Handing car back - what a faff!

[KenL]

My PCP ends in early October with last payment early September.

My plan was to hand the car back towards the end of August so I don't need to MOT it or even pay the £20 tax.

I called today and explained I was happy to pay last payment to complete the terms of the PCP contract.

Person at Audi Finance said I couldn't do this. If I wanted to return the car before the date of the last payment I would have to VT it. In order to VT it I still have to pay pretty much the same amount of money anyway.

So it looks like I'll just need to keep it beyond my last payment date.

Returning it also seems a mess. You can't take it somewhere, you have to arrange for someone from British Car Auctions to collect it. They'll have to collect it from my work as I can't take time off to wait around for somebody to collect it.

 

[TYb]

My PCP ends in early October with last payment early September.

My plan was to hand the car back towards the end of August so I don't need to MOT it or even pay the £20 tax.

I called today and explained I was happy to pay last payment to complete the terms of the PCP contract.

Person at Audi Finance said I couldn't do this. If I wanted to return the car before the date of the last payment I would have to VT it. In order to VT it I still have to pay pretty much the same amount of money anyway.

So it looks like I'll just need to keep it beyond my last payment date.

Returning it also seems a mess. You can't take it somewhere, you have to arrange for someone from British Car Auctions to collect it. They'll have to collect it from my work as I can't take time off to wait around for somebody to collect it.

If you are at the end of the pcp May be worth seeing how much it is to settle the agreement and then sell the car. We buy any car will give you the worst case, also look at Tootle etc.

 

[Evil Derboy]

Standard Practice. BCA (or Mannhein) come and inspect it, agree a list of charges if applicable and then a 2nd guy turns up and takes it away. Just the same as at the end of a lease. If VTing it is the same cost then just VT it. There's no implications for doing so and it's your right under your contract.

 

[AlS3BE]

The only difference is if you vt the car you are terminating under the consumer credit act and protected by their rules/regulations. Technically if the car is in an expected condition for age they can’t charge you any more theoretically not even excess mileage. This only applies if you passed the half way mark. That’s the total value of car minus discounts, deposits, payments plus interests and other charges.
Ending the agreement you are ending on the terms of the original pcp contract and could possibly incur more charges like damage, mileage etc. As these could be specifically mentioned in the contract with specific limits like wheels can’t have more than a 2cm kerb mark.
You need to weigh up which is better for your circumstances. I looked into this in depth before but always managed to trade car in for more than the gfv so never actually used it.

 

[wab172uk]

My PCP ends in early October with last payment early September.

My plan was to hand the car back towards the end of August so I don't need to MOT it or even pay the £20 tax.

I called today and explained I was happy to pay last payment to complete the terms of the PCP contract.

Person at Audi Finance said I couldn't do this. If I wanted to return the car before the date of the last payment I would have to VT it. In order to VT it I still have to pay pretty much the same amount of money anyway.

So it looks like I'll just need to keep it beyond my last payment date.

Returning it also seems a mess. You can't take it somewhere, you have to arrange for someone from British Car Auctions to collect it. They'll have to collect it from my work as I can't take time off to wait around for somebody to collect it.

Personally, I'd be taking lots of Photo's of the car. I might even go to an Audi dealer the weekend before, and have them inspect the car. Once it's driven off, they could damage the car and blame you.

 

[KenL]

If you are at the end of the pcp May be worth seeing how much it is to settle the agreement and then sell the car. We buy any car will give you the worst case, also look at Tootle etc.

Thanks but the value of the car is nowhere near the settlement.
WBAC offered £8300, the settlement is £10 600. Audi really got their prediction wrong.

 

[AlS3BE]

Thanks but the value of the car is nowhere near the settlement.
WBAC offered £8300, the settlement is £10 600. Audi really got their prediction wrong.

Lots of manufacturers getting caught out with that. They did it to bring the monthlies down thinking they could control secondhand car prices and it backfired. Been looking at new cars recently for other half and the gfv on all cars are very low in my opinion so bumping up the monthlies. Can’t even buy the same car for the same monthlies at the moment.

 

[wab172uk]

Lots of manufacturers getting caught out with that. They did it to bring the monthlies down thinking they could control secondhand car prices and it backfired. Been looking at new cars recently for other half and the gfv on all cars are very low in my opinion so bumping up the monthlies. Can’t even buy the same car for the same monthlies at the moment.

