The Renault Twingo was commonly sold on
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and
Hire Purchase (HP) finance agreements during the period under investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. The FCA's findings revealed that millions of motor finance agreements, including those for popular models like the Renault Twingo, were affected by
discretionary commission arrangements, leading to significant financial implications for consumers.
How the Renault Twingo was Typically Financed
The Renault Twingo is a compact city car that offers affordability and practicality. During its production years, it was frequently purchased through PCP agreements ranging from £15,000 to £30,000 (FCA estimate) with typical terms of 36 to 48 months. Common finance lenders for Renault vehicles include
Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance,
Close Brothers Motor Finance,
MotoNovo Finance, and
Santander Consumer Finance.
In PCP agreements, consumers typically make monthly payments over the term of the loan while retaining a balloon payment at the end of the agreement. This final payment is usually larger than regular monthly payments and represents the remaining value of the car if the buyer decides to own it outright or start another finance contract for another vehicle.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
The FCA's investigation uncovered significant issues with discretionary commission arrangements used by lenders in motor finance agreements. These arrangements allowed dealerships and brokers to receive additional commissions based on the interest rates charged to consumers, which often resulted in higher costs for buyers without their knowledge or consent.
According to the FCA's estimates, 12.1 million eligible agreements (FCA, March 2026) were affected during the investigation period, with a total value of £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026). On average, each consumer paid an estimated £829 more than they should have due to these arrangements (FCA estimate).
How to Check Your Agreement Review Your Contract: Look for any mention of “Discretionary Commission Arrangements” (DCA) or similar terms in your finance contract.
2.
Check Agreement Dates: Ensure that your finance agreement falls within the period from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024.
3.
Contact Your Lender: Reach out to your lender directly for clarification on whether your specific agreement was part of the affected arrangements.
If you suspect that your Renault Twingo finance agreement may have been impacted by the FCA investigation, it is crucial to complain directly to your lender. Common lenders associated with Renault include Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance.
When contacting these lenders, provide them with a detailed account of your concerns and any relevant documentation from your finance agreement. It’s important to note that you do not need the assistance of a
claims management company or solicitors for this process. Lenders are required by law to respond to consumer complaints in a fair and timely manner.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) estimates on affected agreements, total value, and average overpayment.
- ONS Census data for relevant demographics and vehicle ownership statistics.
Based on 22,790 MOT tests conducted in 2024 (source: DVSA anonymised test data), the Renault Twingo has a pass rate of 73.0%. This is below the national average of 79.6%, meaning the Twingo has a higher-than-average failure rate in MOT testing.
The Twingo pass rate is in line with the overall Renault average of 74.3%. The average mileage at MOT for this model is 62,964 miles.
- MOT pass rate: 73.0%
- MOT failure rate: 27.0%
- Tests analysed: 22,790 (2024 DVSA data)
- Average mileage at test: 62,964 miles
- Renault average pass rate: 74.3%
- National average pass rate: 79.6%
Data source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results 2024, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.