Close Brothers Motor Finance

What Close Brothers Motor Finance does

Close Brothers Motor Finance is a UK specialist vehicle finance provider operating as a trading style of Close Brothers Limited, itself a wholly-owned subsidiary of Close Brothers Group plc (established 1878 and listed on the London Stock Exchange). Headquartered in Doncaster with a registered office in London, the business serves UK and Republic of Ireland consumers seeking finance for cars, motorcycles, and vans, and reaches those consumers almost exclusively through a B2B2C distribution model comprising over 5,300 dealer and broker partners supported by 80+ field-based sales professionals.

The product set is concentrated in three regulated consumer credit instruments: Conditional Sale, Hire Purchase, and Personal Contract Purchase (PCP). Underwriting is delivered through a fast, flexible system that converts proposal to signed agreement within minutes using electronic signatures, and the customer relationship is managed through the Close Online portal (an account management platform built on Codeweavers technology) that supports 24/7 balance checks, detail updates, settlement quotes, and payment date changes. Dealers also receive forecourt stock funding and digital point-of-sale tools, positioning the business as a full-service motor finance partner rather than a pure lender.

Revenue is generated primarily through interest income on financed vehicle agreements (a recurring, multi-year subscription-style revenue stream) supplemented by commissions paid to dealers and brokers for arranging finance. The business is authorised and regulated by the FCA and PRA and is a member of the Finance and Leasing Association. It is currently navigating material industry-level regulatory headwinds, including the FCA's £9.1bn car finance commission redress scheme in which Close Brothers is identified as one of the major lenders.

Name

Close Brothers Motor Finance

Legal name

Close Brothers Limited

Website

https://closemotorfinance.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1878

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vehicle Finance / Auto Lending

NAICS

Sales Financing (52222)

SIC

Finance Lessors (6172)

akta.pro primary industry

New & Used Auto Purchase Loans (FSAKADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Motorcycle & Powersports Finance (FSAKADAG)

Keywords

• Vehicle finance
• Auto lending
• Dealer finance
• Motor finance
• Consumer lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Doncaster

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Vehicle Finance Interest: Close Brothers Motor Finance provides vehicle finance products (Conditional Sale, Hire Purchase, Personal Contract Purchase) to consumers through dealer and broker partners. Revenue is generated through interest charges on financed vehicles over the duration of the agreement.
2. Dealer and Broker Commission: Close Brothers pays dealers and brokers a commission for arranging vehicle finance. The company explicitly states they require explicit customer consent to the dealer or broker being paid a commission for arranging their vehicle finance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Close Brothers Motor Finance provides specialist vehicle finance products — Conditional Sale, Hire Purchase, and Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) — for new and used cars, motorcycles, and vans, distributed through a network of over 5,300 dealer and broker partners across the UK. The company also offers dealer stock funding ("Funding Your Forecourt") and a 24/7 Close Online account management portal for customers, alongside digital tools that enable partners to submit applications and obtain electronic-signed agreements within minutes.

