Commissioner of a recent survey in to car consumer habits, MainDealerOffers is one of a portfolio of corporate and retail vehicle websites run by ReallyGoodDomains. Marketing manager Richard Lawton answered some of Motor Finance”s questions.

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We thought it was pretty interesting to see what car buyers, generally, are doing when it comes to obtaining their next vehicle.

Will you make it a regular thing?

I can imagine us doing it every year, just to see how it changes. I was quite surprised, I expected more interest in dealer finance.

Why the lack of dealer finance?

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There’s a large percentage of the population that aren’t interested in walking to dealerships, they’re just going to buy a car from Joe Bloggs down the road. There’s also a lack of understanding about what is actually classed as dealer finance. People might think they’re using cash but they’re signed up to finance that’s more than likely PCP. They feel, because they’re paying a monthly amount from their account, it’s effectively a cash transaction. There’s a lot of legislation around consumer credit, you get a key fact sheet and you get a lot of protection. I wonder whether all that protection makes it more confusing than it actually is.

What can finance houses do to get more people understanding finance?

They’ve made great strides over the last few years with products like PCP. Historically, for the consumer, you had hire purchase; now PCP means customers can afford to get a new car. I wonder whether it’s possible to make that simpler again for consumers?

Is the demographic that would consider finance the one funders need to aim for?

Yes, they need to look at the products, as well. There’s a fight to have a new car that is competitive against the used car. You look at the Suzuki Altos, the Dacia Duster, there’s a big market for new but sub-£10,000. People that never actually thought they could afford a new car, they’re going to be interested in the different forms of finance.

richard.brown@vrlfinancialnews.com