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How to find out who your car finance was with

You don't need your old paperwork to make a claim, but knowing your lender helps. Here are five ways to find it, and which finance company each car brand used.

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Last updated 7 October 2026

Five ways to find your lender

Your paperwork or emails. The agreement, welcome letter or annual statements name the lender. Search your email for "finance agreement" or the dealer's name.
Your bank statements. The direct debit for your monthly payments will usually show the lender's name.
Your credit file. Agreements stay on your file for six years after they end. You can check it free with Experian, Equifax or TransUnion, or through apps such as ClearScore and Credit Karma.
The car brand. If you bought new or nearly new from a franchised dealer, the finance was often with that brand's finance company. See the table below.
A soft credit search. If you use Consultation Claims, they run one for you, which finds agreements in your name without affecting your credit score.

Find my agreements for me

Car brands and their finance companies

This table shows the lenders most often behind each brand. Brands have used more than one lender over the years, so treat it as a starting point and check the legal name on your agreement.

If you bought a…	Your lender was probably
Audi, Volkswagen, SEAT, CUPRA, Skoda	Volkswagen Financial Services
Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche	Volkswagen Financial Services
BMW, MINI, BMW Motorrad, Rolls-Royce	BMW Financial Services (also trades as ALPHERA)
Mercedes-Benz	Mercedes-Benz Financial Services
Ford	FCE Bank (Ford Credit)
Mazda, Volvo	FCE Bank or Santander Consumer (UK)
Hyundai, Genesis	Hyundai Capital UK
Kia	Hyundai Capital UK or Santander Consumer (UK)
Toyota, Lexus	Toyota Financial Services
Honda	Honda Finance Europe
Renault, Nissan, Dacia, Infiniti, Alpine	RCI Financial Services (Mobilize)
Peugeot, Citroën, DS	Stellantis Financial Services (formerly PSA Finance)
Vauxhall	Stellantis Financial Services, Santander Consumer (UK), and earlier GMAC
Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Abarth, Ferrari, Maserati	CA Auto Finance (formerly FCA Automotive Services), or Stellantis Financial Services
Jaguar, Land Rover	Black Horse or CA Auto Finance, depending on when you bought
Mitsubishi, Suzuki	Often Black Horse
Yamaha, McLaren	Santander Consumer (UK)
Used cars from independent dealers	Often Black Horse, Close Brothers, MotoNovo or Santander, or a specialist lender such as Startline, Advantage Finance or Blue Motor Finance

Specialist used-car lenders

If you bought a used car from an independent dealer, especially if your credit wasn't perfect, your finance may have been with a specialist lender rather than a bank. Lenders like this include Startline, Advantage Finance, First Response Finance, 247 Money, Blue Motor Finance, Mann Island and Northridge Finance.

Lenders that changed their name

PSA Finance UK became Stellantis Financial Services UK in April 2023.
FCA Automotive Services UK (and before that FGA Capital UK) became CA Auto Finance UK in April 2023.
Hitachi Capital UK now trades as Novuna.
Barclays Partner Finance is a trading name of Clydesdale Financial Services, part of Barclays.

Sources

Checked on 7 October 2026 against:

All lender guides

Questions people ask

How far back does my credit file go?

Settled agreements usually stay on your credit file for six years after they end. For older agreements, the lender's own records or a claims company's search are the best way to find them.

Can I claim if I don't know who my lender was?

Yes. You don't need to know your lender to start. A soft credit search can find motor finance agreements in your name.

My paperwork only shows the dealer's name. Who was the lender?

The dealer was usually acting as a broker, not lending the money itself. The agreement or your bank statements will show the actual lender.

You don't have to use a claims management company. You can complain to your lender, and then to the Financial Ombudsman Service, for free.