No, standard PPI complaints for car finance closed on 29 August 2019—only limited Plevin routes or other motor-finance claims remain.
Car buyers still see ads about refunds and old insurance. That mix creates noise. This guide strips the topic down to what still works, what has ended, and what to do next if your agreement had extra add-ons. You get a straight answer first, then a detailed, practical walkthrough.
What PPI Is, And Why Car Buyers Still Ask
Payment protection insurance (PPI) was an add-on that covered repayments if you couldn’t work. Lenders and dealers sold it with loans, credit cards, catalogue credit, mortgages, and point-of-sale credit linked to vehicles. The Financial Ombudsman Service explains how these policies were sold and how complaints worked in the past. The FCA’s PPI page confirms a final cut-off: 29 August 2019.
Motor finance commission complaints are a different story. Those target dealer or broker incentive models that raised interest rates. The regulator has a live programme for that separate issue. See the FCA’s car finance complaints guidance for who may qualify and the dates that matter.
Big Picture: PPI Versus Motor Finance Commission
Two topics get mixed up. One relates to insurance sold with credit. The other looks at interest mark-ups and dealer pay. Use this table to split them fast.
| Type | What It Targets | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| PPI linked to credit (including vehicle finance) | Insurance premiums that covered repayments | New complaints to firms closed on 29 Aug 2019 (per FCA). Only limited “Plevin” or litigation routes may remain. |
| Motor finance commission | Dealer/broker interest mark-ups and discretionary commission models | Active redress workstream. FCA has extended handling timelines and set out steps for firms and consumers. |
Claiming PPI On Car Loans Today: What’s Real And What’s Closed
The regulator set a hard deadline for new PPI complaints to firms on 29 August 2019. That included PPI sold with hire purchase and PCP. You can’t start a standard PPI complaint with a lender now. Two narrow paths may still pay out:
- Plevin-style claims about undisclosed, high commission inside the PPI premium itself. These run through the courts and depend on the size of the hidden cut and disclosure at the time.
- Court claims within general time limits where a legal adviser says the clock still runs, often framed as six years from sale or three years from when you first became aware you had grounds to act.
The FCA’s PPI deadline is set out on its site, and its pages describe how that regime ended in 2019. See the FCA overview and the FOS guidance for context.
Today’s Live Issue: Motor Finance Commission Complaints
Modern car finance cases target pricing models, not insurance. From 2007 into late 2024, many brokers and dealers used models that let staff set higher interest to increase commission. The FCA treats those historic models as a single sector issue and has adjusted complaint-handling timelines while it builds a broad solution. Its consumer page explains who may be covered and which contracts are in scope, including the 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024 window for many agreements.
None of that requires PPI. You might get redress even if the vehicle has long since gone and the agreement is settled. Start with the lender rather than a paid claims company, as direct complaints are free.
Why People Mix These Two Stories
Both sit in the car buying experience. Both raised costs. Headlines sometimes compare the current commission saga to the old insurance wave, and that muddies the water. The fix is simple. Ask one question: did you pay an insurance premium, or did the dealer’s pricing model push up the rate? Your next step flows from that answer.
How To Spot PPI In Car Finance Paperwork
Search old documents and statements. PPI shows up as a separate insurance line, a premium added to the credit, or a stand-alone monthly policy sold at the same time. Labels vary: “payment protection,” “repayment cover,” “creditcare,” “accident, sickness and unemployment.” If you can’t find papers, ask the lender. Dealers may hold sales notes. Bank statements often reveal small regular debits to an insurer name.
Who Might Still Have A Plevin Route
You bought a car on finance years ago. A payment protection premium sat inside the deal. Later you learn the seller took a large slice as commission and didn’t make that clear. That is the Plevin scenario. The core test is disclosure and size of commission within the insurance premium. Where the cut was high and hidden, a solicitor may say you have grounds. This path is separate from the FCA’s closed PPI complaint regime and usually runs through court rules rather than the free ombudsman pipeline.
Practical Steps If You Think You Had PPI
- Identify the lender and the broker or dealer that arranged the finance.
- Request the agreement, pre-contract information, and any insurance schedule.
