Dealertrack reports loan approval rates continue to trend upward as of the end of December, capping a year in which the availability of dealer-arranged financing improved by 3.6%. +

Record numbers of new and used vehicle buyers committed to a monthly payment of $1,000 or more in the fourth quarter, but interest rates ticked down for both groups. +

Dealertrack’s Credit Availability index climbed to 99.1 in November, a new high for 2025 and its best level since October 2022, buoyed by higher approval rates and down payments. +

Dealertrack’s Credit Availability Index increased to 98.3 last month, offering a counter to affordability concerns and continuing a trend toward loosening conditions that began more than a year ago. +

Carleton’s Tim Yalich urges dealers and finance sources to face the “critical reality” of the complexity, challenges and profitability risk that underlies lease payment calculations. +

A new Carleton survey of 2,000 U.S. lending, bank, auto finance and fintech professionals finds the majority experience loan payment discrepancies on a weekly or monthly basis. +

Attorney Jim Ganther answers a dealer’s seemingly straightforward question: Is it legally permissible to pencil F&I products into payment quotes?

Extending time to first payment beyond the industry-standard 30 or 45 days is a win-win — for plaintiffs' attorneys. Mosaic Compliance Services chief Jim Ganther explains.

Ford has dropped its national “From America, For America” employee discount campaign in favor of a new incentive: zero percent financing for 48 months with zero down and zero due for 90 days. +

The latest quarterly report from Edmunds finds car buyers set new records for $1,000-plus monthly payments, 84-month terms and average amount financed, all on smaller down payments. +