Can I get credit during a DMP?
A DMP is informal, so there's no legal limit on borrowing — but the marker on your file makes new credit harder and pricier. Here's what's actually allowed, what lenders see, and when it's worth waiting.
Free to use, no obligation — and a soft search won't affect your credit score.
Written by the AfterMy team · Reviewed by Ben Miller, Customer Success Manager
Last reviewed: June 2026
Can I get credit during a DMP?
A DMP is informal, so there's no legal limit on borrowing — but the marker on your file makes new credit harder and pricier. Here's what's actually allowed, what lenders see, and when it's worth waiting.
Free to use, no obligation — and a soft search won't affect your credit score.
Written by the AfterMy team · Reviewed by Ben Miller, Customer Success Manager
Last reviewed: June 2026
Quick answer
Yes, you legally can. A DMP is informal, so unlike an IVA there is no £500 rule and no one's permission to ask for. But it is harder and more expensive in practice, because the DMP shows on your credit file and lenders see reduced payments. Most providers advise against new credit while you are on a plan, and for good reason.
On this page
The short version
A debt management plan is an informal arrangement, not a form of insolvency. That is the key difference from an IVA. There is no legal restriction stopping you from applying for credit, no £500 limit, and no supervisor whose permission you need. You are free to apply.
Key point
The catch is what lenders see. Your DMP usually shows on your credit file, often as an arrangement to pay marker or a note that you are paying less than the original agreement, alongside any missed payments or defaults that led to the plan. To a lender that signals recent difficulty, so approvals are harder to come by and the credit you can get tends to be expensive.
Why providers usually advise against it
Most DMP providers will tell you not to take on new credit while you are on a plan, and the reasoning is sound. Your plan is built around paying what you can afford after essentials. Adding a new monthly payment puts pressure on that budget and can knock you off track, which risks the priority bills that matter most. There is also the cost. Because your file shows recent trouble, the credit available to you is usually high interest, and taking on expensive borrowing while you are clearing debt is a step backward.
When borrowing might be necessary
Life happens, and sometimes credit is genuinely needed, such as replacing a car you rely on for work. If that is the case, the sensible first step is to speak to your DMP provider. They may be able to adjust your plan to help, and they can talk through whether the timing makes sense. Car finance is the most common example. Because a vehicle is often a real necessity, hire purchase can sometimes be arranged through specialist lenders who work with people on a DMP, though at higher rates than mainstream deals. Shopping around matters if you have to go ahead.
What helps your file while you are on a DMP
You do not need new credit to make progress. Sticking to your DMP payments, keeping every other bill on time, and staying on the electoral roll all build a steadier picture. A well-managed DMP can actually look better to future lenders than the missed payments that came before it, because it shows you are dealing with things responsibly.
What changes when your DMP ends
A DMP is flexible. You can adjust or end it at any time, and it finishes when your debts are cleared or when you can resume full payments. Once your debts are marked settled or satisfied, your credit file starts to recover, and the steps you take to rebuild from there are what move you forward. That is what AfterMy is built for, helping you work out what to do first, in what order, staged around your own dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a credit limit during a DMP like the £500 IVA rule?
Will a DMP show on my credit file?
Can I get car finance on a DMP?
Does applying for credit hurt me during a DMP?
Should I wait until my DMP ends?
Still on your DMP?
You're in the right place. There's plenty you can do now to keep your file moving in the right direction.