Can Mis-Sold Car Finance Be Claimed for a Deceased Relative?

A car finance complaint may still be possible after someone has died. The main issue is usually not the finance agreement itself, but who has the authority to act.

A relative should not complete a claim or sign-up process as though they were the deceased person. Where Mis-sold Expert is involved, direct contact is usually the simplest way to establish the correct next step.

What Happens to a Car Finance Claim When Someone Dies?

If the original customer has died, a personal representative of the estate may be able to deal with the lender or manage a complaint connected with the deceased person’s finance agreement.

In England and Wales, this will usually be an executor named in a will or an administrator appointed where there is no valid will. Depending on the circumstances, evidence such as a death certificate, grant of probate or letters of administration may be needed to show authority to act.

The FCA motor finance redress rules also recognise deceased customers. Where a lender is required to contact a customer and knows that the customer has died, it must take reasonable steps to communicate with a personal representative of the estate or, in some circumstances, beneficiaries.

That does not mean every finance agreement will qualify for compensation. It also does not mean that being a relative automatically creates a right to make decisions for the estate or receive any redress.

Where a claim is being explored through Mis-sold Expert, the person acting should use their own identity and explain that the finance agreement belonged to someone who has died.

The sign-up process should never be completed by impersonating the deceased customer.

Can Mis-Sold Car Finance Be Claimed for a Deceased Relative?

Potentially. A person’s death does not necessarily bring a potential complaint about their PCP, HP or other motor finance agreement to an end. What usually changes is who can deal with the matter.

The person acting will normally need to establish their connection to the estate and provide evidence of their authority where required. In England and Wales, the people legally responsible for administering an estate are known as personal representatives.

An executor administers the estate where appointed under a valid will. An administrator may deal with the estate where there is no valid will or no executor able to act. The process differs in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so the documents required to establish authority may vary across the UK.

The FCA's motor finance redress rules recognise deceased customers. Where a lender is required to contact a customer and knows that the customer has died, it must take reasonable steps to communicate with a personal representative of the customer's estate or the beneficiaries of the estate.

This does not mean that every agreement will qualify for compensation, and being a relative does not automatically give someone the authority to act for the estate or receive any redress.

Does a Car Finance Claim End When the Customer Dies?

Not necessarily. The FCA motor finance redress rules specifically address situations involving deceased customers. Where a lender knows that a customer has died, the relevant rules can require the lender to communicate with a personal representative or beneficiaries instead.

This means the customer’s death does not automatically prevent the underlying motor finance issue from being considered. The finance agreement must still meet the relevant complaint or redress criteria.

Who Can Act on Behalf of a Deceased Person?

Being related to the original customer and having authority to administer the estate are not necessarily the same thing.

A husband, wife, civil partner, partner, child, parent or sibling may be closely related to the deceased without automatically having authority to manage the estate. The person dealing with a car finance complaint may therefore need to show that they are legally authorised to act.

An executor

An executor is appointed under a valid will to administer the deceased person’s estate.

A lender or claims management company may ask for documents confirming the executor’s identity and authority. These can include the death certificate, will or grant of probate.

An administrator

Where there is no valid will, an administrator may be appointed to manage the estate.

In England and Wales, letters of administration can provide evidence of that authority.

A spouse, partner or child

A close family relationship alone does not automatically provide authority to deal with a deceased person’s car finance complaint.

Where a family member wants Mis-sold Expert to look into the position, direct contact with the team is usually the simplest option.

Mis-sold Expert can explain what evidence may be needed before acting on the deceased person’s behalf.

How Can Mis-sold Expert Help With a Deceased Person’s Car Finance Claim?

Claims involving someone who has died need additional checks because Mis-sold Expert must be satisfied that the person giving instructions has authority to act.

The simplest approach is usually to contact Mis-sold Expert directly and explain the circumstances. The team can then confirm what information and evidence may be required before a claim is progressed.

Where a person also chooses to register with Mis-sold Expert, the registration must be completed using that living person’s own identity. Mis-sold Expert should then be contacted separately to explain that assistance is required with a finance agreement belonging to someone who has died.

The deceased person’s identity should never be used to complete the sign-up process as though that person were still making the enquiry.

What Documents May Be Needed?