The Bubble hasn't popped yet, but it's certainly deflating.

Lots of people are going to have to downgrade once their PCP deals comes to an end. Can't get the same car for the same money anymore. Plus the money owed on the car they've had, will still be more than what they've paid off. So makes no sense keeping it.

Maybe this might force manufacturers to re-assess their pricing. Car's are becoming more and more expensive, all through the recent years of PCP.

 

[AlS3BE]

The Bubble hasn't popped yet, but it's certainly deflating.

Lots of people are going to have to downgrade once their PCP deals comes to an end. Can't get the same car for the same money anymore. Plus the money owed on the car they've had, will still be more than what they've paid off. So makes no sense keeping it.

Maybe this might force manufacturers to re-assess their pricing. Car's are becoming more and more expensive, all through the recent years of PCP.

If you had something like a q3 3/4 years ago you will be struggling to get the cheaper equivalent vw/Skoda for the same money today. Some of the gfv I've seen recently is less than half after 3 years.
Looked at a merc last week and after 4 years it loses just over 60%. You expect the premium cars to hold their values better but they are all bad now.

 

[S32B]

Lots of people are going to have to downgrade once their PCP deals comes to an end. Can't get the same car for the same money anymore. Plus the money owed on the car they've had, will still be more than what they've paid off. So makes no sense keeping it.

100% correct mate if I were to get exactly the same car again with the same amount of discount and using the same deposit, to get the payment the same I'd have to switch from a 36 month deal to a 48 month deal! That to me defeats the point of a pcp, pcp to me is not having to worry about MOT's and not being out of warranty. If I'm going to have to be in that position I may as well just buy and keep something long term.

 

[NevMan]

Thanks but the value of the car is nowhere near the settlement.
WBAC offered £8300, the settlement is £10 600. Audi really got their prediction wrong.

WBAC offered £28k for my Q5, BMW dealer offered £29,500 P/X, but sold privately for £31,500.

Why don’t you try selling to dealer or private, as in my experience with previous cars and family members cars WBAC are often the lowest valuation

 

[KenL]

WBAC offered £28k for my Q5, BMW dealer offered £29,500 P/X, but sold privately for £31,500.

Why don’t you try selling to dealer or private, as in my experience with previous cars and family members cars WBAC are often the lowest valuation

You got ~10% selling privately. I need ~30% more to break even. Dealer not interested as a trade in.

Plus, I don't need the hassle selling privately unless there was some profit to be made.

But thanks for your help.

 

[S32B]

My PCP ends in early October with last payment early September.

My plan was to hand the car back towards the end of August so I don't need to MOT it or even pay the £20 tax.

I called today and explained I was happy to pay last payment to complete the terms of the PCP contract.

Person at Audi Finance said I couldn't do this. If I wanted to return the car before the date of the last payment I would have to VT it. In order to VT it I still have to pay pretty much the same amount of money anyway.

So it looks like I'll just need to keep it beyond my last payment date.

Returning it also seems a mess. You can't take it somewhere, you have to arrange for someone from British Car Auctions to collect it. They'll have to collect it from my work as I can't take time off to wait around for somebody to collect it.

So are you expected to put the 3rd service and mot on it?

 

[KenL]

So are you expected to put the 3rd service and mot on it?

The car is on variable service due in ~3k miles. I won't be doing that.

I will need to MOT it.

 

[NevMan]

You got ~10% selling privately. I need ~30% more to break even. Dealer not interested as a trade in.

Plus, I don't need the hassle selling privately unless there was some profit to be made.

But thanks for your help.

Jeez, best option for you then is to VT assuming at least half is paid off which it should be surely

 

[KenL]

VT only comes into effect in the last month of the 3 year PCP in this case. Not worth it.

 

[NevMan]

VT only comes into effect in the last month of the 3 year PCP in this case. Not worth it.

Well then wait till the end and pay the fees mate

 

[KenL]

Yes, that's the plan. Thanks.

 

[KenL]

Update. Made my last PCP payment today. Called Audi and got a helpful chap today.
Asked to have car collected. He said British Car Auctions should be in touch to arrange collection.
Car is in very good condition so not expecting any grief or outrageous charges - fingers crossed!
Should get my ST at the beginning of October.

