Updated: 12 November 2025

Originally Published: 22 July 2025

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If you have searched “find my car finance agreements” and reached a dead end, you are not the only one.

Across the UK, thousands of drivers are revisiting old car finance deals after learning that many PCP and HP agreements may have been mis-sold. It is very common to have misplaced the paperwork, especially if the finance ended years ago. The reassuring news is that you can still make a claim even without your documents.

With the car finance scandal now under review by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) [1], you could be eligible for compensation. Whether your finance came through a bank, a dealership, or a manufacturer-branded lender, there are ways to recover your information and begin your claim.

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Why Missing Paperwork Is So Common

Losing car finance paperwork happens far more often than people realise. Over time, addresses change, dealers close, and emails are lost. It is easy for finance agreements to disappear, especially if you refinanced, returned the car, or settled early.

Common reasons your documents may be missing include:

• You changed address, so the lender’s letters stopped reaching you.
• You changed your name and your agreement no longer matches your current ID.
• The dealer or broker closed or rebranded, making records harder to trace.
• You refinanced or settled early and the original contract was archived.
• The agreement was digital and the files were never saved or printed.

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Many people now exploring car finance claims are in the same position. Lenders must legally keep records of past agreements, which means your case can still be reviewed even without your copy of the contract.

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Can You Claim Without Your Agreement?

Yes. You do not need every document to start a complaint.

The FCA and Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) focus on how your car finance was sold, not whether you kept every piece of paperwork.

If your finance was unfair because the interest rate was inflated, the commission was not disclosed, or you were not given a genuine choice of lenders, that is enough to begin a review. Lenders are required by law to store account records and can retrieve your agreement using your personal information.

Even if you no longer have a copy of your contract, your complaint can still go ahead as long as you can provide some key details. These include your name at the time, former address, vehicle registration, and the approximate date the finance began.

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How To Find Your Car Finance Agreements

If you want to confirm who your lender was, there are several simple steps you can take before starting a claim.

1. Check your credit report

Your credit report is often the best place to start. It lists your active and closed finance accounts, sometimes going back more than six years. You’ll usually find the name of your lender, the date the agreement began and whether it has been settled.

You can request a free statutory credit report from Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. It only takes a few minutes and can give you the confirmation you need to begin your claim.

2. Contact the lender

If you remember the lender’s name, such as Black Horse, Santander or Volkswagen Financial Services, it’s best to reach out to them directly. Share your full name, date of birth, any previous addresses and your car registration number. Even if the company has since changed its name, most lenders can still find your record through their archived systems.

3. Ask the dealer or manufacturer’s finance team

If you arranged your finance through a car dealership, it’s worth giving them a call or sending an email. Many dealerships worked closely with one main finance provider, such as Toyota Financial Services, BMW Finance or Mercedes-Benz Financial Services.

They often keep records of which finance company handled each customer’s agreement, so they should be able to point you in the right direction.

4. Use a finance claims expert

If you’ve changed your name, moved house or can’t remember who the lender was, a finance claims expert can take care of the search for you. They can check your vehicle registration, address history and credit records to trace the right lender quickly.

Once your lender has been identified, your claim can move forward even if you no longer have the original paperwork.

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Why The Car Finance Scandal Still Matters In 2025

The car finance scandal has shown just how many people were treated unfairly when they took out finance to buy their cars. For years, many customers paid more in interest than they should have because lenders and brokers failed to make clear that commission payments were being added to the cost.

Between 2007 and 2024, many dealerships used what were known as Discretionary Commission Arrangements. Under these agreements, sales staff could adjust the interest rate within a certain range, and the higher the rate, the more commission they earned. It meant that thousands of drivers ended up paying more for their finance, often without realising why.

Most customers were never told this was happening. The FCA banned DCAs for new loans in January 2021 [2], but millions of older agreements are now being reviewed within a national compensation framework.

In 2025, this issue continues to matter because regulators are now reviewing millions of these agreements. The goal is to ensure customers are treated fairly and, where necessary, receive compensation for money they should never have lost in the first place.

According to the FCA’s analysis:

• The average compensation is expected to be around £700 per agreement [3].
• The total industry payout could reach £8-11 billion once all claims are processed.

If you had a car finance agreement during this period, you may have paid more than you should have. You can start the process now to check if you qualify for a refund.

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What If You Had A PCP Agreement?

If you had a PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) agreement, your deal could be among those most affected by mis-selling.

PCP finance was often promoted as a flexible way to buy a car, but many agreements included hidden commissions or unclear balloon payments. In some cases, customers were pressured to sign quickly without full explanations.

