Be realistic about timing

Honest answer first: getting new car finance during your Trust Deed is hard, and needs your trustee's agreement (more on that below). The realistic moment is after you're discharged. Even then, your Trust Deed stays on your file for six years from the date it started, so for that window you're looking at specialist motor lenders rather than mainstream deals. The good news: those specialists judge affordability, and your options widen as your file recovers — you've just spent around four years proving you can keep to a payment schedule.

Who lends after a Trust Deed

The lenders who'll consider you are specialists in lending to people rebuilding after a debt solution — and because Trust Deeds are common in Scotland, many dealers have lenders who know the territory. They look at your current income, employment and outgoings rather than your score alone, and most use a conditional-sale or hire-purchase agreement, where the car becomes yours at the end. Rates are higher than mainstream deals, and you'll often need a larger deposit while the Trust Deed still shows. We only introduce you to lenders whose criteria you're likely to meet, so you're not collecting declines.

What helps your application

• A bigger deposit: it lowers the lender's risk and is often what tips a 'maybe' into a 'yes'.
• Some rebuilding first: a few months of on-time payments and a builder card used well make a real difference.
• A soft search before you apply: it shows your likelihood of acceptance without marking your file.
• Proof you can afford it: be ready to show the payment fits comfortably — that's the core test.

While your Trust Deed is still running

Taking on new car finance during your Trust Deed isn't straightforward: you'll need your trustee's permission first, and they'll usually only agree if a car is genuinely necessary — for work or commuting, say — and the payments are affordable and reasonable. If your current car is unreliable or essential and you need to replace it, speak to your trustee before doing anything. This guide is mainly about what becomes possible once you're discharged.

Watch out for

• 'Guaranteed car finance' — no responsible lender can promise approval, especially while a Trust Deed shows.
• Applying to lots of dealers at once and stacking up hard searches.
• Stretching to a payment that doesn't comfortably fit — affordability is the whole test.
• Forgetting it's secured — with conditional sale or hire purchase the lender owns the car until the final payment.