The documents required will depend on the estate and the organisation dealing with the complaint. Evidence may be needed to confirm both the deceased person’s finance agreement and the authority of the person acting.

Depending on the circumstances, documents or information that may be requested can include:

Death certificate

Will

Grant of probate

Letters of administration

Proof of identity

Evidence of authority to act

Finance agreements or lender correspondence

Vehicle purchase documents

Bank statements, emails and dealership records may also help identify old finance agreements.

The exact requirements can differ between cases.

What If the Car Finance Complaint Had Already Been Started?

An existing complaint does not necessarily end because the original customer has died. The lender or representative should be informed of the death.

They may then request information about the estate and the person authorised to continue dealing with the complaint. Where the complaint falls within the FCA motor finance redress scheme, the lender will also need to follow the applicable scheme rules and timetable.

What If the Person Died Before Making a Complaint?

A potential complaint may still be capable of being raised. The person acting will normally need to identify the lender and finance agreement and establish their authority to deal with the deceased person’s affairs.

The agreement must still meet the relevant complaint or redress requirements. Death itself does not establish that a claim is valid or that compensation is due.

Can a Claim Be Considered If the Car Finance Was Already Paid Off?

A settled finance agreement is not automatically excluded because the final payment has already been made.

This can include agreements where the original customer:

Completed the PCP or HP payments

Settled the finance early

Part exchanged the vehicle

Sold the vehicle after clearing the finance

Reached the end of the finance agreement and no longer has the vehicle

The relevant issue is whether the agreement falls within the rules applying to the complaint.

The FCA motor finance commission redress scheme covers certain agreements entered into between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024.

Being within that date range does not itself establish eligibility for compensation. Other scheme requirements must also be met.

What If the Deceased Person Still Had Outstanding Car Finance?

Outstanding finance creates a separate issue. Where a customer dies while a PCP or HP agreement is still running, the person administering the estate should contact the lender about the finance contract itself.

There may be monthly payments, a settlement balance, vehicle arrangements or other contractual issues to resolve. A complaint about commission or the way the finance was arranged does not automatically cancel the agreement or remove any outstanding balance.

The finance contract and any potential complaint should therefore be treated as related but separate matters.

Which Types of Car Finance Could Be Relevant?

Different forms of regulated motor finance may be relevant depending on the agreement and applicable FCA rules.

PCP finance

Personal Contract Purchase involves monthly payments and usually an optional final payment if ownership of the vehicle is required.

Historic PCP agreements may be relevant to motor finance commission complaints where the applicable conditions are met.

Hire Purchase

Hire Purchase also involves regular payments, with ownership generally passing after the required payments and any applicable purchase fee have been completed.

HP agreements can also fall within relevant motor finance complaint and redress rules.

Other motor finance agreements

Other regulated motor finance agreements may also be relevant.

The actual agreement, date, commission arrangement and regulatory rules matter more than the label used by the dealership.

Car leasing

Personal Contract Hire and other leasing arrangements are structured differently from PCP and HP.

They should not automatically be treated as falling within the same motor finance redress process.

What If Commission Was Involved?

Commission is central to the FCA motor finance redress issue, but the existence of commission does not automatically mean an agreement was mis-sold.

Dealers and brokers have historically received commission from lenders for arranging vehicle finance. Concerns have included discretionary commission arrangements, commission disclosure and certain relationships between lenders and brokers.

The FCA introduced its Motor Finance Commission Consumer Redress Scheme in March 2026 following its review of historic motor finance commission arrangements. Individual agreements still need to be assessed against the relevant criteria.

What If the Deceased Person Did Not Know About the Commission?

What the customer was told and what was disclosed about the relationship between the dealer, broker and lender can be relevant.

However, a lack of awareness alone does not establish that compensation is due. The FCA scheme applies specific criteria to different commission arrangements and disclosure practices.

The lender may therefore need to review its records and the circumstances of the agreement.

Can a Claim Be Considered Without the Original Finance Agreement?

Potentially. Old car finance paperwork can easily be lost, particularly where the agreement ended several years ago.

Other records may help identify the lender or agreement, including:

Bank statements showing payments to a finance provider

Emails mentioning the dealership or lender

Vehicle registration records

Purchase documents

Previous finance correspondence

Old agreement or account numbers

The lender may also retain information about the agreement.

