What car can I afford on a £30k salary in the UK?
On a £30,000 salary, a typical monthly car budget would be around £150–£250 depending on your other commitments. That covers a modest but practical finance deal — enough for a reliable used car with relatively low running costs.
Try the car finance calculator
Adjust the monthly budget and deposit to see what car value you could realistically finance. Pre-filled with a typical budget for a £30.0k salary.
Car finance calculator
Most cars in the UK are purchased using finance (PCP or HP), where buyers pay a deposit and a fixed monthly cost. This estimate gives a realistic guide based on typical finance rates (~8% APR).
How much you can comfortably pay each month
£200–£350/month is a sensible range for most UK buyers. This is what many people on a typical salary comfortably spend on a car.
Typical monthly car budget
At £30k gross, your take-home is roughly £2,000–£2,100/month. A reasonable car finance payment sits at 8–12% of that — around £160–£250. Going higher than this leaves little room for insurance, fuel, and servicing.
What does that get you?
A 3–5 year old small hatchback or supermini (e.g. similar class to a Fiesta, Polo, or Corsa) with under 50,000 miles. Reliable daily transport with low running costs.
A newer (1–3 year old) small hatchback or a slightly older family hatchback. Better spec, newer plate, and warranty coverage likely still in place.
A newer small SUV or crossover, or a nearly-new hatchback. At the upper end of a comfortable budget for this income — make sure insurance and fuel costs still fit.
Examples are illustrative by car class. Actual availability and pricing varies. Always factor in insurance, fuel/charging, tax, and servicing costs on top of your finance payment.
How car finance works in the UK
Most UK car buyers use PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) or HP (Hire Purchase) finance rather than paying cash. PCP tends to offer lower monthly payments because you are not paying off the full value — instead you pay a deposit, monthly instalments, and then either hand the car back or pay a final "balloon" payment to own it. HP is simpler: you pay off the full value and own the car at the end. Both typically come with APRs between 6% and 12% for used cars. A deposit lowers your monthly payment significantly.
Pay a deposit, then fixed monthly payments. At the end, choose to return the car, pay the balloon amount to keep it, or part-exchange. Lower monthly costs, higher flexibility.
Pay a deposit, then fixed monthly payments that cover the full car value. You own it outright at the end. Higher monthly cost, but no mileage limits and no balloon payment.
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