1. Upfront broker fees
Reputable UK brokers charge nothing upfront. They're paid a commission by the lender only when a deal completes. If a broker asks for £99, £199 or any "processing fee" before showing you rates, walk away.
2. Guaranteed approval claims
No lender guarantees approval — every UK regulated lender must run affordability checks. "Guaranteed acceptance" is either a lie or hiding a hard search.
3. Vague APR ranges
You should see a specific rate on your specific application, not "from 5.9%" with no personalised quote. A soft-search quote should return an exact APR for your file.
4. Pressure to sign quickly
Legitimate finance offers hold for at least 7-14 days. If you're being told "this rate expires today", pause. It's a sales tactic, not a real deadline.
5. No FCA registration
Every UK car finance broker or lender must be FCA-authorised. Check them on the FCA Register at register.fca.org.uk. Fifteen seconds of due diligence rules out most scams.