Where Mis-sold Expert is involved, the person acting should contact the team directly rather than attempting to complete the process using the deceased customer’s identity.

What Happens to Compensation if the Original Customer Has Died?

Any compensation connected with a deceased customer’s finance agreement should not automatically be treated as money belonging personally to the relative who contacted the lender.

Its treatment depends on the nature of the payment, the applicable redress rules and the administration of the deceased person’s estate. Where the entitlement belongs to the deceased customer, the payment may form part of the estate.

The personal representative would then deal with that money as part of the wider administration of the estate. A family relationship alone does not necessarily determine who receives a payment.

Can a Deceased Parent’s Car Finance Be Claimed?

A deceased parent’s PCP or HP agreement may potentially be considered. Being a son or daughter does not automatically provide authority to act for the estate.

However, being the deceased person's son or daughter does not automatically mean that someone has the authority to administer the estate or deal with all matters on its behalf. Depending on the circumstances, the person acting may need to provide information about their authority or entitlement to act.

Where a child is also a personal representative of the estate, such as an executor or administrator, they may be able to provide evidence of their authority where required.

Evidence confirming that authority may still be required before a lender or claims management company can act.

What About a Deceased Husband, Wife or Partner?

The same principle applies to a surviving husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner.

A spouse or partner may be closely connected to the deceased and may also be a beneficiary, but this does not automatically establish authority to administer the estate.

Where the surviving partner is also the executor or administrator, the relevant evidence can be provided to the lender or representative.

For unmarried partners in particular, relationship status alone should not be assumed to establish authority to act on behalf of the deceased person's estate. The appropriate arrangements can depend on the individual circumstances and the applicable estate rules.

What If There Is No Will?

A potential car finance complaint does not automatically disappear because the customer died without leaving a will.

The estate will instead be dealt with under the applicable intestacy rules. In England and Wales, an eligible person can apply for letters of administration.

These can provide the authority required to manage the estate and deal with organisations on its behalf.

Different procedures apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

How Long Is There to Make a Car Finance Complaint After Someone Dies?

There is no single deadline that applies to every deceased customer’s car finance complaint.

Financial complaints can involve time limits based on when the issue occurred and when there was awareness of a reason to complain.

Motor finance commission complaints also sit within the FCA’s specific redress framework.

The relevant scheme dates, lender correspondence and current FCA rules should therefore be considered rather than applying one general deadline to every case.

Does the FCA Motor Finance Redress Scheme Cover Deceased Customers?

Yes, potentially.

The FCA’s motor finance redress rules expressly cover situations where the original customer has died.

Where a lender is required to contact a customer and knows, or becomes aware, that the customer has died, it must take all reasonable steps to communicate instead with a personal representative of the estate or the beneficiaries.

This means the redress framework allows for relevant agreements held by customers who have since passed away to be considered.

However, this does not mean every agreement will qualify for compensation. The agreement and individual circumstances must still meet the relevant scheme requirements..

Current FCA Motor Finance Scheme Position

The FCA Motor Finance Commission Consumer Redress Scheme is currently affected by an Upper Tribunal legal challenge. Parts of the scheme have been suspended while the case is ongoing.

Key points include:

• The scheme has not been cancelled, but parts of it are temporarily suspended.
• Lenders must still investigate complaints, identify relevant agreements and prepare for the scheme.
• Compensation calculations, offers and payments under the suspended parts of the scheme are currently on hold.
• Some consumers may still receive decisions where lenders consider agreements to fall outside the FCA scheme.
• Where a lender decision appears to contain an error, a review can be requested.
• Eligible complaints may later be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service once the relevant lender process has been completed.
• The Upper Tribunal hearing is expected in December 2026 or February 2027, subject to procedural developments.
• If the scheme is upheld and there is no further appeal, the FCA expects compensation payments to begin during 2027.

A delayed car finance complaint should therefore not be treated as a rejected claim. The current legal challenge means some complaints may remain unresolved while the FCA process continues.

Read our FCA Scheme Partially Suspended guide here.

Is a Solicitor Required?

Not necessarily. A financial complaint can generally be made directly to a lender without using a solicitor or claims management company.

