Which vehicle finance plan is right for you?

As the new '26 number plates hit the roads this week, hundreds of thousands of Brits will be looking to buy a new car.

- By HARVEY JONES

Last March saw 357,103 new car registrations, the highest monthly total since 2019, TotallyMoney data shows.

Alastair Douglas, chief executive of TotallyMoney, says with the average new car costing £30,650, four out of five will be bought using some type of finance package, and there are four main types to choose from: "Understanding the difference between a personal loan, hire purchase (HP), personal contract purchase (PCP) and leasing can be confusing, so it pays to do your homework."