This is one of the simpler methods of finance a car, with one catch: you will NEVER own the car. But, on the flipside servicing and maintenance is usually included in the monthly payments, so that's one less outlay to worry about. 

It means that you have fixed-cost monthly motoring, you don't need to worry about depreciation and you can change your car every year if you wish. However, those monthly costs can be higher than other forms of finance, a deposit is required and you will be charged if you exceed mileage limits.

A PCP is a spin on traditional hire purchase and started to become popular in the early 1990s. There are a couple of very big differences to HP.

Firstly the monthly payments are much lower. That means you may suddenly be able to afford a car that you thought was out of your reach. However, instead of paying for the car outright you agree that you will pay the difference between the car's original price and its resale value at the end of your finance term. This is commonly known as a balloon payment. 

Payments are typically shorter – over a term of 12-36 months and at the end of the contract you can do one of three things: 

• Give the car back to the dealer and pay nothing

• Start again and take out a new PCP

• Pay the balance and keep the car.

PCPs tend to have lower monthly payment, smaller deposits and more flexible repayment periods. 

There are a couple of downsides that mean it's not for you. Firstly, it can be a much more expensive than hire purchase, there can be restrictions on the mileage that you cover and, if you jump from PCP to PCP, you will never have an asset to show for your monthly payments.

This is the kind of finance that you'll typically see being offered by dealers to get you into a new car and commonly referred to as HP.

It's in the dealer's interest to help you get finance and it's another opportunity for them to earn commission. You make monthly payments over a fixed period (typically two, three or four years) like a secured loan, but you usually need to put down a deposit (anything from £1 to 50 per cent of the car's value).

Unlike a personal loan, the a hire purchase loan is secured against the car, so you won't own it until it's paid off in full. That means you need to let the finance company know if you're planning to sell the car. An HPI check will show that the car still has finance outstanding (and therefore not really yours to sell...)

Hire Purchase is one of the easier ways of obtaining credit and lenders are generally happier to give loans to those without sparkling credit histories. The downsides are that they can be more expensive than a personal loan and the best deals are often on cars that are soon to be replaced.

The market for new car finance is much more competitive than that for used cars, so finance from dealers for used cars can be more expensive than opting for a personal loan. 

Traditionally these have been offered by banks and building societies, but recent years has seen the market open up to other finance organisations (including the Post Office and supermarkets) and most recently online finance aggregators. 

One of the big advantages of going for a personal loan is that you can shop around – and that's the first thing you should do. Online comparison tools make it easy, but don't stop there, make sure you know what's on offer from your local bank and building society too. Many have special offers for account holders that come in below what the aggregators offer. Don't forget, you can use a mix of savings, a 0% credit card and personal loan to pay for a car, so don't feel that you have to take a loan to cover the full cost of the car. 

What you need to bear in mind is that there can be a delay between you applying for the loan, getting approved and actually receiving the money. This has improved vastly in the past few years and it is now substantially quicker than it once was – though it's never an instant process. You should also bear in mind that taking out a loan may make it more difficult to obtain credit for something else, should you need it. 

If you're looking at cheaper cars, it may be tempting to consider a payday loan – especially if it's an emergency. These should be treated with extreme caution. APRs are high and it can be expensive. Borrowing £1000 will often mean that you will need to pay back £1300 after 28 days. 

There are two forms of personal loans: secured and unsecured. Unsecured are judged on your credit history, whereas secured loans have a form of collateral against them (usually your house) and therefore take longer to set up.

Some loan providers have structures that means the more you borrow, the lower the APR. So if you're on the cusp of a boundary, it may be worth opting to borrow a little bit more to save.

A PCP, or personal contract purchase, is a way of financing a new car.

With monthly payments, it is similar in principle to hire purchase, but the amount paid each month is smaller. This is because instead of paying off the entire value of the car over the term of the agreement, the customer is only paying off the depreciation.

Depreciation is usually the biggest cost associated with owning a new car. With a PCP, the customer gets the benefit of a new car without having to pay for the vehicle outright.

As the car will have an agreed value at the end of the term, the servicing schedule must be maintained, and there will be a cash penalty for exceeding an agreed mileage, typically set at 10,000 miles a year.

If you usually change your new car every few years, a PCP could likely be the most cost effective way of procuring a car. If you typically keep a vehicle for longer or are a high mileage driver, then hire purchase could be a better way of financing it.

People choosing a PCP will usually have to pay a deposit, followed by a monthly payment for the rest of the term. At the end, the customer has the option of buying the car by paying the outstanding value, often called a balloon payment, or taking out a PCP on a new car.

The guaranteed future value is the mechanism upon which the deposit and monthly payments are calculated.

What if I want to buy the car?

This is the most straightforward option at the end of a PCP, as the final balloon payment will have been agreed when you took out the finance. Generally the balloon payment will be due 30 days after your regular monthly payment.

