Experian analysts say sales of full-size trucks, vans and sports cars pushed $1,000 monthly payments to nearly 19% of all auto loans in the first quarter. +

Robert Steenbergh of AutoPayPlus says agents are leading the charge to make payment programs a core offering that can boost F&I revenue and reinsurance earnings. +

Wolters Kluwer’s latest Auto Finance Digital Transformation index finds U.S. econtracting volume declined by 1.5% from Q1 2025 but “significantly” outpaced new vehicle sales. +

A growing approval rate helped the Dealertrack Credit Availability Index improve to 102.4 in March, its highest reading since June 2022 and a 6% year-over-year increase. +

Average amounts financed, monthly payments and repayment terms all grew on a year-over-year basis in the first quarter, putting auto finance on shaky ground. +

A new AutoPayPlus survey of auto dealers and F&I executives reveals deep concerns over ever-lengthening loan terms that can trap consumers in long purchase cycles. +

Dealertrack's Credit Availability Index climbed to 101.3 in February, a 6% year-over-year improvement, despite a lower overall approval rate and a widening yield spread. +

Dealertrack’s Credit Availability Index remained at 100 last month, reflecting offsetting indicators that include a lower approval rate and a growing share of subprime loans. +

Edmunds analysts say the average negative equity balance on dealership trade-ins rose to $7,214 in the fourth quarter, reflecting pandemic-era originations and prolonging a four-year trend. +

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%. +