What the 31 May 2026 Car Finance Deadline Meant

The 31 May 2026 date was the end of the temporary pause on certain motor finance complaint-handling deadlines. It was not a deadline for every driver to submit a claim, and it did not require all compensation to be paid immediately afterwards.

Reviewed 28 October 2026. This article explains the older PS25/18 deadline in the context of subsequent developments. For upcoming events, use our current key dates guide.

What changed after the pause

The FCA published its final motor finance redress policy, PS26/3, on 30 March 2026. That introduced a scheme for assessing relevant agreements, rather than an automatic refund for every complaint.

The scheme was then legally challenged. The FCA's 2 July statement confirms that the complaint-handling pause expired on 31 May, while explaining the separate partial suspension of scheme rules.

These developments should not be treated as successive extensions of a universal deadline to claim. Each changed different parts of the process.

Which process applies to your complaint?

If your complaint falls within the scheme, lenders must follow the rules still in force. They do not currently have to calculate or pay compensation under the suspended provisions until the legal process ends.

If the complaint is wholly outside the scheme, such as a separate issue about the quality of the vehicle or affordability, the usual complaint process may apply. Ask the lender how it has classified the issue and what response deadline applies. A complaint with more than one issue may need separate explanations.

An example of the distinction

Suppose you complained about undisclosed commission in May 2026 and also raised a fault with the car. The end of the May pause does not, by itself, determine the response timetable for both issues. Ask the lender to explain how it is handling the commission complaint and the vehicle complaint, and keep each response.

Can you still complain?

Yes. The FCA's current consumer guidance encourages people with concerns to complain directly to their lender for free. Do not assume that missing 31 May rules you out, or that registering now guarantees priority payment.

Relevant scheme dates depend on the agreement and complaint. Some no-compensation determinations are due in November 2026 or January 2027, with exceptions; our response guide explains them.

Expert Insight: A deadline for a lender to perform a task is not necessarily a deadline for you to complain. Identify who must act, what they must do and which rule the date comes from.

Common mistakes

Avoid treating an acknowledgement as a decision, assuming eight weeks or 15 months applies to every case, or waiting for a general news update after receiving a letter with an individual deadline.

The legal challenge hearing runs from 16 February to 3 March 2027. That is not a payout date. Keep your lender informed of contact changes and retain your complaint reference.