Professional advice may be useful where the estate itself is complicated. Examples include disputes about who can act, uncertainty over beneficiaries, competing personal representatives or wider legal proceedings.

A claims management company can also manage eligible complaints for a fee. The FCA makes clear that consumers can complain directly to lenders and use the Financial Ombudsman Service without paying a representative.

Common Mistakes When Claiming for a Deceased Relative

One common mistake is assuming that being next of kin automatically provides authority to administer an estate. Another is assuming that the finance complaint disappears because the customer has died.

It is also important not to complete a registration or claims process as though the deceased person were still making the application. Where Mis-sold Expert is involved, the person making contact should use their own identity and explain that they want to act in connection with a deceased person’s agreement.

Another common mistake is assuming that every PCP or HP agreement involving commission was mis-sold. The existence of commission does not automatically establish eligibility for compensation.

Outstanding finance should also be kept separate from any complaint. Raising a complaint does not automatically cancel the finance agreement or remove an outstanding balance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a car finance claim be made for someone who has died?

Potentially. A deceased customer’s PCP, HP or other motor finance agreement may still be considered. The person acting will normally need to show that they have the authority to deal with the deceased person’s estate.

Can a relative make a car finance claim for a deceased person?

Possibly, but being a relative does not automatically provide authority to act. An executor, administrator or other authorised personal representative may need to provide supporting evidence.

How can a deceased person’s car finance claim be started with Mis-sold Expert?

The simplest option is usually to contact Mis-sold Expert directly and explain that the finance agreement belonged to someone who has died. The team can then explain what evidence of authority may be required.

Can Mis-sold Expert sign-up be completed using a deceased person’s details?

No. A sign-up or claim process should not be completed by pretending to be the deceased customer. Any registration should use the living person’s own identity, followed by direct contact with Mis-sold Expert about acting for the deceased person.

Can paid off PCP or HP finance still be considered after someone dies?

Potentially. A settled PCP or HP agreement is not automatically excluded because the finance has ended. The agreement must still meet the relevant complaint or FCA redress criteria.

What documents may be needed for a deceased person’s car finance claim?

Documents can include a death certificate, will, grant of probate, letters of administration, proof of identity and evidence showing authority to act. Finance documents, bank statements and dealership records may also help identify the agreement.

What Happens Next?

The first step is identifying the finance agreement and establishing who is authorised to deal with the deceased person’s estate.

Where Mis-sold Expert is involved, direct contact is usually the clearest route. The team can explain what information or evidence is needed before acting on the deceased person’s behalf. Any registration should be completed using the living person's own identity. A registration or claim process should not be completed as though the deceased customer were still making the application.

The claim process should never be completed by presenting someone as the deceased customer.

Once authority has been established and the relevant finance agreement identified, the agreement can be considered under the applicable complaint and FCA redress rules.Consumers should also be aware that they can complain directly to their lender for free and do not need to use a claims management company or law firm to make a car finance complaint.

How Mis-sold Expert Can Help

Mis-sold Expert can help identify previous car finance agreements and explain the process where the original customer has died. These cases can require additional checks because authority to act must be established before a claim can be managed.

The simplest route is usually to contact Mis-sold Expert directly and explain the circumstances. Where a person also chooses to register with Mis-sold Expert, they should use their own details and contact the team separately before progressing a claim connected with the deceased person. The deceased person's identity should never be used to complete a sign-up process as though they were personally making the enquiry or application.

The sign-up process should never be completed by impersonating the deceased customer. Mis-sold Expert provides information about car finance complaints, including PCP and HP finance, and can manage eligible claims for consumers who choose to use a claims management company. Fees and applicable terms should be reviewed before deciding whether to use a paid representative.

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Helpful resources

• Car Finance Claims: Complete UK Consumer Guide
• Motorbike Finance Claims: Complete UK Consumer Guide
• Van Finance Claims: Complete UK Consumer Guide
• How Car Finance Really Works in the UK
• How The Car Finance Compensation Process Works
• Key Facts Worth Knowing
• Dual Representation Explained

Disclaimer: This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, financial advice or a recommendation to pursue a claim. Information is based on publicly available sources at the time of writing and may change as regulatory, legal or court proceedings develop. If you require advice about your individual circumstances, you should seek independent professional guidance.