Product overview

Close Brothers Motor Finance is a specialist vehicle finance provider offering a unified portfolio of finance products including Conditional Sale, Hire Purchase, and Personal Contract Purchase. The company serves both retail customers (who access finance through dealers and brokers) and commercial partners (dealers and brokers who offer finance to their customers). The core offering includes the Close Online digital account management portal alongside dealer financing solutions such as forecourt funding and digital tools. The company is regulated by the FCA and PRA and is a member of the Finance and Leasing Association, following the FLA Lending Code.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conditional Sale A vehicle finance product where the customer pays for a vehicle in fixed monthly instalments with ownership transferring to the customer upon final payment. Available to UK consumers through Close Brothers' dealer and broker partner network for cars, motorcycles, and vans.
• Hire Purchase A finance arrangement that allows the customer to spread the cost of a vehicle with fixed monthly payments, with an option to purchase the vehicle at the end of the agreement term. Available to UK consumers through dealer and broker partners.
• Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) A flexible vehicle finance product offering lower monthly payments with a guaranteed future value, with options to return, exchange, or purchase the vehicle at the end of the term. Available to UK consumers through dealer and broker partners.
• Close Online An online account management portal allowing customers to check balances, update personal and bank details, change payment dates, request settlement quotes, and manage their finance agreement 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Powered by Codeweavers technology.
• Funding Your Forecourt Stock funding solutions that help dealer partners finance their vehicle inventory, supporting forecourt operations alongside the customer-facing vehicle finance products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 UK customers helped to pay monthly for their vehicle annually.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• European Motor ShowminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2027Close Brothers Motor Finance confirmed its return as headline sponsor for the 2027 edition of the European Motor Show at the RDS in Dublin, Ireland. The inaugural show debuted at the RDS attracting over 10,000 visitors over the bank holiday weekend, featuring motorsport personalities, automotive brands, and family activities. The event exceeded expectations in its first year.
• Close Brothers Group plccoreOthersClose Brothers Motor Finance is a trading style of Close Brothers Limited (CBL), a subsidiary of Close Brothers Group plc. Close Brothers Group is a leading merchant banking group established in 1878, providing lending, deposit taking, wealth management services, and securities trading. The group is comprised of three divisions: Banking, Asset Management, and Securities, with Banking being the largest division.
• Finance and Leasing Association (FLA)coreOthersClose Brothers Motor Finance is a member of the Finance and Leasing Association (FLA) and follows the FLA Lending Code. This code sets out standards of good practice for the industry and provides customers with reassurance that they are dealing with a reputable organisation.
• CodeweaverscoreTechnology or IntegrationCodeweavers provides the technology platform powering Close Brothers Motor Finance's online customer portal (customer.cbmf.closebrothers.com/online) and the online login system for customers to manage their finance agreements.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alphera Financial Services: UK-based specialist motor finance provider offering multi-brand retail finance and fleet solutions through a dealer network. Comparable in independent specialist positioning and partner-led GTM in the UK market.
• Black Horse (Lloyds Banking Group): One of the UK's largest motor finance providers, offering finance for cars and motorcycles through dealer partnerships. Directly comparable to Close Brothers Motor Finance in product mix (HP, PCP, lease purchase), distribution model, and target customer base.
• MotoNovo Finance: UK specialist motor finance provider offering hire purchase and PCP products through a national dealer and broker network. Closely comparable in business model, customer segment, and partner-led GTM motion.
• Santander Consumer Finance UK: UK arm of Santander's consumer finance business, providing vehicle finance through dealer relationships. Comparable in offering multi-product auto finance (HP, PCP, lease) at significant UK scale via partner distribution.

Broad incumbents

• BNP Paribas Personal Finance (UK): European banking group's UK consumer finance arm providing vehicle finance through dealer and broker networks. Comparable in multi-channel partner distribution and product breadth.
• Barclays Partner Finance: UK motor and asset finance provider operating through dealer and broker partnerships, offering HP, PCP, and conditional sale products. Comparable independent-style motor finance proposition backed by a major UK bank balance sheet.
• Hyundai Capital UK: OEM-affiliated finance provider for Hyundai and Kia vehicles in the UK, offering PCP, HP, and personal contract lease products through dealer partners. Directly comparable products and dealer-led distribution.
• Volkswagen Financial Services (UK): OEM captive finance arm offering retail and dealer finance across VW Group brands. Comparable in providing vehicle finance products and dealer funding, with the additional strength of manufacturer captive integration.
• Toyota Financial Services (UK): OEM captive finance provider offering PCP, HP, and lease products to Toyota and Lexus customers through dealer networks. Comparable vehicle finance product set with captive distribution advantage.
• BMW Financial Services (UK): Captive finance provider for BMW and MINI brands, offering retail finance and leasing through franchised dealer networks. Comparable in multi-product vehicle finance and dealer-led GTM, with captive brand exclusivity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/closebrothersmf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Close Brothers Motor Finance