 

[KenL]

Another update...
Today I received a joke of a confirmation letter from Audi.
Threats of £250 charge if I didn't have the v5.

Even more laughable was the £400 + VAT charge if you don't have the service booklet. I called them up to remind them that Audi did not provide a service booklet!

I also received a text from British Car Auctions asking me to book a slot for the car to be collected. Great, I thought. First appt is 3 weeks and a slot appears to be the whole day. I'm a teacher and unable to get time off to sit about waiting for them to (not) turn up, so I'll give them a call in the morning.

Audi are rubbish, so glad to be moving on.

 

[AlS3BE]

Another update...
Today I received a joke of a confirmation letter from Audi.
Threats of £250 charge if I didn't have the v5.

Even more laughable was the £400 + VAT charge if you don't have the service booklet. I called them up to remind them that Audi did not provide a service booklet!

I also received a text from British Car Auctions asking me to book a slot for the car to be collected. Great, I thought. First appt is 3 weeks and a slot appears to be the whole day. I'm a teacher and unable to get time off to sit about waiting for them to (not) turn up, so I'll give them a call in the morning.

Audi are rubbish, so glad to be moving on.

BCA was quite good to deal with the only time I’ve VT’d a car. That’s just the script they go through when you book it in.
They arrange the date and call you a couple of hours before they come.
My car was spotless apart from a few stone chips and no alloy kerbing. Guy basically walked round the car and was gone in 15minutes. He wrote on his check sheet electronic service record and no charge on the sheet. Make sure you get that bit of paper so there’s no argument later on.
You can understand why there’s a big charge for no v5 as they need to apply to dvla for it and it could take a while so delaying selling the car.
Give the car a quick clean and the interior a wipe down. They can charge you a fortune for a dirty car.

 

[KenL]

Thanks mate, great info.

 

[AlS3BE]

Thanks mate, great info.

Oh yeah forgot
2 keys
Mot certificate
Manuals/instructions
Sat nav disc/card
These can be charged at dealer retail rates.
Fuel light can’t be on.
Here’s a copy of my report. They probably check other things as well that I missed.

 

[KenL]

Thanks again.

 

[KenL]

Car collection date sorted. Absolutely rubbish service from BCA. Only willing to give the whole day in advance. Will call 1 hour before they arrive.

Not going to look good when I have to leave 30 kids in a lesson to spend 40 minutes at the handover!

Will be avoiding like the plague handing a car back in the future.

 

[AlS3BE]

Car collection date sorted. Absolutely rubbish service from BCA. Only willing to give the whole day in advance. Will call 1 hour before they arrive.

Not going to look good when I have to leave 30 kids in a lesson to spend 40 minutes at the handover!

Will be avoiding like the plague handing a car back in the future.

I didn’t have the problem of 30 kids. I just walked to office car park and handed keys to the BCA guys and went back to work then 15-20 minutes later he came up with a bit of paper saying no charge. That was it.

 

[KenL]

Thanks, that sounds better. Maybe I can run down, hand over the keys and go back to class;-)

 

[S32B]

I didn’t have the problem of 30 kids. I just walked to office car park and handed keys to the BCA guys and went back to work then 15-20 minutes later he came up with a bit of paper saying no charge. That was it.

Thanks, that sounds better. Maybe I can run down, hand over the keys and go back to class;-)

Great I have this to look forward to next year!

Officially my deal ends on the 19th October and they have said to phone them on the 19th September to arrange collection.
The car will be 3 years old on the 21st October 2 days after my deal ends, as that was when it was registered, so am I correct in thinking that I will not have to MOT it, or do they require it to have a certain amount on it?

Thanks.

 

[AlS3BE]

Great I have this to look forward to next year!

Officially my deal ends on the 19th October and they have said to phone them on the 19th September to arrange collection.
The car will be 3 years old on the 21st October 2 days after my deal ends, as that was when it was registered, so am I correct in thinking that I will not have to MOT it, or do they require it to have a certain amount on it?

Thanks.

Mot will need to have 48 hours left and car road legal(tyres and no warning lights) as they drive it away.

 

[KenL]

My understanding (don't quote me) is that the car needs to be roadworthy. So, road tax, MOT required.

 

[S32B]

Mot will need to have 48 hours left and car road legal(tyres and no warning lights) as they drive it away.