- Search emails and bank statements for policy names and small monthly debits.
- Beware fees from claims companies; you can do most early steps yourself.
- If papers show PPI with a large hidden commission, speak to a solicitor before you proceed.
Evidence You’ll Want In One Place
Paper wins cases. Dates, amounts, and exact wording matter. Build a tidy bundle that matches what each document proves.
| Item | Where To Find It | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Credit agreement & pre-contract info | Lender, dealer, or your files | Shows if an insurance premium sat in the deal and how it was described. |
| Insurance policy or schedule | Insurer or lender archives | Proves there was PPI and states premium type and frequency. |
| Bank statements | Your bank | Confirms payments, dates, and any stand-alone monthly debits. |
Time Limits And Where They Bite
The PPI complaint regime had a fixed end date. That cut-off for new complaints to firms was 29 August 2019. Court actions tend to follow general time rules: often six years from sale or three years from when you learned you had grounds to act. Commission-based motor finance complaints run on a different timetable set by the FCA today, with extended handling windows for firms while the programme is finalised. The regulator describes the extensions and the scope on its consumer page.
How The Ombudsman Fits In
The ombudsman still lists historic PPI information, yet it doesn’t accept fresh PPI complaints that missed the 2019 cut-off. It does handle live motor finance disputes. If you filed a commission complaint and got a final response you don’t accept, you can escalate within its time window. The service explains what to send and the types of outcomes it may ask a firm to deliver. Start at the car finance page.
How To Start A Motor Finance Commission Complaint
You don’t need a paid firm. Write to the lender with a short, clear note. State the vehicle, the finance type, the start date, the broker or dealer, and why you believe a discretionary model or an undisclosed tie raised your rate. Ask for the underwriting sheet, the commission model used, and a full refund of the extra interest plus statutory interest. Keep copies. If the firm pauses its response due to the FCA timetable, log the dates; when the pause lifts, the clock resumes.
What A Refund Might Include
In past interest-rate cases, lenders repaid the extra interest tied to the model and added interest on top. Your figure depends on the uplift, the term, and whether you changed or settled early. Beware online calculators that claim a fixed payout. A fair outcome aims to put you back where you should have been without the pricing uplift.
Costs And Risks You Should Weigh
Claims companies often take a large cut. Many pitch a no-win, no-fee line and then charge a big slice if you win. Direct complaints to firms and the ombudsman are free. You may still seek legal help for a Plevin-style path, yet read the full fee structure, any success fee, and after-the-event insurance terms. Court work carries cost risk if you lose. Get quotes in writing and compare before you sign anything.
Common Misconceptions
- “I can start a normal PPI complaint on my old car deal.” That route ended in 2019 for new complaints to firms, as confirmed by the FCA.
- “Car finance claims are the same as the old insurance saga.” They are not. One is about premiums on a policy. The other is about pricing models and dealer pay.
- “I need my full file before I ask questions.” Helpful, yet not always needed. Firms can search by name, address, dates, and vehicle reg.
- “All old car loans qualify.” No. Some lease-only products sit outside the programme.
When To Get Legal Advice
If your case hinges on undisclosed commission within a PPI premium on a car deal, legal input is sensible. That path runs through court rules, not the free complaint system. Pick a firm that gives clear written terms and a view on prospects without pressure sales tactics. Independent help sites such as Citizens Advice explain background on PPI and how historic complaints worked.
Straight Answers To Quick Questions
Can you get money back today for insurance on a car loan? Only through Plevin-style or court routes, not the old complaint line that closed in 2019.
Can you pursue redress on dealer interest mark-ups? Yes. That sits in the motor finance commission programme and is separate from insurance.
Do you need a claims company? No. Try the direct route first and keep any fee for yourself.
What To Do Next
Split the issues and you pick the right door. Insurance add-ons linked to car credit mostly ended as a complaint route in 2019. Commission-driven rate cases run on a different track that is still active. If papers show PPI with a large hidden cut, speak to a solicitor about Plevin-style options. If your rate looks inflated by a dealer model, use the free complaint process and follow the steps set out by the FCA. Clear, timely action saves time, stress, and cash.