A PCP quote can look simple on the surface while hiding the one number that drives the whole deal: the guaranteed minimum future value. This PCP calculator turns the vehicle price, deposit, APR, term, and mileage into an estimated monthly payment and a full payment breakdown.
How to use this PCP calculator
- Enter the On-The-Road Price of the vehicle you’re financing.
- Enter your Deposit and any Part-Exchange Value if you’re trading in a car.
- Enter the APR (Interest Rate) from your finance offer.
- Set the Term Length in months.
- Enter your Annual Mileage. Higher mileage typically lowers the GMFV, since the car is worth less at the end of the deal.
- Provide the GMFV. Choose “Estimate for me” if you don’t have a dealer quote, or “I know the GMFV” to enter the figure your dealer already gave you.
- Review the Estimated Monthly Payment and Payment Breakdown. Use the “?” help icons next to each field if a term is unfamiliar.
- Save or export your calculation. Use Save Calculation to keep it under Saved Calculations, or export as an Image, PDF, or CSV.
What this PCP calculator does
PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) finance splits a car’s price into two parts: the amount you pay off monthly, and a final balloon payment (the GMFV) due only if you decide to keep the car at the end of the term. Your deposit and any part-exchange value reduce the amount financed up front, and the monthly payment mainly covers the depreciation the car is expected to lose, not covered by that final GMFV, plus interest on the amount financed.
Amount to Finance = On-The-Road Price − Deposit − Part-Exchange Value − GMFV
Monthly payments cover this amount plus interest over the term. Your lender’s exact calculation may include fees not shown here.
Understanding the GMFV
The Guaranteed Minimum Future Value is the price the finance company guarantees the car will be worth at the end of the agreement, regardless of what actually happens to used car prices. A higher GMFV means less depreciation to pay off monthly, so a lower monthly payment, but a larger final payment if you want to own the car outright. If you don’t have a dealer’s GMFV figure, use “Estimate for me” to get a working number; if your dealer has already quoted one, enter it directly with “I know the GMFV” for a more accurate result.
Why mileage matters
Annual mileage is one of the biggest levers on GMFV. Higher expected mileage means more wear and a lower resale value, so the GMFV drops and the monthly payment rises to cover the extra depreciation. Entering an accurate mileage estimate, rather than a low number to make the quote look better, keeps the result closer to what you’d actually be offered.
Reading the payment breakdown
The Payment Breakdown splits the Estimated Monthly Payment into what’s funding depreciation versus what’s funding interest on the amount financed. This is useful for comparing offers with different combinations of deposit, term, and APR rather than just looking at the headline monthly figure.
A note on accuracy
This PCP calculator gives you an estimate. Actual PCP quotes depend on the dealer or lender’s specific terms, fees, and residual value tables, so treat the result as a planning figure rather than a final offer.
Frequently asked questions
What happens at the end of a PCP agreement?
You typically have three choices: pay the GMFV (the balloon payment) to keep the car, hand the car back and walk away, or trade the car in toward a new PCP or other finance deal, using any equity above the GMFV as a new deposit.
Why does a higher deposit lower my monthly payment?
A larger deposit reduces the amount you need to finance before interest is applied, so both the depreciation and interest portions of your monthly payment drop.
Should I use “Estimate for me” or enter my own GMFV?
If a dealer or lender has already quoted a GMFV for your specific deal, enter it directly for the most accurate result. Use “Estimate for me” for early planning before you have a formal quote.
Does exceeding my annual mileage cost extra?
Most PCP agreements charge a per-mile fee if you exceed the mileage allowance used to set your GMFV. Entering a realistic annual mileage here helps you pick an allowance that matches how you actually drive.
