Record share of consumers take on
$1,000+ monthly car payments

(July 5, 2023) SANTA MONICA, Calif. —  The cost of financing a new vehicle remains at an all-time high as car shoppers search for a new ride this summer, according to the car shopping experts at Edmunds. New vehicle transaction data from Edmunds reveals that the record-breaking financing figures from Q1 were unyielding in the second quarter.

    •    The share of consumers who financed a vehicle with a monthly payment of $1,000 or more reached a new all-time peak of 17.1% in Q2, up from 16.8% in Q1 2023 and 4.3% in Q2 of 2019.

    •    Average monthly payments also reached a new record high of $733 in Q2, up from $730 in Q1 and $678 in Q2 2022.

    •    The average annual percentage rate (APR) ticked up a tenth of a percentage point to 7.1% in Q2, compared to 7.0% in Q1 and 5.0% in Q2 2022.

    •    7.1% is the highest APR since Q4 2007.

    •    The average amount financed remained above $40,000 for the fifth straight quarter, settling at $40,356 in Q2, slightly below Q1 2023's mark of $40,468 and $40,602 in Q2 2022.

"The double whammy of relentlessly high vehicle pricing and daunting borrowing costs is presenting significant challenges for shoppers in today's car market," said Ivan Drury, Edmunds' director of insights. "The Federal Reserve's recent pause in interest rate hikes unfortunately didn't offer much relief for consumers, and hints at further raises later this year mean auto loan rates could even continue to increase."

Edmunds analysts conducted a deeper dive into the makeup of $1,000+ new-vehicle monthly payments and discovered that not all four-figure auto loans look the same. Of the consumers who agreed to a $1,000+ monthly payment in Q2, there are two distinct subgroups:

    •    64.5% signed up for an average loan-term range of between 67 and 84 months and an average APR of between 8.5% and 9.6%. Edmunds analysts say this group is made up of consumers who are paying thousands of dollars toward interest vs. principle and could find themselves upside down on their auto loans down the road.

    •    15.6% signed up for loan term lengths between 31 and 48 months and a 2% to 4.8% APR. Edmunds analysts note this latter group is likely made up of savvy consumers who are taking advantage of subsidized finance offers, which typically consist of lower-rate but shorter-term loans. On a typical $40,000 loan, consumers with a 2.9% APR over 36 months can expect to save $8,500 in finance charges compared to those with a 7.9% APR over 72 months.

"There are better ways and worse ways to spend $1,000 per month on a car note," said Drury. "Consumers who are paying large amounts of finance charges could be in jeopardy of falling into a negative equity trap, so it's critical to come to the table with a comprehensive budget and a feel for the financing elements of a car purchase beyond the monthly payment, including the APR.

"For those with plans to replace their vehicle over the next few months, you may have to reset any expectations of the summer discounts of old. But, on a positive note, trade-in values remain elevated compared to pre-pandemic times, so shop around to ensure you get top dollar for the asset you own."