Finance Disclaimer & Disclosure
Important information about finance illustrations, dealer offers, third-party providers and CarZoon's limited marketplace role.
Plain-English summary: CarZoon is an automotive advertising marketplace. Finance information shown with an advert is normally supplied by the dealer or a named third-party provider. Unless a specific page clearly states otherwise, CarZoon does not lend money, make credit decisions, provide personalised financial advice or enter into the finance agreement.
Monthly figures are not guaranteed offers. An estimated monthly payment may use example assumptions and may exclude important conditions. Check the deposit, term, APR, interest, fees, total amount payable, mileage allowance, final payment and ownership outcome before applying.
This disclosure should be read with our Terms of Website Use, Buyer and User Marketplace Terms, Privacy Policy and the finance provider's own pre-contract information and agreement. Nothing on CarZoon replaces the provider's regulated documents.
1. About this disclosure
This Finance Disclaimer & Disclosure is issued by CarZoon Automotive Ltd ("CarZoon", "we", "us" or "our"), a company registered in Scotland under company number SC882384.
It explains how to understand finance-related information displayed on the CarZoon marketplace and identifies the difference between CarZoon, the vehicle advertiser and the business that actually provides or arranges finance.
Finance is a significant financial commitment. Read the full information from the named dealer, broker and lender and consider independent guidance where needed before entering into any agreement.
2. Scope
This disclosure applies where CarZoon displays or links to:
- an estimated or example monthly payment;
- a dealer's finance, hire-purchase, personal-contract-purchase or leasing offer;
- a finance calculator or eligibility tool supplied by another business;
- a button or link that takes you to a dealer, broker, lender or leasing provider;
- a finance-related enquiry option; or
- another credit or vehicle-funding statement connected with an advert.
The exact provider, product, availability and contractual terms must be confirmed on the relevant advert, linked page or provider documentation.
3. CarZoon's role
CarZoon provides vehicle advertising, browsing, comparison and enquiry tools. Unless an individual page clearly gives a different regulatory disclosure, CarZoon:
- is not the lender and does not supply the credit;
- does not make lending, affordability or creditworthiness decisions;
- does not provide personalised financial advice or recommend a particular finance product;
- does not guarantee that finance is available or suitable;
- does not set the lender's interest rate, fees or acceptance criteria; and
- is not a party to the agreement between you and the identified dealer, broker, lender or leasing provider.
Where CarZoon hosts an advertiser's finance information or provides a click-through link, that does not by itself mean that CarZoon has approved, arranged or recommended the finance. If CarZoon's regulated role changes for a particular service, the relevant page will identify that role and provide any required firm, authorisation and commission information before you proceed.
4. Dealer and finance-provider responsibility
The business named in the finance information is responsible for clearly identifying whether it acts as a lender, credit broker, leasing provider or other intermediary. It is also responsible for its authorisation, permissions, promotions, product information, application process, assessment, decision and agreement.
Before applying, confirm the legal name and contact details of every relevant business. Check a firm's status and permissions on the Financial Services Register where appropriate. A Companies House registration or CarZoon dealer profile does not itself confirm permission to conduct regulated financial-services activity.
A CarZoon dealer badge, account approval or advert review is not a guarantee of a firm's financial-services authorisation, solvency, conduct or suitability.
5. Finance illustrations and monthly-payment figures
A monthly-payment figure displayed on CarZoon may be an estimate, representative example or feed supplied by a dealer or third-party technology provider. It is not necessarily a personalised quotation, approval or binding offer.
The calculation may depend on assumptions including:
Price and initial payment
- vehicle cash price;
- customer deposit;
- manufacturer or dealer contribution;
- part-exchange value; and
- fees included or excluded.
Credit assumptions
- agreement type and term;
- fixed or variable interest;
- APR and total charge for credit;
- credit profile and eligibility; and
- optional final payment.
Where relevant, the estimate may also assume an annual mileage and acceptable vehicle condition. A change to any assumption can materially change the monthly payment and total amount payable.
6. What to check before applying
Do not compare finance using the monthly payment alone. Check and retain the provider's full written information, including:
- the cash price and amount of credit;
- the deposit and any contribution or part-exchange assumption;
- the agreement term and number of payments;
- the interest rate and representative APR where applicable;
- the total charge for credit and total amount payable;
- all compulsory, option-to-purchase, administration and late-payment fees;
- any optional final or balloon payment;
- mileage, condition and servicing requirements;
- early-settlement, termination and return consequences;
- whether you own the vehicle at the end; and
- whether warranty, maintenance, insurance or another service is included.
Ask the provider to explain anything you do not understand before signing or accepting electronically.
7. Common product types
The descriptions below are general only. The provider's agreement determines how the product works.
Hire Purchase (HP)
You usually pay a deposit followed by instalments. The finance provider normally owns the vehicle during the agreement, and ownership usually transfers only after all required payments and any purchase fee are made.
