The Audi Q8 e-tron was commonly sold on
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements during the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) investigation period, which ran from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. The FCA's investigation uncovered significant issues related to
discretionary commission arrangements in motor finance, affecting millions of consumers who purchased or leased their vehicles through these schemes.
How the Audi Q8 e-tron was Typically Financed
The Audi Q8 e-tron is a high-end electric vehicle that often came with financing options ranging from £15,000 to £30,000. Commonly, PCP agreements for this model would span 36 to 48 months, offering flexibility and lower monthly payments compared to HP finance. During the period of interest, several major lenders provided finance for Audi Q8 e-trons, including
Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance,
Close Brothers Motor Finance,
MotoNovo Finance, and
Santander Consumer Finance.
In PCP agreements, a "balloon payment" is often required at the end of the term to retain ownership of the vehicle. This final payment can be substantial, especially for luxury vehicles like the Audi Q8 e-tron, and it reflects the residual value estimate set by the lender at the start of the agreement.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The FCA's investigation into motor finance revealed widespread issues with discretionary commission arrangements between lenders and dealers. According to the FCA, these practices affected 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) over the period under review, with a total estimated value of £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026). The average amount involved per agreement was around £829 (FCA estimate).
These discretionary commissions were paid by lenders to dealers based on the loan-to-value ratio and other factors, leading to higher interest rates for consumers without their knowledge or consent. This meant that customers who financed their Audi Q8 e-trons during this period might have been charged more than necessary due to these hidden fees.
How to Check Your Agreement Look specifically at sections detailing any commissions or incentives paid to dealers and note if there are references to "Discretionary Commission Arrangements" (DCA). Relevant agreements would typically have been signed between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024.
If you suspect your Audi Q8 e-tron finance agreement was affected by the FCA's investigation findings, it is important to contact your lender directly. Common lenders such as Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance have processes in place to handle complaints about past financing practices.
You do not need a
claims management company; you can complain directly to your lender at no cost. Lenders are required by law to address these concerns fairly and transparently. Start by gathering all relevant documentation related to your finance agreement and then submit your complaint through their official channels, which may include an online form or a dedicated phone line.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) estimates (2024)
- Official FOS statistics and guidelines (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.