Under a personal contract purchase you are required to pay a deposit of about 10 per cent and make fixed monthly repayments which cover the difference between the amount you’ve borrowed and the amount the firm sets as the ‘balloon payment’ – a large payment that can be made at the end.
Interest rates tend to start from about 4 per cent although some dealers may offer 0 per cent interest. Hire Purchase is similar – it also requires you to put down a deposit of around 10 per cent of the value of the card and to make monthly payments. If you are certain you do not want to buy a car but only hire it, then leasing is your best option as you have to hand back the car when your contract ends.