P&A Providers & Administrators
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

More Consumers Turned Down for Auto Loans

Rejection rate rising as lenders get pickier under tighter conditions.

July 19, 2023
More Consumers Turned Down for Auto Loans

Part of the issue is that lenders want to hold on to more cash after the spring bank failures in case of a withdrawals rush.

IMAGE: Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio

1 min to read


The combination of high inflation and high interest rates has caught up with the typical American consumer.

In June, the auto loan rejection rate hit more than 14%, a 5 percentage point jump from the last reading in February, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, surpassing the application rate for the first time and reaching its highest point since the Fed started tracking it in 2013.

Ad Loading...

The reserve bank said it observed the phenomenon across various loan types, not just auto loans, as far back as April, when its data showed about a quarter of banks indicated less willingness to offer consumer installment loans than when the year started.

In addition to the reality of higher consumer debt due to high inflation and high interest rates meant to reign it in, lenders want to hold on to more cash after the spring bank failures in case of a withdrawals rush.

Lenders, with less cash for loans, may require higher borrower credit scores or higher interest rates on their loans.

Delinquency rates on auto loans have been rising, especially among the youngest borrowers, recent data show.

Topics:Industry

Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today

More Industry

Two men and one woman standing in front of blue walled Chevrolet dealership entrance.
Industry•by Hannah Mitchell•October 27, 2026

Badger State Dealership Gets New Owner

The longtime southern Wisconsin store moved from one area auto group to another, keeping the business in Dairyland.

Read More →
Two hands, one handing off set of keys to the other.
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•October 27, 2026

The Cycle of Negative Equity

Third-quarter data shows consumers still rolling over debt and stretching loan terms, raising their risk of remaining underwater.

Read More →
Orange electric vehicle charging station.
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•October 20, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Fan of $100 bills atop a white envelope
Industry•by Hannah Mitchell•October 13, 2026

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 →
Red type R Honda civic parked on road.
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•October 13, 2026

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 →
Dodge ram emblem on orange vehicle exterior
Industry•by Hannah Mitchell•October 6, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Graphic of model car driving on fake road.
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•October 6, 2026

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 →
front grill of a Ford truck with blue Ford emblem
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•September 30, 2026

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 →
Diesel engine on a production line in a factory
Industry•by Hannah Mitchell•September 29, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Front of red tesla car.
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•September 22, 2026

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 →