The volume of an automobile lending, as well as the monthly payments of the consumers, have reached an all-time high in the past couple of years. There are few good reasons for that such as:

  • The dealer finance portfolios are pushed further due to the fact that it has a well-articulated structure for such lending that reduces the stress in the auto sector
  • In addition to that, the auto lending industry has also recalibrated a few of the exposures and
  • The lending industry is now more focused on the slowing SME growth as well to find ways in which it can be improved further.

On the flip side, it is the inventory with the dealers that has also resulted in the changes that are commonly noticed now in the auto lending industry. There is a significant decline in demand for new vehicles noticed that has increased the volume of inventory with the dealers.

Data to support

As per the data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations and its research reports it is found that:

  • The inventory levels for passenger vehicles has peaked in excess of 60 days as opposed to the standards of about 30 days earlier this year
  • After the manufacturers have cut production, this level has now decreased to an average of 30 to 35 days and
  • Near about 300 dealerships have closed their shops in the last 18 months simply due to the slowdown in automobile production and lending.

According to the federation, it is the mismatch in the cash flow from the inventory sales and loan tenors that has prompted most the auto lenders to tread with more caution, whether it is a traditional commercial bank or any lending sources such as https://www.libertylending.com/ or its likes.

  • When you consider the dealer financing portfolios, you will get loans of varied kinds and offers that will suit more and more consumers with varying requirements, eligibility, and affordability.
  • The commercial banks on the other hand, now want to offer these loans with high collateral. This ensures that there is a high Loan to Value ratios which helps them to make up for the fall in creditworthiness.”

As a result, the people while buying a new car continually push the envelope as they tend to borrow more and inevitably end up paying more towards their car loans each month.

Reports of Experian

Considering the statements released by the credit rating firm Experian it is seen that:

  • The amount borrowed to buy a new car on an average hit a record of $32,187 in the first quarter and the
  • The average loan amount for buying a used car also went up to hit a record high of $20,137.

Tracking millions of auto loans every month, Experian said that there is not any slowdown in the demand for a car loan noticed. In fact, the volume for new and used car loans has risen up fairly as compared to the amounts from the previous years.

Experian has also come up with the probable automotive financial solutions as far as the sales of new vehicles considered. They suggest that slightly moderating the loan policies, the consumers more resilient to the stable increase in the prices of the new car can be attracted more easily.

  • This is the trend noticed in the four past years which is considered to be the best that the US market has ever seen.
  • This has also resulted in the dealers and auto lenders and executives to be more watchful whether the consumers are more resistant to the continual increase in the new car prices.

This seems to be hot and happening in the auto lending industry where in fact the average amount of loan topped $32,000 for the first time ever.

The monthly payments

As a result of this increase in demand for car loans, the consumers on an average makes a monthly payment for their new vehicle that seems to rise continually and has reached to a new record high of $554. As for the used vehicles these monthly payments are also high and have reached $391, according to Experian. The new car sales, as well as the loans, are still strong but surprisingly, consumers having the best credit scores are more and more inclined to buy a used car instead of new.

According to Experian, it is seen that:

  • 8% of the consumers having prime credit rating buy a used vehicle instead of a new and
  • 7% of the consumers having a super-prime credit rating took out loans to buy a used car in the first quarter.

These are actually the highest percentages that Experian has ever documented for the prime and super-prime borrowing for used vehicles.

This trend is actually seen rising steadily in recent years. The experts say that it is due to the fact that the consumers are now more interested to take the most advantage of the available options so that they can reduce payments, especially in leasing.

Auto trade-ins

Negative equity and auto trade-ins are in vogue now which is the best way to pay off the car loan irrespective of the amount you owe. Most of the car dealers advertise trading in one vehicle to buy another while they will pay off the balance of the loan on your old car no matter how much you owe.

However, if the loan amount is much more than the worth of the car it will have "negative equity." In such cases when the dealers promise to pay off your entire loan that may be misleading.

According to the nation's consumer protection agency The Federal Trade Commission, FTC people having negative equity must pay special attention while selecting their trade-in offers. This is because the claims of the ad make that the consumers will have no further accountability for any amount outstanding on their old loan may be untrue. Dealers often include their negative equity in the new car loan of the consumer. This inevitably increases the monthly payments by adding principal and interest.

Therefore, be watchful.