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP)
Monthly payments may be lower because a substantial optional final payment is deferred. At the end, the available choices and any mileage or condition charges depend on the agreement.
Personal Contract Hire (PCH)
This is normally a lease rather than a purchase. You return the vehicle and do not own it. Initial rental, mileage, condition and early-termination terms can be significant.
Other products, including conditional sale, personal loans and business leasing, operate differently. Confirm the product type rather than assuming that every monthly-payment option leads to ownership.
8. Eligibility, affordability and credit checks
Finance is normally subject to status, provider criteria, affordability and creditworthiness checks. Age, UK residency, income, employment, credit history, the vehicle and the requested deposit or term may affect eligibility.
- A quotation or eligibility indication does not guarantee acceptance.
- A soft search and a hard credit search can have different effects; the provider should explain which it proposes to use.
- A full application may be recorded by credit-reference agencies.
- The provider may offer different terms, request documents or decline the application.
- Do not submit information that is false, incomplete or misleading.
CarZoon does not perform a credit search merely because you browse a vehicle advert. If a separate CarZoon feature would involve a search or transfer to a finance provider, the relevant information and privacy notice must be shown before you proceed.
9. Financial promotions
Finance advertising must be clear, fair and not misleading and must contain the disclosures required for the particular product and claim. Dealers and other advertisers are responsible for ensuring that finance content they supply to CarZoon is lawful, current, complete and appropriately approved.
An advertiser must not:
- present an example monthly payment without the material assumptions and required accompanying information;
- describe approval as guaranteed where eligibility or checks apply;
- hide a substantial deposit, final payment, mileage limit, fee or condition;
- misstate its regulatory role or permission;
- describe finance as interest-free or zero-cost if compulsory charges make that misleading; or
- use expired rates or terms as if they remain available.
CarZoon may correct, reject, suspend or remove finance content that appears incomplete, expired, misleading or non-compliant and may request evidence of the advertiser's authorisation, approval route and source data.
10. Cash price, finance price and availability
The advertised vehicle price and a finance illustration may change independently. Confirm the current cash price, finance price, compulsory charges and vehicle availability directly with the dealer before travelling, applying or paying.
A finance contribution, discount or promotional rate may depend on using a particular lender, product, deposit, term, vehicle, application date or delivery date. It may not be available with another discount or to every applicant.
If an advert contains an obvious error or an outdated figure, neither CarZoon nor the advertiser is required to provide finance on that mistaken basis where the law permits correction. Your statutory rights concerning misleading information remain unaffected.
11. Deposits, reservation payments and part exchange
A deposit shown in a finance illustration may be an assumed contribution to the finance calculation. It is not necessarily the same as a holding or reservation payment made to secure a vehicle.
Before paying a dealer or seller, obtain written confirmation of:
- what the payment is for;
- whether and when it is refundable;
- whether it becomes part of the finance deposit;
- what happens if finance is declined or offered on different terms; and
- the agreed part-exchange value and any outstanding settlement amount.
CarZoon does not normally collect vehicle deposits or finance payments. A payment made directly to a dealer, seller or finance provider must be reclaimed from the party that received it, subject to your agreement and applicable law.
12. Commission and commercial relationships
A dealer or credit broker may receive commission or another commercial benefit from a lender or finance provider. The existence, nature or amount of that benefit may be subject to disclosure by the relevant regulated business. Ask the dealer or broker how it is paid and whether that could affect the products presented or the amount you pay.
CarZoon may charge dealers or other businesses for marketplace advertising, promoted placement, account services or referral technology. Payment for advertising does not make a finance product suitable and does not mean CarZoon endorses the provider.
If CarZoon receives payment specifically for a regulated finance introduction or takes on another regulated role, the relevant journey will provide any required status, relationship and commission disclosure before the introduction or application.
13. Applications, enquiries and personal data
A finance application is made to the business identified in the relevant journey, not merely by viewing an advert on CarZoon. If you select a link to a dealer or third-party site, that business's privacy notice and security arrangements apply to the information you submit there.
Where CarZoon provides a finance-related enquiry form, we will identify the intended recipient and purpose at the point of collection. Information will be shared only as explained in the form and our Privacy Policy. An ordinary enquiry will not be added to CarZoon marketing merely because it mentions finance; separate marketing consent is required where applicable.
Do not send passwords, one-time codes, full payment-card details or unnecessary identity documents through an ordinary advert message or email. Use only the secure application process specified by the provider.
14. No guarantee of approval or terms
CarZoon cannot guarantee that an applicant will:
- pass an identity, fraud, affordability or creditworthiness check;
- receive the representative APR or illustrated monthly payment;
- be offered the requested deposit, term or product;
- qualify for a manufacturer or dealer contribution;
- receive a vehicle before an offer expires; or
- be approved by any lender.
