Is there a specific year when car finance mis-selling applies?

No. There is no single year that automatically determines whether mis-selling occurred. Each agreement depends on how it was sold and what was disclosed at the time.

Why are agreements before 2021 often discussed?

Before 2021, some car finance agreements used Discretionary Commission Models (DCM), which allowed dealers to influence interest rates. These models were later banned due to fairness concerns.

Can newer agreements still raise issues?

Yes. Even agreements taken out after regulatory changes may raise concerns if key information was not properly disclosed.

Are older agreements still relevant?

In some cases, yes. Older agreements may still be reviewed depending on time limits and when the issue became apparent.

Which Years Are Affected by Car Finance Mis-Selling?

One of the most common questions is whether car finance mis-selling only applies to agreements from a specific period. In reality, there is no single cut-off year.

Part of the complete guide: Car finance mis-selling explained →

Why certain years receive more attention

Regulatory scrutiny has focused on how car finance agreements were sold, particularly where commission and interest rate discretion existed. This has led to increased attention on agreements taken out before key regulatory changes.

Agreements before 2021

Many discussions focus on agreements made before 2021, when Discretionary Commission Models (DCM) were still permitted. Under these models, dealers could influence interest rates and earn higher commission when customers paid more.

These arrangements were later banned due to concerns about fairness and transparency.

Agreements after 2021

While DCMs were banned, later agreements are not automatically exempt. Issues can still arise if commission arrangements, interest rate setting, or alternatives were not clearly explained to the customer.

Older agreements

Older agreements may still be relevant, especially where the customer only became aware of potential issues following FCA findings or wider media coverage.

Time limits can apply, but they are not always based solely on the agreement start or end date.

Why years alone do not decide eligibility

The key factor is not the calendar year, but how the agreement was sold. Two agreements from the same year can have very different outcomes depending on disclosure, incentives, and transparency.

What to do next

Understanding which years are commonly affected can help you decide whether further review is worthwhile.

Next step: Who may be eligible →