About Car Affordability UK
We provide free online calculators to help you estimate how much car you can afford in the UK and what your finance payments might look like. We are not a lender and do not offer credit. Our tools are for illustration only.
The car affordability calculator uses your income, deposit, term and APR to suggest a maximum car budget and monthly payment based on simple affordability rules. The car finance calculator works the other way: you enter a car price and see estimated monthly payments. We also offer a leasing affordability calculator so you can set a monthly budget for lease payments, and a PCP vs HP comparison tool. All use standard loan maths and UK take-home approximations where needed.
We provide free calculators for car affordability (income to budget), car finance (price to monthly payment), leasing affordability, PCP vs HP comparison, and salary-based guides. There are also pages for used car finance, negative equity and APR explained. Every tool is for estimation only—we do not lend, broker or guarantee any offer. Use our results as a guide, then compare real quotes from UK lenders and brokers before you commit.
Calculator pages and guides are reviewed by Oliver Burton, Editor. Content was last updated on 08 June 2026.
We base affordability rules and finance explanations on publicly available UK guidance from organisations such as MoneyHelper and the FCA. Each calculator page includes a Sources & notes section listing the references we use and compliance notes explaining what our tools do and do not provide. See any calculator page for the full list, or read the sources section on our car affordability calculator for a representative example.
Our calculators are for estimation only. They are not financial advice and do not represent a lending decision. Your actual affordability and the rates and terms you are offered depend on your circumstances and on each lender’s criteria. Always check with lenders or a qualified financial adviser before committing to any finance agreement.
We may link to car finance comparison or broker services. We do not lend money ourselves. Any such links are for your convenience; we do not guarantee any particular offer or outcome.
Our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy explain how you may use the site and how we handle your information and cookies.
Reviewed by: Oliver Burton, Editor · Last updated: 08 June 2026
Disclaimer
This calculator is for estimation only. It is not financial advice and does not represent a lending decision. Your actual affordability and car finance options in the UK depend on your circumstances and the lender's criteria.
Sources & notes
Our calculators and guides draw on publicly available UK guidance. We review content periodically but do not guarantee that external sources remain unchanged. See our about page for how we use these tools.
MoneyHelper – How to find the right way to buy a car
General guidance on budgeting and car finance options in the UK.
MoneyHelper – Work out your budget
Household budgeting principles used alongside affordability rules of thumb.
FCA – Consumer credit and your rights
Regulatory context for regulated car finance agreements.
FCA Handbook – CONC 5.2A (creditworthiness and affordability)
How FCA-regulated lenders must assess affordability (illustrative reference).
Black Horse – Car finance (sample lender information)
Example of how a major UK motor-finance provider describes its products.
Santander – Car finance (sample lender information)
Example lender product information; rates and criteria vary by provider.
Compliance notes
- Car Affordability UK is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). We do not provide regulated financial advice, credit broking or lending.
- Calculator outputs are illustrative estimates based on the inputs you provide and published third-party guidance. They are not quotes, offers of credit or lending decisions.
- FCA-regulated lenders apply their own affordability assessments, which may differ from the percentage rules of thumb used on this site. Always check formal terms before signing any agreement.
- We may earn commission if you follow links to third-party finance comparison services. This does not affect how our calculators work or how content is reviewed.