Auto Loan Access Keeps Falling
July conditions tighter for consumers despite average loan rate decline.

The reduced credit access came in all channels and lender types.
Pexels/Pixabay
Auto loans were harder to get for the fourth month in a row as approval rates declined and other measures made credit more challenging to come by in July.
Though the average loan rate fell by seven basis points for an 80-point decline since February, loan approval rates declined four percentage points year-over-year, according to Cox Automotive.
In addition to continued reduced approval rates, Cox blamed decreased subprime share and increased yield spreads.
The reduced credit access came in all channels and lender types, according to its report, which put Cox’s All-Loans Index down 1% to 92.9, or about a 2% year-over-year drop.
Loans with negative equity increased slightly for the month, actually helping credit availability. Term lengths, the percentage of down payments, and loans with terms longer than 72 months were flat, though the down payment percentage was up by 30 basis points year-over-year.
LEARN MORE: Is the Death Knell Being Sounded for Dealer Financing?
.
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
More Industry

First-Half Dealership Deals Up
Buy-sell activity shows that acquirers are looking for value and scale as many retailers seek to leave an increasingly competitive and complex market, Kerrigan Advisors reports.
Read More →
Kia Closes Out Summer With a Bang
Its U.S. subsidiary broke multiple records in August, in part due to a surge of demand for hybrids models.
Read More →
Indiana Dealership Changes Hands
A 30-year-old Ford dealership in Indiana has a new owner and will soon be undergoing renovations to meet manufacturer requirements.
Read More →
Texas Dealership No Longer in the Family
The Ford store, a longtime cornerstone of the Houston market, is now part of one of the fastest-growing U.S. auto groups.
Read More →
Genesis Grows California Presence
The Cardinale Automotive Group opened its third Genesis rooftop in the Golden State, Genesis of San Bruno, a stand-alone dealership serving the San Francisco Bay Area.
Read More →
August Auto Sales a Mixed Bag
An early forecast shows strong business despite consumer hurdles, and hybrids are a big piece of their affordability coping strategy.
Read More →
EV Market Humming Along
July sales show steady growth as the segment stabilizes from last year’s artificial surge following pullback of federal support.
Read More →
Auto Loan Delinquency Rates Stabilize
Auto loans are a main driver of nonmortgage consumer debt, but delinquency rates stabilized in the second quarter across all credit risk tiers.
Read More →
EV Sales Recover in Q2
The EV sales roller coaster continues as numbers show improvement, but industry experts predict a year-over-year third-quarter decline and fourth-quarter jump.
Read More →
The Cheapest Hybrids to Fuel
The powertrain is increasing in popularity, in no small part due to its fuel economy. A new report lists the most efficient hybrids on the market.
Read More →