These types of contracts sit at the centre of PCP claims now under review. Even if your finance ended years ago, you can register your complaint so it is ready when the redress framework begins. A regulated claims management company can help if you have misplaced your documents or want guidance on next steps.

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Steps to Take If You Cannot Remember Your Lender

If you genuinely cannot remember who financed your car, there are still ways to move forward.

• Start here:
• Do a credit check at Experian, Equifax or TransUnion.
• Look in your email for terms like finance agreement, PCP, or hire purchase.
• See older bank statements to identify payments made to finance companies.
• Ask a claims expert to run a financial trace using your name, address history, and vehicle registration.

The best car finance claim company will manage this for you, confirm the correct lender, and prepare your case to proceed.

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How The FCA Redress Timeline Works

The FCA has set a clear roadmap to handle car finance claims consistently across the market.

• October to November 2025: FCA consultation on the proposed redress system.
• 4 December 2025: Pause on complaint responses expected to end [4].
• Early 2026: Final FCA rules published.
• 31 July 2026: Deadline for lenders to issue final responses.
• Late 2026: Compensation payments expected to begin.

Submitting your complaint now ensures it is logged in advance. When the process opens, those who have already submitted will likely be prioritised.

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How Reclaim247 Can Help

If you cannot find your paperwork or prefer expert support, Reclaim247 can make the process easier from start to finish.

What we do for you

Agreement tracing

We help find my car finance agreements details by checking your credit data, lender archives, vehicle registration and dealer networks. This is ideal if you changed address, changed your name, or no longer remember the lender.

Car finance refund check online

We run a quick online assessment to see if your case fits the FCA criteria and the typical patterns seen in the car finance scandal. You get a clear next step, not a sales pitch.

Multiple agreements, one file

If you had more than one PCP or HP contract, we group them into a single case so your car finance claims are easier to track.

PCP claims expertise

We are experienced with PCP claims involving discretionary commissions, unclear balloon payments and poor disclosure. We know what evidence lenders look for and how to present it cleanly.

Missing paperwork support

No documents is not a deal breaker. We request key records directly from lenders and piece together what is needed to progress your claim.

Chasing and escalation

We monitor deadlines, chase responses, and challenge low offers. If needed, we prepare your file for the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Clear fees and authorisation

Reclaim247 is FCA authorised. Our fee structure is simple and set out in writing, including whether VAT is included and when fees apply. Many clients choose our no win, no fee option.

If you want to get started, we can run an initial car finance refund check online and begin tracing your agreements today.

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When To Consider Professional Help

Consider a finance claims expert or PCP claims company if:

• You had multiple agreements and want them handled together.
• You have changed address or name and tracing is difficult.
• You cannot remember the lender or the dealer has closed.
• You want a professional to manage the timeline and challenge low offers.

Always check that the firm is FCA-authorised and transparent about fees. Ask if VAT is included, what percentage is charged on success, and when fees apply. Many firms work on a no win, no fee basis, so you only pay if you receive compensation.

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Why Act Prompty

With the FCA scheme coming up and millions of possible claims in the queue, acting early protects your place in the line. Filing your complaint now means your case is recorded when review begins in 2026.

You can still challenge how it was sold if your car finance agreement is missing. Fairness and transparency matter more than whether you kept every document, that's what the FCA has made clear.

If you financed a car between 2007 and 2024, now is the time to find out if you are eligible for compensation.

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Final Thoughts

The car finance scandal has shown how easily drivers were kept in the dark about interest rates, commissions and lender choice. The FCA’s investigation gives you a chance to put that right.

Even if you cannot find your documents, your rights remain. You can still find my car finance agreements through your credit report, lender records, or with the help of a claims management company.

If you want a head start, Reclaim247 can trace your agreements, prepare your case and keep everything moving. If you would rather do it yourself, use the steps above to identify your lender and submit your complaint directly.

Either way, the sooner you act, the sooner you will know where you stand. And if you are owed money, the sooner it can start making its way back to you.

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References:

1. the car finance scandal now under review by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) - https://www.fca.org.uk/news/statements/fca-consults-motor-finance-compensation-scheme
2. The FCA banned DCAs for new loans in January 2021 - https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/consultation/cp24-15.pdf
3. The average compensation is expected to be around £700 per agreement - https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/14m-unfair-motor-loans-compensation-proposed-scheme
4. 4 December 2025: Pause on complaint responses expected to end - https://www.fca.org.uk/news/statements/firms-given-until-december-2025-respond-motor-finance-commission-complaints