If you want to go ahead and buy the car then simply make the final balloon payment and the car is yours. Make sure you receive the documentation so you can ensure the V5C is in your name. If you don’t have the funds available in order to purchase the vehicle outright you could take out a loan for this amount or your shortfall so you can still purchase the car.

What if I want to return the car?

If you do not wish to purchase the car for any reason and want to simply return it and walk away, you need to notify the supplying dealer that this is your chosen course of action.

It is important to note that if you choose this option you should have abided by the terms and conditions set out initially, which in most cases are a limited total mileage, regular servicing and good condition of the vehicle within fair wear and tear guidelines.

If any of these conditions have not been met you will be faced with financial penalties if you wish to hand the car back. If the car has been damaged it is not essential for you to use the supplying dealer to make any repairs, so you can look elsewhere for a better deal.

Assuming these conditions have been met, and you are up to date with the monthly payment schedule, you can simply hand the car back and walk away. It is worth bearing in mind however that if the value of the car is more than the balloon payment then you will be giving up this equity, and your monthly payments will have effectively paid for the vehicle’s rental.

What happens if I want a new car?

If you have some equity in the vehicle at the end of the term - where the balloon payment is less than the current value of the vehicle - this puts you in a strong position if you want to get a new car with a new agreement as this equity can be used as a deposit, cutting your future monthly payments.

If you are trading the vehicle in the same conditions apply regarding mileage, servicing and condition. If the car doesn’t meet these criteria its value is reduced, so you will need to pay penalties in order to trade it in.

Even if this is the case you do not have to return to the same dealership in order to start a new agreement for a new car. Another dealership can purchase the vehicle from the finance company to release the equity for a new deal, so you still have the freedom to shop around.

Always check the contract mileage as this is a key element in relation to the residual value. Tempting deals, with low monthly fees, can contain hidden mileage clauses. Ensure you check the small print as excess mileage charges can end up costing you more than the monthly repayment costs of a PCP with a much higher mileage limit.

There is a difference between a service and full maintenance agreement; the former only covers for the intermittent service as and when required and may not cover for other wear and tear, such as replacement brake discs or tyres.

This may not always be pointed out to you by the sales person, so always request full documentation.

Since April 2014, the FCA commenced regulating the consumer credit industry, which includes credit card issuers, payday lenders, loan and consumer finance businesses, finance credit brokers and many more types of consumer credit business.

Your rights are against the supplier, which is the dealer and the finance company jointly if you bought it on finance.

Not against the manufacturer.

The new Consumer Rights Act enacted in October 2015 theoretically gives you the statutory right to reject a new or used car (or anything else) within 30 days of purchase if any fault is found. However, this has still be be verified in the courts. Additionally, a reputable new or used car dealer may have signed up to 'Alternative Dispute Resolution' (arbitration) under an Industry Code of Practice for Vehicle Sales run by the SMMT. This used to be called Motor Codes but has now been re-named The Motor Ombudsman.

The Vehicle Sales Code covers transparent wording of adverts and pricing, clear and transparent invoicing, and the sale of a used car which is supported by a vehicle provenance check to ensure that it has not been stolen, written-off and is free of any outstanding finance payments. It also highlights that retailers should provide test drives, avoid high-pressure selling techniques, supply accurate advice on warranty and finance products, and deliver a vehicle with a full handover, complete with all historic documentation, the entire service history and a valid MOT certificate.

Furthermore, subscribers pledge to resolve any problems quickly and cost effectively should a dispute arise in relation to the sales process. As a last resort, retailers are able to refer a customer to Motor Codes, a CTSI-certified ADR provider, for adjudication prior to the awarding of a final decision.

So the first bit of advice is to try to settle the matter without getting legal. Once a dealer knows you know your legal rights he’s more likely to settle, as long as you are being reasonable.

If the car is on finance you can take the matter up with the finance company. Even if you only paid part of the cost on finance (as little as £100 on a credit card for a £30,000 car), Section 75 of the 1974 Consumer Credit Act gives you rights against the finance company.

Write to both the dealer principal and to the finance company and send your letter by Post Office Special Delivery so you get receipts for them and your letters become 'matters of record' which can't be denied.

Involve The Motor Ombudsman the SMMT's arbitration service.

Remember, "County Court is a last resort." If the dealer and finance company refuse to accept your rejection of the car, you can't continue to use it while taking County Court action against them and that could mean your car sitting on your driveway unused for months on end while you have to get buses and taxis everywhere.

Finally, except under the new Consumer Rights Act 2015, you can’t successfully reject a car for a trivial reason such as a little scratch or finding out you don’t like something about the car, unless, for example, you bought it for a specific purpose, for example to tow a caravan and then you find out it can’t.

More in-depth on your consumer rights here