The Audi Q8, a high-end SUV known for its luxurious features and performance, was commonly sold on
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements during the FCA investigation period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. These financing methods allowed consumers to drive home their Audi Q8 with a manageable monthly payment while deferring significant costs until the end of the agreement.
How the Audi Q8 was Typically Financed
Audi Q8 owners often financed their vehicles through PCP or HP agreements, typically ranging from £15,000 to £30,000. Common lenders for these agreements included
Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance,
Close Brothers Motor Finance,
MotoNovo Finance, and
Santander Consumer Finance. Under a PCP agreement, the total cost of the Audi Q8 was split into regular monthly payments over 36 to 48 months, with an optional balloon payment at the end of the term covering the remaining value of the car (known as the Guaranteed Minimum Future Value or GMFV). This structure allowed consumers to either purchase the vehicle outright, return it, or trade it in for a newer model.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched an investigation into
discretionary commission arrangements used by motor finance lenders during the specified period. These arrangements involved financial incentives paid to car dealerships when customers took out PCP and HP agreements. According to the FCA, 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) by these practices across the UK, resulting in a total estimated loss of £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026) to consumers (FCA estimate). On average, each consumer lost approximately £829 due to mis-selling or unfair terms.
How to Check Your Agreement First, check the date of your finance agreement; it must fall between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024. if your agreement mentions "Discretionary Commission Arrangements" (DCA), this is a strong indicator that the FCA scheme covers eligible agreements.
If you believe your Audi Q8 finance agreement was affected by the FCA investigation, you can complain directly to your lender without needing a
claims management company. Common lenders for Audi include Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance. Each of these companies has established procedures in place for handling consumer complaints. By contacting them directly, you can initiate the process and potentially recover any losses or unfair charges associated with your finance agreement.
You do not need a claims management company to pursue compensation; complaining directly is both free and straightforward. Simply gather relevant documents such as your original loan agreement and lease papers, contact your lender’s customer service team, and explain that you are concerned about potential mis-selling related to the FCA investigation.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). "Motor Finance Investigation: Key Facts." [Accessed 2024].
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) Census. "Population Estimates by Age Group" (2021).
- Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). "Consumer Complaints Handling Guidelines" [Accessed 2024].
Based on 2,691 MOT tests conducted in 2024 (source: DVSA anonymised test data), the Audi Q8 has a pass rate of 92.7%. This is above the national average of 79.6%, meaning the Q8 performs well in MOT testing.
The Q8 pass rate is better than the overall Audi average of 83.9%. The average mileage at MOT for this model is 48,688 miles.
- MOT pass rate: 92.7%
- MOT failure rate: 7.3%
- Tests analysed: 2,691 (2024 DVSA data)
- Average mileage at test: 48,688 miles
- Audi average pass rate: 83.9%
- National average pass rate: 79.6%
Data source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results 2024, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.