Auto loan delinquencies in the fourth quarter hit their highest level since the financial crisis, a report out Thursday revealed.
About $23.27 billion in loans were 30 days or more late as of Dec. 31 — a whopping 14 percent increase from the year earlier and the most since the $23.46 billion in the third quarter of 2008, according to the New York Federal Reserve.
Delinquencies have moved up as the credit quality of the loans has deteriorated and the length of the auto loans has increased — sometimes to 84 months. [...] Delinquencies are the canary in the coal mine when it comes to losses for carmakers.
[...] The average monthly car payment in the fourth quarter rose above $500 for the first time, according to the credit-rating agency Experian.
(Score: 2) by davester666 on Sunday February 19 2017, @06:50AM
And to follow up, some of the scummier used car dealers use this to increase their profits, by taking a significant down payment, then with monthly payments they know the person can't cover, after a couple months they get to repossess the car and sell it again. Lather, rinse, repeat.