OK thanks, should be OK then as it will have mot for 48 hours after the deal officially ends...but surely if I call them up a month before then, they wouldn't wait until the last day of the deal to collect???

 

[KenL]

Once you have made your last payment you can call and make a collection appointment.

I could keep my car to 9/10 but it is being collected on 24/9.

 

[davemk]

Not going to look good when I have to leave 30 kids in a lesson to spend 40 minutes at the handover!

Will be avoiding like the plague handing a car back in the future.

40mins out of class is a win, surely?

 

[S32B]

Once you have made your last payment you can call and make a collection appointment.

I could keep my car to 9/10 but it is being collected on 24/9.

So your last payment covers you to have the car until the 24th, as are giving it back early do they refund you the difference?

 

[AlS3BE]

So your last payment covers you to have the car until the 24th, as are giving it back early do they refund you the difference?

I would seriously doubt it. It’s better early as mot and service will not due otherwise you got to get it done. Mileage will get pro rata as well if they refund you.

 

[KenL]

Not expecting any refund. Although if the try to charge me anything I'll mention they got the car early.

 

[KenL]

BCA logistics are absolutely useless.

Got a text earlier today reminding me car is being collected on Tuesday - great!

Half an hour ago I get a voice telling me there has been a system error and car wouldn't be collected.

Called back and spoke forcefully to another person in no uncertain terms that they will not be letting me down and that they would be collecting the car on Tuesday as agreed.

This guy looks on his system and says that all was fine and the car would be getting collected. He said I must have been called by mistake - couldn't make this up could you?

Absolutely rubbish and I am not a happy bunny.

Audi will be hearing from me in due course. Premium brand with bargain basement service.

 

[S32B]

BCA logistics are absolutely useless.

Got a text earlier today reminding me car is being collected on Tuesday - great!

Half an hour ago I get a voice telling me there has been a system error and car wouldn't be collected.

Called back and spoke forcefully to another person in no uncertain terms that they will not be letting me down and that they would be collecting the car on Tuesday as agreed.

This guy looks on his system and says that all was fine and the car would be getting collected. He said I must have been called by mistake - couldn't make this up could you?

Absolutely rubbish and I am not a happy bunny.

Audi will be hearing from me in due course. Premium brand with bargain basement service.

It's daft mate and hassle you don't need.

I can't see any reason why you aren't allowed to take it to a local Audi dealership and hand it back there. When I asked the question about handing it back IF I bought another Audi they said they could take it off me and then let BCA collect it from them!!! So why can't they do that to help their customers out? If they did maybe you'd look at Audi again in the future!

It's the same with servicing it's all a con, spoke to a buyer from another dealership the other day, his word "It makes no difference to us/px price where you've had it serviced, if you have it done this week at another main dealer or at an indy, when it comes to us even if it was next week we'd service it again and update the service history on the system!!!

 

[AlS3BE]

It's daft mate and hassle you don't need.

I can't see any reason why you aren't allowed to take it to a local Audi dealership and hand it back there. When I asked the question about handing it back IF I bought another Audi they said they could take it off me and then let BCA collect it from them!!! So why can't they do that to help their customers out? If they did maybe you'd look at Audi again in the future!

It's the same with servicing it's all a con, spoke to a buyer from another dealership the other day, his word "It makes no difference to us/px price where you've had it serviced, if you have it done this week at another main dealer or at an indy, when it comes to us even if it was next week we'd service it again and update the service history on the system!!!

I had the option of leaving at dealer for my merc. there is some caveat to that though. If they find anything wrong or it gets damaged at the dealer you are not in a position to argue cause likeliness you won’t be there.

 

[S32B]

I had the option of leaving at dealer for my merc. there is some caveat to that though. If they find anything wrong or it gets damaged at the dealer you are not in a position to argue cause likeliness you won’t be there.

That's a good point, picking up on what you said about "no warning lights", does that include the 30 days to oil change light?

The inspection reminder popped up yesterday and the oil one will probably pop up next week, I'm booked in for both to be done on the the 29th October, the inspection will be reset to 24 months so that's not a worry. However, the oil is going to pop up again on the 29th September next year saying it due in 30 days, chances are that will be on when they collect between 19 Sept-19th Oct....unless I reset it the end of Nov so that it doesn't come on until end Oct!!!