Is Citroen Finance Affected by the FCA Review?
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has conducted a review of Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and Hire Purchase (HP) agreements for vehicles sold between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024. This means that all Citroen PCP and HP agreements made during this period are potentially affected by the FCA's investigation into possible mis-selling practices.
Which Citroen Models Are Affected?
The FCA review covers a wide range of Citroen models, including but not limited to:
- C3
- C4
- Berlingo
- C5 Aircross
- Dispatch
If you financed any of these models through a PCP or HP agreement during the specified period, your contract is likely covered by the FCA redress scheme.
How Much Compensation Could You Get for Your Citroen?
The average compensation for those affected by mis-sold car finance agreements is around £829. However, this amount can vary depending on several factors such as the type of agreement, the duration of the loan, and the commission paid to dealerships. Some individuals may be eligible for higher amounts if their situation falls outside the average case.
To initiate a complaint about your Citroen finance agreement:
- Identify Your Lender: Check your paperwork to determine who financed your car. It could be Stellantis Finance or another lender such as Black Horse, Santander, or MotoNovo.
- Contact the Lender Directly: Write a formal letter to the finance company outlining your concerns and requesting a review of your case.
- Await Response: The lender has 8 weeks from receipt of your complaint to respond. If you do not receive an adequate response, or if they refuse compensation, you can escalate your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).
Citroen Finance Lenders
Financing for Citroen vehicles is typically provided by several finance companies:
- Stellantis Captive Finance: As a subsidiary of Stellantis, Stellantis Finance often handles Citroen car loans.
- Black Horse: A popular third-party lender for automotive financing.
- Santander: Another well-known provider of motor finance.
- MotoNovo: Provides flexible financing options for various car brands, including Citroen.
Two FCA Schemes and Deadlines
The FCA has established two redress schemes based on the date your agreement was entered into:
- Post-2014 Scheme Deadline (June 2026): For agreements made after April 1, 2014.
- Pre-2014 Scheme Deadline (August 2026): For agreements signed before April 1, 2014.
In addition to the scheme deadlines, there is an overall complaint deadline of August 31, 2027. This means that all complaints must be submitted by this date to remain eligible for redress.
No, you do not need a claims management company to file a claim against your Citroen finance agreement. The process can be handled directly with the lender or through the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) if necessary. These services are available at no cost to you.
By following these steps and understanding your rights, you can pursue compensation for any mis-selling issues related to your Citroen finance agreement without incurring unnecessary fees or delays associated with claims companies.
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 1,129,551 MOT tests in 2024, Citroen vehicles have an overall pass rate of 75.3%. This is below the national average of 79.6%. DVSA data covers 159 Citroen models with sufficient test volume.
- Overall pass rate: 75.3%
- Total MOT tests (2024): 1,129,551
- Models with data: 159
- National average: 79.6%
Best Citroen models for MOT pass rate
- Citroen C3 Flair + Puretech S/S Auto: 95.4% pass rate (545 tests)
- Citroen C1 Shine: 93.9% pass rate (2,890 tests)
- Citroen C3 Shine + Puretech S/S: 93.8% pass rate (2,151 tests)
- Citroen C3 Aircross C-Series Ptech S/S: 93.7% pass rate (571 tests)
- Citroen C1 Jcc +: 93.5% pass rate (603 tests)
Citroen models with lowest MOT pass rate
- Citroen Saxo: 68.2% pass rate (3,602 tests)
- Citroen Xsara: 67.1% pass rate (27,631 tests)
- Citroen Grand C4 Picasso: 67.0% pass rate (5,120 tests)
- Citroen C8: 64.5% pass rate (1,178 tests)
- Citroen C15: 64.0% pass rate (1,202 tests)
Citroen MOT Reliability Trend (2022-2024)
Citroen MOT pass rates have declined slightly, from 76.1% in 2022 to 75.3% in 2024 (-0.8 percentage points).
- 2022: 76.1% pass rate (1,295,828 tests)
- 2023: 75.5% pass rate (1,288,939 tests)
- 2024: 75.3% pass rate (1,129,551 tests)
Based on 3,714,318 MOT tests across three years (DVSA open data).
Data source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results 2024, Open Government Licence v3.0.