Maserati Car Finance Mis-Selling - FCA Investigation

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Maserati Car Finance Mis-Selling - FCA Investigation

Last updated: 26 July 2026

Maserati cars were commonly sold on Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements during the period covered by the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) motor finance mis-selling investigation, which ran from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. The FCA found that discretionary commission arrangements made it likely that customers were sold inappropriate products and paid more than they should have for their Maserati cars.

How Maserati Cars Were Financed

Maserati cars are luxury Italian vehicles typically financed through various lenders including Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance. These lenders offer both PCP and HP finance agreements tailored to the high-end market. In a typical Personal Contract Purchase agreement, customers pay monthly instalments over a set period with an option at the end of the contract to either purchase the car for its Guaranteed Future Value (GFV), return it, or trade it in for a new model. Hire Purchase agreements require full repayment of the loan amount plus interest over the term of the agreement without any buy-back options.

The FCA Motor Finance Investigation

The FCA launched an investigation into discretionary commission arrangements that were prevalent among motor finance providers from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. These arrangements allowed dealers and brokers to receive higher commissions on certain types of finance agreements, particularly those with lower monthly payments or longer terms. The FCA found that this structure incentivised the sale of potentially unsuitable products, resulting in customers being charged more than necessary for their Maserati cars. The investigation uncovered that 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) by these practices (FCA estimate), amounting to a total overcharge of £7.5 billion across all vehicles sold during this period (FCA estimate). On average, each customer was overcharged around £829 (FCA estimate).

How to Check Your Agreement If you financed your car through a major lender like Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, or Santander Consumer Finance during this period, there is a possibility that you were affected by the discretionary commission practices.

Check your finance agreement documents to see if any unusually high commissions were paid out. If you suspect issues with your financing terms, contact your lender directly for clarification on whether your agreement falls within the scope of the FCA investigation.

How to Complain Directly to Your Lender for Free

You can complain directly to your motor finance provider without needing a claims management company. Common lenders for Maserati cars include Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance. Each of these companies has procedures in place to handle customer complaints regarding mis-sold agreements. Start by reviewing the terms and conditions of your finance agreement and comparing them with typical industry standards for similar products during that period. If you find discrepancies or suspect inappropriate sales practices, gather all relevant documentation including any correspondence with the lender and initiate a formal complaint process through their official channels. You do not need a claims management company to file a complaint; contacting the lender directly is free of charge and often more straightforward. Lenders are required by law to address complaints thoroughly and provide fair compensation if mis-selling occurred.

Sources and References

Financial Conduct Authority (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.

Maserati MOT Pass Rate - 2024 Data

Across 11,246 MOT tests in 2024, Maserati vehicles have an overall pass rate of 85.6%. This is above the national average of 79.6%. DVSA data covers 19 Maserati models with sufficient test volume.

Overall pass rate: 85.6%
Total MOT tests (2024): 11,246
Models with data: 19
National average: 79.6%

Best Maserati models for MOT pass rate

Maserati Levante D V6 Auto: 87.9% pass rate (1,225 tests)
Maserati Ghibli: 86.0% pass rate (3,546 tests)
Maserati Granturismo: 83.8% pass rate (1,571 tests)
Maserati Quattroporte: 83.7% pass rate (1,291 tests)
Maserati Coupe: 82.4% pass rate (534 tests)

Maserati MOT Reliability Trend (2022-2024)

Maserati MOT pass rates have declined slightly, from 86.8% in 2022 to 85.6% in 2024 (-1.2 percentage points).

2022: 86.8% pass rate (11,687 tests)
2023: 86.7% pass rate (11,933 tests)
2024: 85.6% pass rate (11,246 tests)

Based on 34,866 MOT tests across three years (DVSA open data).

Data source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results 2024, Open Government Licence v3.0.

Frequently Asked Questions

What steps should I take if I suspect my Maserati finance agreement was mis-sold?

If you believe your Maserati finance agreement might have been mis-sold, start by reviewing the terms and conditions of your agreement. Consider consulting a financial advisor or solicitor for guidance on whether to challenge it. You can also complain directly to your lender for free.

How common are mis-selling complaints in Maserati motor finance agreements?

Mis-selling issues in car finance, including for luxury brands like Maserati, have been a concern since the introduction of the Consumer Credit Act 2006. Statistics show that many individuals find themselves in difficult financial situations due to aggressive sales tactics or lack of transparency in terms and conditions.

What should I do if my Maserati finance agreement is unaffordable?

If your Maserati finance agreement has become unaffordable, contact your lender immediately to discuss possible solutions such as a payment plan modification or debt relief. You can also seek advice from financial counseling services for free.

Can I challenge my Maserati motor finance deal if it was not explained clearly by the dealer?

Yes, you may be able to challenge your Maserati motor finance agreement if you feel that key terms and conditions were not adequately explained. Mis-selling can occur when sales practices are overly aggressive or misleading. You do not need a claims management company; instead, start by contacting your lender directly for free.

Important: MLJ.org.uk is an independent information resource. We are not a claims management company, solicitor, law firm, or financial adviser. We do not process claims, take fees, or provide advice. Where the law gives you a right to complain or claim directly (to a lender, council, FOS, court, or regulator), you can do so without paying a third party. MLJ.org.uk is operated by Copious Ltd, registered in England and Wales, company number 11437826.