MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Auto Loan Access Keeps Falling

July conditions tighter for consumers despite average loan rate decline.

August 13, 2024
Auto Loan Access Keeps Falling

The reduced credit access came in all channels and lender types.

Credit:

Pexels/Pixabay

1 min to read


Auto loans were harder to get for the fourth month in a row as approval rates declined and other measures made credit more challenging to come by in July.

Though the average loan rate fell by seven basis points for an 80-point decline since February, loan approval rates declined four percentage points year-over-year, according to Cox Automotive.

In addition to continued reduced approval rates, Cox blamed decreased subprime share and increased yield spreads.

The reduced credit access came in all channels and lender types, according to its report, which put Cox’s All-Loans Index down 1% to 92.9, or about a 2% year-over-year drop.

Loans with negative equity increased slightly for the month, actually helping credit availability. Term lengths, the percentage of down payments, and loans with terms longer than 72 months were flat, though the down payment percentage was up by 30 basis points year-over-year.

LEARN MORE: Is the Death Knell Being Sounded for Dealer Financing?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

More Industry

Vintage convertible driving along a desert highway, capturing the freedom and cultural impact of early American car travel.
IndustryJanuary 1, 2026

Driving America Forward

As America turns 250, explore how the automotive industry shaped jobs, culture, innovation, and mobility from Detroit assembly lines to today’s EV era.

Read More →
Industryby Hannah MitchellDecember 24, 2025

Top 10 Auto Dealer Today Stories of 2025

Our readers spent the most time on our site keeping abreast of vehicle quality rankings and recalls while researching best practices and legal requirements.

Read More →
Industryby StaffDecember 23, 2025

Black Book: Weekly Market Update

Despite the week's softening conditions, the market analyst said demand for used vehicles showed in competitive bidding for newer units in better condition.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Product & Technologyby Lauren LawrenceDecember 23, 2025

In-Vehicle AI Predicted to Spike

Frost & Sullivan expects a $238 billion market opportunity for the technology in automobiles by 2030 as AI applications shift to more mass-market applications.

Read More →
Industryby Hannah MitchellDecember 23, 2025

December Doldrums

A consumer index finds continued declines in both outlook and current conditions sentiment across nearly all demographics as big-ticket spending plans fall.

Read More →
Industryby Hannah MitchellDecember 19, 2025

Illinois Dealership Traded

A growing auto group picked up the Toyota franchise from retiring family owners.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Mercedes-Benz Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener
Industryby Lauren LawrenceDecember 18, 2025

Longtime Mercedes Design Chief Steps Down

Over 28 years with the German automaker, Gorden Wagener has made long-lasting impacts on its vehicles' look.

Read More →
Industryby StaffDecember 16, 2025

Black Book: Weekly Market Update

Some segments fared better than others last week, one in particular experiencing sharp value declines.

Read More →
Industryby Hannah MitchellDecember 16, 2025

Ford Pivots on Lineup

The company refocuses on hybrids and smaller EVs while adding energy-storage business line.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
car driving down snowy road
Industryby Lauren LawrenceDecember 16, 2025

Drivers Agree: Impaired-Driving Tech Needed

In 2023, more than 13K people were killed in drunk-driving crashes across the U.S. for the second year in a row, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Read More →