Auto Loan Delinquencies Fell in Q1
Experian report shows other shifts, including banks clawing back market share.

Banks’ share of auto financing grew year-over-year from 25% to 27%, while captives’ share fell from 31% to 30%.
Pexels/Sora Shimazaki
Auto loan delinquencies stopped growing in the first quarter, according to Experian data.
The period also saw banks regain market share after losing ground to captives following the pandemic.
Thirty-day loan delinquencies held about steady at 2%, as did 60-day delinquencies, at about 1%, Experian reported.
Still, both the new- and used-vehicle average loan amounts rose year-over-year, the new by 3% to $41,720 and the used by $90, or less than 1% to $26,144. The new-vehicle average monthly payment also increased, by 1% to $745, while the used-vehicle payment was essentially flat at $521.
The average interest rate fell slightly for both new- and used-vehicle loans, the former to 6.7%, and the latter to 11.9%.
New-vehicle loans’ share of the quarter’s auto financing grew from 41% to 43%, Experian said.
Banks’ share of auto financing grew from 25% to 27%, while captives’ share fell from 31% to 30%, the data provider and consumer credit reporting agency said. Credit unions’ share was essentially flat at about 21%.
“This shift counters many of the trends we observed in the post-pandemic era, where high interest rates and the re-emergence of new inventory allowed captives to push heavy incentives and capture significant market share,” Experian Head of Automotive Financial Insights Melinda Zabritski said in the quarterly report.
Leasing of new vehicles grew from 24% to 25%, partially driven by electric-vehicle transactions, 60% of which were leases. Overall EV transactions made up almost 10% of new-vehicle sales.
LEARN MORE: Under-Water Auto Loans on the Rise
Originally posted on F&I and Showroom
More Industry

Charger Network Growth Slows
Despite a projected increase in public EV chargers in 2026, charging infrastructure remains a top concern for consumers as the gap between the most and least EV-friendly places remains substantial.
Read More →
Lenders, Consumers Take on More Auto Loan Risk
September records loosened credit access the most in over a decade as buyers took advantage of the conditions to afford trading, though loan applications fell.
Read More →
Next-Gen Hybrids in Sight
Dealerships can expect to see revamped hybrids from Honda next year as the company rolls out a new system and model lineup.
Read More →
Gem State Stores Change Hands
A larger auto group founded in the industry’s early years sold two franchises to a neighbor group that's on a growth spurt.
Read More →
Charging In Motion
Honda has been researching wireless in-motion charging for electric vehicles since 2025, and new technology developments have put it a step closer to a final product.
Read More →
Twin Cities Stores Sell
Minnesota-based Walser Automotive Group made what it called the most significant acquisition in its history with a three-rooftop deal in Minneapolis.
Read More →
U.S. Auto Sales Still Below Prepandemic Levels
Mobility Global industry observers don’t expect the market to return to the higher volumes that became routine before Covid but to stay well below its potential.
Read More →
The Powertrain Shift
Electric-vehicle owners are backpedaling, according to new data, with product availability driving many to shift back to gas-powered engines.
Read More →
Achromatic Autos
The shades that dominate the U.S. car market don’t call attention to themselves, though grayscale may have plateaued after a 30-year upswing, research shows.
Read More →
Used-Vehicle Affordability Worsens
Listing prices in August defied seasonal trends, rising above $27,000 for the second time this year.
Read More →