FAQs

Got Questions? We’ve got answers. Whether you’re buying your first car or trading in your old car, we’re here to make it simple. Explore our FAQs for quick, honest answers about Carsa’s process, prep, finance, handover, and more.

How do CarsaCover payments work?

You can either pay for CarsaCover up front in a single payment, or sometimes we offer the option to spread the cost as part of your finance or via a payment plan. The details will be provided when you opt for the cover. Essentially, we try to make it convenient, either adding it to your car's finance agreement or paying separately by card. Our sales team will go over the payment options for any CarsaCover products you choose.

I'm selling my car. Can I transfer CarsaCover to the new owner?

In most cases, yes. The extended warranty (and possibly other CarsaCover protections) can be transferred to the new owner when you sell your car privately. Just contact us or the warranty provider to let them know you’re selling the car and want to transfer the cover. They will update the details to the new owner. If you trade the car in to a dealer, it may depend on the policy conditions. But generally for private sales, CarsaCover extended warranties are transferable to the next owner.

Will I get a courtesy car with CarsaCover extended warranty?

The CarsaCover extended warranty itself doesn’t specifically guarantee a courtesy car. If your car is being repaired under warranty at one of our service centres, we can try to assist with a courtesy vehicle if available, but it's not a formal part of the cover. It might depend on availability and the nature of the repair. So, you shouldn’t assume a courtesy car is included, but we will do our best to help keep you mobile.

How do I make a claim on my CarsaCover scratch and dent insurance?

For a carsaCover scratch and dent insurance claim, you would contact the carsaCover insurance team (details would be in your policy documents). Usually, you'll need to provide details of the damage (often photos) and then you'll be guided to an approved repair service. They'll fix the scratch or dent and the insurance covers the cost according to the policy (minus any excess). It's important to report the damage as soon as you can to get the claim started.

How can I claim on my CarsaCover extended warranty policy?

If something goes wrong that’s covered by your carsaCover extended warranty, you should contact either the Warranty administrator or Carsa. To contact us please go to http://go.carsa.co.uk/cc. We'll guide you through the process, which usually involves taking the car to an approved garage or our service centre. The repair facility will diagnose the issue and, if it’s covered under the warranty, they’ll fix it and we’ll handle the costs as per the policy (aside from any excess if applicable). Always reach out to us first to get the claim authorised before carrying out any repairs.

Can I transfer my CarsaCover policy to my new car?

No, extended warranties like CarsaCover are usually tied to the vehicle, not the person. If you get a new car, you would need to purchase a new CarsaCover policy for that car. The existing policy on your old car can’t be transferred over to a different vehicle. In some cases, if you sell the covered car, the warranty can stay with the car for the next owner, but you wouldn't move it onto another vehicle you buy.

When does my CarsaCover policy start?

The CarsaCover policy begins when you take ownership of the car (typically from the delivery or collection date). So you're covered from day one of your ownership under the terms of the policy. For example, if you purchase an extended warranty, it will kick in immediately and run for the duration you chose.

My car tax is free, do I need to do anything?

Even if the car is in a zero road tax band, you still need to register it as taxed each year. The process is the same, but you won’t be charged anything. So you’ll need to go online or to the Post Office and 'tax' it (it will show a £0 fee). It’s important to do that so the car is officially recorded as taxed.

How do I make a warranty claim?

If something's gone wrong with your car and you think it's covered by your warranty, don't worry – we'll help you get it sorted.

Whether you're covered by your 90-day warranty or a Carsa extended warranty, claims are handled by AutoProtect. Here's how to make a claim:

Contact AutoProtect directly:

Phone: 01279 456 500
Email: iclaim@autoprotect.net

The claims process:

Report the issue – Give AutoProtect a call or drop them an email to let them know what's happening with your vehicle.
Get a diagnosis – AutoProtect will usually ask for a diagnosis from a garage. You can use any VAT-registered garage, but we'd recommend one you know and trust, a specialist for your vehicle type, or your local Carsa branch.
Submit your claim – Once you have the diagnosis, get back in touch with AutoProtect and they'll guide you through the next steps.
Need extra help? – If you've spoken to AutoProtect and are still having trouble, our Customer Care team are happy to help: Contact Customer Care

One important thing: Please don't arrange or pay for any repairs before your claim has been authorised – otherwise you might not be covered.

How do I tax my car when I collect it?

You'll need to tax the car before you can legally drive it away. Don't worry – we make this easy. We record the 12-digit document reference number from the V5C in our system, and when you collect your car, our team will help you tax it on-site using the DVLA website. It only takes a couple of minutes. You won't usually receive the green new keeper slip (V5C/2) at handover, but you don't need it – we have the reference number ready for you.

What’s the difference between PCP & HP finance?

PCP usually offers lower monthly payments and greater flexibility if you like to change cars every few years. However, you’ll need to pay a balloon payment if you want to own the car outright. HP has higher monthly payments, but once the final payment is made, the car is automatically yours.

What is Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) finance?

PCP is a more flexible type of finance where part of the cost is deferred into a final “balloon payment” (known as the Guaranteed Future Value). At the end of the agreement, you can choose to:

Pay the balloon payment to own the car.
Hand the car back, as long as it’s in good condition and within mileage limits.
Trade it in for another car, using any value left over as your deposit.

To see how this looks in practice, find a car on our website and use the finance calculator — you can adjust the deposit, term, and mileage to see how payments change.

If you want to see if you might be eligible for PCP, you can check your eligibility with our finance eligibility checker.

What is Hire Purchase (HP) finance?

HP is a simple and straightforward type of finance. You pay a deposit, then fixed monthly instalments over an agreed term. Once all payments (and any small option-to-purchase fee) have been made, the car is yours. HP is a good option if you know you want to own the car outright at the end of the agreement.

If you want to see if you might be eligible for HP, you can check your eligibility with our finance eligibility checker.

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Can I get two cars on finance?

Yes, some customers are able to take finance on more than one vehicle, as long as their credit profile and affordability are strong enough. Lenders may ask for extra documents or a clear reason for needing a second car.

Can I get finance with no UK credit history?

Yes, some specialist lenders will consider customers with no UK credit history, although they may ask for additional documents. These can include proof of your right to remain in the UK, two proofs of address, and an international driving licence.

If you’re unsure, check your eligibility with our finance tool — it’s a simple way to see whether you’re likely to be eligible for car finance

Can I get finance if I have negative equity or an existing car on finance?

It can be possible. Some lenders will work with customers who have existing finance or a small amount of negative equity (where the car is worth less than the outstanding balance). For example, if you part-exchange your car, the existing finance can sometimes be settled as part of the new deal.

To understand how much negative equity you have, you can get a part exchange quote on our website by following this link or by calling us up and speaking to an agent.