The lender or provider decides whether to offer finance and on what terms. A dealer saying that an application is likely to succeed does not bind the lender unless the lender issues a valid offer.
15. Withdrawal from finance and vehicle cancellation
A consumer may have a statutory right to withdraw from certain regulated credit agreements, commonly within 14 days. The provider must explain whether the right applies, how to exercise it, the repayment deadline and any interest payable.
Withdrawing from finance does not necessarily cancel the vehicle purchase. The credit agreement, vehicle order, reservation and any part-exchange arrangement may be separate contracts. Contact both the finance provider and the dealer immediately and obtain written confirmation of the position before taking action.
CarZoon cannot cancel a third-party credit agreement or vehicle contract for you. Cancellation of a service purchased directly from CarZoon is instead governed by our Refund and Cancellation Policy.
16. Settlement, termination and returning a financed vehicle
If you want to repay finance early, end an agreement or return a vehicle, ask the lender for the correct written process and current figures. Early settlement, voluntary termination, voluntary surrender and ending a lease are different processes and can have different financial and credit consequences.
- Do not assume that returning the keys ends the agreement or future payments.
- Check arrears, damage, mileage, collection and condition charges.
- Keep copies of the agreement, settlement figure, correspondence, photographs and handover receipt.
- Seek independent debt or legal advice if the consequences are unclear.
17. Affordability and financial difficulty
Consider the total cost and whether payments would remain affordable if income, interest rates, fuel or energy costs, insurance, tax, servicing or other circumstances changed. CarZoon's vehicle or finance display is not an affordability assessment.
If you are struggling or expect to miss a payment, contact the lender or leasing provider as early as possible. Independent guidance is available from MoneyHelper and other reputable free debt-advice organisations. Do not ignore notices or borrow more solely to cover payments without understanding the consequences.
18. Vehicles with outstanding finance
A seller must have the right and authority to sell the vehicle. Finance information offered to a buyer is different from existing finance already secured on or connected with the vehicle.
Before buying, obtain a reputable vehicle-history check and ask the seller to explain any outstanding finance. Do not pay an alleged settlement amount to an unfamiliar account. Where settlement is required, independently verify the lender and obtain its written settlement process.
A CarZoon advert, vehicle-data field or dealer badge is not proof that a vehicle is free of finance. Report suspected misrepresentation or fraud to support@carzoon.co.uk.
19. Third-party calculators, feeds and websites
Finance information may be supplied through a dealer feed, calculator, lender tool or external website. CarZoon may not control that service's availability, update frequency, assumptions, security, cookies or content.
We take reasonable steps appropriate to our marketplace role but do not guarantee that third-party information is complete, current or error-free. Verify important information with the named provider. Links are supplied for convenience and do not amount to advice or endorsement unless we expressly state otherwise.
CarZoon remains responsible for its own acts and omissions to the extent required by law.
20. Complaints
Finance-product complaint
Complain first to the dealer, broker, lender or leasing provider responsible for the finance activity. Its final response should explain any right to refer an eligible complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
CarZoon marketplace complaint
For incorrect page content, a misleading advert, broken link, data-sharing concern or another issue with CarZoon's own service, contact support and use our Complaints Handling Policy.
CarZoon cannot determine a complaint against a third-party finance provider and is not automatically within the Financial Ombudsman Service's jurisdiction merely because an advert appeared on CarZoon.
21. Responsibility, liability and statutory rights
Nothing in this disclosure excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of statutory rights, or another liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
CarZoon is responsible for loss that is a foreseeable result of its breach or failure to use reasonable care and skill. Subject to applicable law, CarZoon is not responsible for a lender's or advertiser's independent decision, a third-party agreement, inaccurate information supplied by another party, or loss caused by a user's failure to review the provider's terms.
Your statutory rights against the vehicle seller, dealer, broker, lender or other provider remain governed by the relevant contract and law.
22. Changes to this disclosure
We may update this disclosure to reflect changes in CarZoon services, finance-display features, commercial relationships, regulatory status or law. The current version and review date will be published on this page.
If CarZoon begins a new finance-introduction, application or other regulated journey, the specific regulatory disclosure shown in that journey will apply to that service and should be reviewed before submitting information.
23. Applicable law
This disclosure and any non-contractual dispute arising from it are governed by the laws of Scotland, except that a consumer retains any mandatory rights and court protections provided by the law applicable where they live.
A finance agreement may contain its own governing-law and jurisdiction terms. Those terms are agreed with the finance provider, not CarZoon.
24. Contact us
CarZoon Automotive Ltd
Company number: SC882384
5 South Charlotte Street
Edinburgh
EH2 4AN
United Kingdom
Email: support@carzoon.co.uk
Website: https://carzoon.co.uk/
For an application, quotation, payment or finance-agreement question, contact the dealer, broker or lender identified in the relevant finance information.