Alfa Romeo cars have been popular choices for UK drivers since the brand entered the market. During the period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024, many Alfa Romeos were sold through
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements, commonly facilitated by lenders such as
Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance,
Close Brothers Motor Finance,
MotoNovo Finance, and
Santander Consumer Finance. These financing options allowed buyers to spread the cost of their vehicles over several years while enjoying flexible repayment terms.
## How Alfa Romeo Cars Were Financed
Alfa Romeos were often financed through Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) or Hire Purchase (HP) agreements during the period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. PCP finance typically involves a deposit, followed by monthly payments over an agreed term, with the option to buy the car outright at the end of the agreement, return it, or enter into another agreement for a different vehicle. HP agreements usually require larger monthly payments and do not offer options like balloon payments or the choice to return the car.
Common lenders providing finance for Alfa Romeo cars include Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance. These companies played significant roles in facilitating car purchases through financing arrangements tailored specifically to the needs of buyers looking to acquire an Alfa Romeo.
## The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) conducted a wide-ranging investigation into motor finance mis-selling from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. One key aspect of this investigation focused on
discretionary commission arrangements between lenders and dealerships, which were alleged to have influenced the type of financing offered to customers. The FCA's findings suggested that these arrangements may have led to higher interest rates or less favorable terms for consumers.
The investigation uncovered significant issues affecting a substantial number of finance agreements. According to the FCA estimate, 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) impacted by such practices, resulting in an estimated £7.5 billion total overpayment by consumers. On average, affected customers paid around £829 more than they would have under fairer conditions (FCA estimate).
## How to Check Your Agreement Look for any unusual fees or charges that may indicate a discretionary
commission arrangement was in place at the time of financing.
You should also check the dates on your finance contract to ensure they fall within the FCA's investigation period. If you are unsure whether your agreement might be affected, it is wise to consult with your lender directly for clarification and guidance.
## How to
Complain Directly to Your Lender for Free
If you suspect that your Alfa Romeo finance agreement was mis-sold due to discretionary commission arrangements during the FCA investigation period, you can complain directly to your lender without incurring any costs. Common lenders such as Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance all have processes in place for handling complaints related to motor finance agreements.
When contacting your lender, provide them with detailed information about the issues you encountered during the financing process. Be prepared to discuss any discrepancies or concerns you have regarding the terms of your agreement. you do not need a
claims management company to handle this process; complaining directly to your lender for free can be just as effective.
## Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). "Motor Finance Mis-selling Investigation." FCA, 2024.
- Office for National Statistics (ONS). Census 2021.
FCA Compensation: FCA Scheme Figures
The FCA confirmed on 30 March 2026 that 12.1 million motor finance agreements are covered by the FCA redress scheme. The FCA-estimated scheme average of £829 per eligible agreement per agreement, with a total of £7.5 billion set aside for consumers. The scheme covers PCP and HP agreements entered into between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024.
Two separate schemes apply: post-2014 agreements (implement by 30 June 2026) and pre-2014 agreements (implement by 31 August 2026). The final deadline to complain is 31 August 2027. You can complain to your lender directly for free. You do not need a claims management company.
Across 71,645 MOT tests in 2024, Alfa Romeo vehicles have an overall pass rate of 76.9%. This is close to the national average of 79.6%. DVSA data covers 32 Alfa Romeo models with sufficient test volume.
- Overall pass rate: 76.9%
- Total MOT tests (2024): 71,645
- Models with data: 32
- National average: 79.6%
Best Alfa Romeo models for MOT pass rate
- Alfa Romeo Stelvio: 90.2% pass rate (2,843 tests)
- Alfa Romeo Giulia: 88.8% pass rate (5,786 tests)
- Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce Tb Auto: 88.3% pass rate (563 tests)
- Alfa Romeo Giulietta: 77.1% pass rate (23,548 tests)
- Alfa Romeo Spider: 76.6% pass rate (3,105 tests)
Alfa Romeo models with lowest MOT pass rate
- Alfa Romeo 156: 71.7% pass rate (1,263 tests)
- Alfa Romeo Gtv: 71.2% pass rate (1,243 tests)
- Alfa Romeo 147: 69.3% pass rate (1,802 tests)
- Alfa Romeo Gt: 68.6% pass rate (1,654 tests)
- Alfa Romeo 159: 68.6% pass rate (3,728 tests)
Alfa Romeo MOT Reliability Trend (2022-2024)
Alfa Romeo pass rates have remained stable: 76.8% in 2022, 76.4% in 2023, and 76.9% in 2024.
- 2022: 76.8% pass rate (92,562 tests)
- 2023: 76.4% pass rate (90,020 tests)
- 2024: 76.9% pass rate (71,645 tests)
Based on 254,227 MOT tests across three years (DVSA open data).
Data source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results 2024, Open Government Licence v3.0.