As Average Auto Loan Amounts Continue to Increase, Consumers Look to Manage Monthly Payments

While many industry pundits are assessing how macroeconomic changes may impact the future of the automotive market, recent data suggests consumers tend to stick to specific fuel types. According to Experian’s Automotive Market Trends Report: Q4 2024, over the last 12 months, 77.5% of electric vehicle (EV) owners replaced their EV with another one, with 15.6% returning to gas-powered vehicles. Meanwhile, 82.2% of gas vehicle owners replaced it with the same fuel type, while only 4.7% made the switch to electric. It’s important for professionals to recognize that most consumers tend to replace their vehicles with the same fuel type. Additionally, knowing who is making these purchases and the types of vehicles being registered allows better anticipation for consumer needs and ultimately enhances the buying experience while fostering consumer loyalty. Breaking down fuel types by generation Through Q4 2024, Baby Boomers predominantly registered new gasoline vehicles, accounting for 74.7% of their choices, while 15.9% opted for hybrids and 6.6% chose EVs. Millennials showed a similar trend, with 69.2% registering gas vehicles, followed by 15.1% selecting hybrids and 12.5% choosing EVs. Gen Z also favored gasoline vehicles at 74.0%, with hybrids making up 14.3% and EVs at 9.1% of their registrations. Although gasoline vehicles account for the majority of new registrations, EVs and hybrids are steadily gaining ground, particularly among the younger generations who are drawn to advanced features that align with their preferences. This will likely play a role in shaping the future of vehicle registrations as more gas alternative models hit the market and consumers make the switch. To learn more about vehicle market trends, view the full Automotive Market Trends Report: Q4 2024 presentation on demand.

Quick Summary: Leasing continues to increase in the electric vehicle (EV) market. EVs accounted for nearly 20% of all new vehicle leases in Q4 2024, up from only 2.11% of new vehicle leases four years ago in Q4 2020. With consumers looking for flexibility—both in monthly payment and model availability—we’re seeing leasing continue to surge in the electric vehicle (EV) market. According to Experian’s State of the Automotive Finance Market Report: Q4 2024, EVs accounted for 19.5% of all new vehicle leases this quarter, up from 11.7% last year and a substantial increase from 2.1% in Q4 2020. Diving a bit deeper, data found EVs accounted for 9.3% of all new purchases in Q4 2024. Of those EVs, 50.1% were leased, while 38.9% were financed through loans. With lease payments for EVs ultimately being more affordable compared to loans and the excitement of driving the latest models packed with advanced technology, it’s no surprise we’re seeing leasing grow in popularity. Top leased EVs: How do lease and loan payments compare? As more consumers transition to EVs and manufacturers introduce new options to their lineup, certain models have become top choices for those opting to lease. Tesla accounted for the top two leased EVs in Q4 2024, with Tesla Model 3 coming in at 12.2% and Tesla Model Y at 9.1%. However, the Honda Prologue followed closely at 8.8% this quarter. Rounding out the top five were Hyundai IONIQ 5 (6.9%) and Chevrolet Equinox EV (5.9%). It’s notable that leasing has traditionally been a value-driven option for consumers, and the same holds true in the EV market. Leasing continues to offer lower monthly payments, making the finance option stand out for those looking to test an EV before purchasing or simply wanting the latest model on the lot. In Q4 2024, the average payment difference between a loan and a lease was $175. Though, the average monthly payment to lease a non-luxury EV was $504 this quarter, noting a $205 difference compared to the $709 loan payment. By comparison, the average monthly payment between a loan and leased luxury EV was $98—coming in at $842 for a lease and $940 for a loan. As more consumers choose to lease EVs, automotive professionals in both new and used markets have a chance to capitalize on this trend. By leveraging this data, those in the new retail market can effectively reach the right audience, while those in the used market can stay ahead of the curve and prepare for the influx of off-lease models in the coming years. To learn more about automotive finance trends, view the full State of the Automotive Finance Market: Q4 2024 presentation on demand.

The automotive industry is constantly changing. Shifting consumer demands and preferences, as well as dynamic economic factors, make the need for data-driven insights more important than ever. As we head into the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show this week, we wanted to explore some of the trends in the used vehicle market in our Special Report: State of the Automotive Finance Market Report. Packed with valuable insights and the latest trends, we’ll take a deep dive into the multi-faceted used vehicle market and better understand how consumers are financing used vehicles. 9+ model years grow Although late-model vehicles tend to represent much of the used vehicle finance market, we were surprised by the gradual growth of 9+ model year (MY) vehicles. In 2019, 9+MY vehicles accounted for 26.6% of the used vehicle sales. Since then, we’ve seen year-over-year growth, culminating with 9+MY vehicles making up a little more than 30% of used vehicle sales in 2024. Perhaps more interesting though, is who is financing these vehicles. Five years ago, prime and super prime borrowers represented 42.5% of 9+MY vehicles, however, in 2024, those consumers accounted for nearly 54% of 9+MY originations. Among the more popular 9+MY segments, CUVs and SUVs comprised 36.9% of sales in 2024, up from 35.2% in 2023, while cars went from 44.3% to 42.9% year-over-year and pickup trucks decreased from 15.9% to 15.6%. 2024 highlights by used vehicle age group To get a better sense of the overall used market, the segments were broken down into three age groups—9+MY, 4-8MY, and current +3MY—and to no surprise, the finance attributes vary widely. While we’ve seen the return of new vehicle inventory drive used vehicle values lower, it could be a sign that consumers are continuing to seek out affordable options that fit their lifestyle. In fact, the average loan amount for a 9+MY vehicle was $19,376 in 2024, compared to $24,198 for a vehicle between 4-8 years old and $32,381 for +3MY vehicle. Plus, more than 55% of 9+MY vehicles have monthly payments under $400. That’s not an insignificant number for people shopping with the monthly payment in mind. In 2024, the average monthly payment for a used vehicle that falls under current+3MY was $608. Meanwhile, 4-8MY vehicles came in at an average monthly payment of $498, and 9+MY vehicles had a $431 monthly payment. Taking a deeper dive into average loan amounts based on specific vehicle types—as of 2024, current +3MY cars came in at $28,721, followed by CUVs/SUVs ($31,589) and pickup trucks ($40,618). As for 4-8MY vehicles, cars came in with a loan amount of $22,013, CUVs/SUVs were at $23,133, and pickup trucks at $31,114. Used 9+MY cars had a loan amount of $19,506, CUVs/SUVs came in at $17,350, and pickup trucks at $22,369. With interest rates remaining top of mind for most consumers as we’ve seen them increase in recent years, understanding the growth from 2019-2024 can give a holistic picture of how the market has shifted over time. For instance, the average interest rate for a used current+3MY vehicle was 8.0% in 2019 and grew to 10.2% in 2024, the average rate for a 4-8MY vehicle went from 10.3% to 12.9%, and the average rate for a 9+MY vehicle increased from 11.4% to 13.8% in the same time frame. Looking ahead to the used vehicle market It’s important for automotive professionals to understand and leverage the data of the used market as it can provide valuable insights into trending consumer behavior and pricing patterns. While we don’t exactly know where the market will stand in a few years—adapting strategies based on historical data and anticipating shifts can help professionals better prepare for both challenges and opportunities in the future. As used vehicles remain a staple piece of the automotive industry, making informed decisions and optimizing inventory management will ensure agility as the market continues to shift. For more information, visit us at the Experian booth (#627) during the NADA Show in New Orleans from January 23-26.