26AM

Ouch.

TitianGerm · 22-04-2026 12:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124413452#Comment_124413452

That's all relative though. VW are usually 33% of the selling price for the GMFV so if that's the case here it should be around €18K and he has a €4K deposit to carry forward. New ID4 has also dropped to €47Kish so he'd probably be paying the same amount a month for a better car.

MojoMaker · 22-04-2026 12:32PM

Yep, those numbers don't sound disproportionate at all.

The owner might be slightly bitter, fair enough. 22k for a 3yr old car that now retails new for 47k is probably par for the course? Selling privately for 25k maybe?

adunis · 23-04-2026 01:57PM

GeGet onto vwfs

If handing back at end of pcp term they have a standard form to fill out which they'll email.

They will come to you transporter driver will assess there and then and you'll get the assessment for the auction house within hours.

They will bill you a few quid for "smart repair" of the alloy and the scratch.

Any excess mileage will be billed @6c/km

probably won't even have to pay the smart repair.

Cancel.your dd because it will take them weeks to put it to bed

adunis · 23-04-2026 02:02PM

If handing back under 50% rule

Get l onto vwfs find out if you're eligible

Write them a letter

VOLUNTARY TERMINATION

NOT VOUNTARY SURRENDER

same process applies thereafter

adunis · 23-04-2026 02:03PM

Ive done both once handing back my own car 50% rule

2nd time just end of contract

awec · 16-06-2026 10:50AM

PCP related question, couldn't find a better thread.

If you are buying a nearly-new car that qualifies for PCP and:

You intend on keeping the car for 5/6/7 years minimum
You have a large deposit (30-40%)

Is there any reason at all that would make you choose PCP instead of cash deposit + trade in + bank loan (say over 5 years) for the remainder?

MojoMaker · 16-06-2026 11:22AM

A low interest rate.

Your cash will make 2%+ on a set-up-in-5-mins term-free deposit with the likes of Bunq/Raisin/Trade Republic, and more likely 8-10% minimum P.A. from a modest investment-linked savings scheme.

If the PCP interest rate was 0 or 1% it's a no-brainer.