'We can deal with proposals, payouts and lenders': Belfast husband-and-wife team launches motor finance business to support Northern Ireland dealers

Car dealers across Northern Ireland have a new source of motor finance following the launch of CarMoney NI.

The Belfast-based business is run by husband-and-wife team Lyndsey and Richard Kerr, who have 45 years of motor trade experience between them. It will give dealers across Northern Ireland access to CarMoney’s finance products, lender panel and technology, backed by local support. Lyndsey spent five years with CarMoney before taking on the Northern Ireland franchise. She joined as a regional sales manager before being promoted to UK dealer director. Prior to CarMoney, she spent 15 years running finance departments across three Volkswagen dealerships for a major Northern Ireland dealer group. Richard has spent 25 years in senior motor retail roles. He managed one of the UK’s leading BMW dealerships and a Volkswagen commercial vehicle site before setting up his own FCA-authorised car sales business in 2023.

CarMoney NI covers the whole of Northern Ireland and is already working with more than 100 dealer partners. It can arrange finance for a wide range of vehicles, from lower-priced used cars to performance models worth up to £150,000, as well as commercial vehicles. The Belfast team is also supported by one of CarMoney’s experienced sales managers, Gary Cuthbertson, based at its Scottish headquarters. Lyndsey Kerr, joint franchisee at CarMoney NI, said: “I spent five years working with dealers at CarMoney and helped develop the franchise model, so I knew the business very well before we took this on.

"I also worked with many Northern Ireland dealers when I was a regional sales manager. That meant we already understood the local market and had strong relationships from the start. “Car sales have changed a lot since the pandemic, with much more of the process now taking place online. Technology has made things faster, but dealers still want someone they know on the other end of the phone. That is where we come in. We can deal with proposals, payouts and lenders, leaving the dealer to concentrate on the customer and selling the car.” Dealers using CarMoney NI have access to a panel of more than 20 lenders covering customers with a wide range of credit profiles. Its technology allows finance applications to be sent to lenders quickly, while the local team can manage proposals, payouts and communication with lenders. Richard Kerr, joint franchisee at CarMoney NI, explained: “Running my own dealership gave me a clear view of what dealers need from a finance broker. When you have a customer ready to buy a car, you need quick answers and good communication. “Every dealership is different, so there isn’t one way of working that suits everyone. Some dealers want us to handle most of the financing process, while others only need help at specific points. We have had a strong response so far. Dealers are sending us more proposals and using us to fund higher-value cars, which shows that trust is building.” Wendy Taylor, franchise director at CarMoney, continued: “Lyndsey and Richard know the Northern Ireland motor trade and understand the pressures dealers face every day. Lyndsey also knows CarMoney from the inside. She understands our systems, our lenders and how we work with dealers, while Richard brings many years of experience from the showroom. “We want our franchise partners to combine CarMoney’s technology and lender relationships with good local service. Dealers in Northern Ireland now have a team on the ground that understands their market and can support them throughout the finance process.” CarMoney NI will now focus on growing its existing dealer relationships before opening the network to more motor traders across Northern Ireland.