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WHEEL DEALS

Brits are paying £1BILLION every month on car finance – and the motors cost 47 per cent more than we can afford to buy

Almost five million of us have signed up to a finance package, with an average monthly payment of £226

Almost five million of us are paying £226 a month on a car finance deal

PCP, zero finance, hire purchase - there is a plethora of car finance options available today, but do you fully understand what plan you're getting yourself into?

Brits are paying an astonishing £12.9billion every year on new and used car deals.

 Almost five million of us are paying £226 a month on a car finance deal
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Almost five million of us are paying £226 a month on a car finance dealCredit: Alamy

On average, the plans cost £266.12 per month across the country, with a total car value of £15,438.

In comparison, Brits only spend £10,511 on their motors outright, according to new research by auto repairs firm Kwik Fit.

Worryingly, that's almost 50 per cent higher, which could mean we're not living within our means.

The North-West region of Great Britain takes up the most deals with 867,000 drivers signing up, paying just under £227 on average each month.

 Monthly car finance payments by GB region
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Monthly car finance payments by GB regionCredit: Kwik Fit

The cheapest average monthly deals are in Scotland, which may be the reason why the country has the highest uptake.

Meanwhile, South-East motorists pay the highest bill of £271.63, totalling nearly £150million every month.

Londoners also pay the most on their new and used cars, costing £13,814 on average via a finance plan.

That's £1,000 more than any other region, with the South West paying the lowest purchase price of just £9,624.

Roger Griggs, Kwik Fit Communications Director, said: “This study reveals the huge sums of money which the country’s drivers are spending each month on car finance payments, either through PCPs, leases or other types of borrowing.

"Whichever route drivers take to finance their car, or if they pay for it outright, it’s vital that they focus on maintaining as much of its value as possible for when they come to sell it.

"Keeping it properly serviced is essential, so drivers need to ensure they are budgeting for those costs and not skimping on maintenance.”