Experian Automotive: Average automotive loan term reaches record high of 66 months; loans with terms 73-84 months grew by 27.6 percent

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., June 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Experian Automotive today announced that loan terms continued to lengthen, with the average automotive loan term reaching 66 months for the first time. According to Experian Automotive's latest State of the Automotive Finance Market report, loan terms in the first quarter of 2014 reached the highest level since the company began publicly reporting the data in 2006. The analysis also shows that loans with terms extending out 73–84 months made up 24.9 percent of all new vehicle loans originated during the quarter, growing 27.6 percent since Q1 2013.

The average amount financed for a new vehicle loan also reached an all-time high of $27,612 in Q1 2014, up $964 from the previous year. In addition, the average monthly payment for a new vehicle loan reached its highest point on record at $474 in Q1 2014, up from $459 in Q1 2013.

"As the cost of purchasing a new vehicle continues to rise, consumers clearly are stretching the loan term to help lower monthly payments, keeping them at a manageable level," said Melinda Zabritski, Experian Automotive's senior director of automotive credit. "The benefit of a longer-term loan is the lower monthly payment; however, the flip side of that is consumers can find themselves paying more in interest or being upside-down on their loan if they seek to trade their vehicle in early. It is definitely a choice that consumers will want to weigh carefully before making a final purchasing decision."

Consumers also continued to lease new vehicles at record levels. Of all new vehicles financed, 30.2 percent were leased in Q1 2014, compared to 27.5 percent in Q1 2013. Interestingly, of all new vehicles sold (whether financed or purchased in cash), a staggering one in four, or 25.6 percent, were leased in Q1 2014, compared to 22.9 percent in Q1 2013.

Overall, loans and leases for new vehicles were easier to obtain in Q1 2014. For new vehicle loans, the average credit score* was 714, down from 722 in Q1 2013. For leases, the average credit score was 721 in Q1 2014, compared to 731 in Q1 2013.

"Over the last several quarters, leasing has come back as a very desirable option for consumers," Zabritski continued. "Whether they are interested in getting the latest and greatest models or simply do not want to commit to a long-term purchase, consumers are leasing new vehicles in greater numbers than ever before. However, what they need to remember is that without good credit, it may be more difficult to get a lease, and that leases have mileage caps so they need to make sure their lifestyle fits the leasing requirements."

Subprime financing rises for new vehicles and drops for used vehicles

Market share for nonprime, subprime and deep subprime new vehicle loans rose slightly in Q1 2014 to 34.34 percent from 33.68 percent in Q1 2013. For used vehicles, nonprime, subprime and deep subprime loans accounted for 64.2 percent of all loans, down 2.6 percent from 65.91 percent in Q1 2013.

In other trends:

• The average credit score for a used vehicle loan in Q1 2014 was 641, up from 637 in Q1 2013
• Average monthly payments for used vehicles rose from $348 in Q1 2013 to $352 in Q1 2014
• New vehicle interest rates rose from 4.47 in Q1 2013 to 4.54 percent in Q1 2014
• Used vehicle interest rates rose from 8.75 percent in Q1 2013 to 9.01 percent in Q1 2014

Complete findings from the State of the Automotive Finance Market Q1 2014 credit trends analysis will be presented in a Webinar at 11 a.m. Pacific time/1 p.m. Central time/2 p.m. Eastern time on June 5. If you would like to register for the event, visit http://bit.ly/1nHq5jF.

About Experian Automotive
Experian Automotive provides information services and market intelligence that enables results-driven professionals to gain the fullest possible understanding of the market, the vehicles and the people who buy them. Its North American Vehicle Database^SM houses data on nearly 700 million vehicles and, when combined with Experian's credit, consumer and business information, provides an integrated perspective into the automotive marketplace. Experian Automotive's AutoCheck^® vehicle history reports provide dealers and consumers with in-depth information, allowing them to confidently understand, compare and select the right vehicles. For more information on Experian Automotive and its suite of services, visit our Website at http://www.experian.com/automotive.

About Experian
Experian^® is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients around the world. The Group helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2014, was US$4.8 billion. Experian employs approximately 16,000 people in 39 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.

VantageScore^® is a registered trademark of VantageScore Solutions, LLC.

Experian and the Experian marks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

Contact:

Roslyn Whitehurst
Experian Public Relations
1 714 830 5578
[email protected]
Twitter: @RozWhitehurst

SOURCE Experian Automotive