The McLaren 720S, a high-performance sports car renowned for its speed and agility, was commonly sold on Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements during the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) investigation period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. These financing arrangements often involved discretionary commission payments that may have influenced how these luxury vehicles were sold, potentially impacting thousands of buyers across the UK.
How the McLaren 720S was Typically Financed
McLaren 720S owners who entered into finance agreements for their car typically did so through Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) or Hire Purchase (HP) schemes. Commonly, these agreements ranged from £15,000 to £30,000, with typical PCP terms lasting between 36 and 48 months. Popular lenders providing finance for the McLaren 720S included Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance.
In a PCP agreement, buyers pay monthly instalments towards the car's value while also making an upfront deposit and a balloon payment at the end of the term. This final balloon payment is often higher than what the car would be worth at that time due to depreciation, which can lead to negative equity if the buyer decides not to take out another finance agreement or buy the car outright.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched an investigation into motor finance agreements from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024, focusing on discretionary commission arrangements. These commissions were often paid by lenders to dealers when a customer took out a finance agreement for their vehicle. The FCA found that these payments could have influenced the way cars like the McLaren 720S were sold, potentially leading to less competitive deals and higher costs for consumers.
According to the FCA's findings, 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) were affected by this practice during the investigation period. The total amount involved in these agreements was approximately £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026), with an average additional cost of £829 per agreement (FCA estimate).
How to Check Your Agreement Key indicators include agreements signed between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024 and references to discretionary commission arrangements (DCA). If these elements are present in your financing paperwork, there is a likelihood that the FCA scheme covers eligible agreements.
If you believe your McLaren 720S finance agreement was affected by the FCA investigation's findings on discretionary commission payments, you can complain directly to your lender without needing to use a claims management company. Common lenders providing finance for the McLaren 720S include Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance.
Lenders are required by law to review complaints thoroughly and provide fair redress when appropriate. You do not need a claims management company to handle your complaint; instead, you can contact your lender directly for free assistance with your case.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), 2024
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) Census 2021