Breaking reporting shows Americans are now carrying a record $1.68
trillion in auto loan debt, with monthly payments soaring nearly 40%
since 2018 and subprime delinquencies reaching their highest levels in
more than three decades. As consumers struggle under rising vehicle
prices, extended loan terms, elevated interest rates, and shrinking
affordability, automotive retail analyst Zach Shefska, CEO of CarEdge
whose metrics are cited in the reporting, is available to discuss what
is rapidly becoming one of the most urgent and underreported financial
pressure points facing American households.
According to the report, average monthly car payments have climbed to
roughly $680, with some estimates nearing $760 per month. Meanwhile,
more borrowers are taking on seven-year loans or longer just to afford
transportation. CarEdge has been closely tracking the affordability
crisis and recently analyzed Fitch ratings data showing subprime auto
delinquencies are now more common than at any point in 32 years, with a
record number of borrowers falling more than 60 days behind on payments.
Zach can provide practical consumer insight, market context, and
forward-looking analysis on where the auto market may be heading next.
* Why auto debt is quietly becoming America’s next major household
financial crisis
* How pandemic-era vehicle inflation permanently reshaped car
affordability
* Why consumers are getting trapped in dangerous long-term loans
* The real monthly cost of vehicle ownership most buyers underestimate
* How dealerships and lenders normalize unaffordable payments
* Why used cars are no longer providing the affordability relief
consumers expect
* What rising delinquency rates signal about broader economic stress
* Whether repossessions are likely to continue rising in 2026
* The warning signs consumers should recognize before financing a
vehicle
* Practical strategies buyers can use right now to avoid overpaying
* Which vehicles and market segments still offer relative value
* How shrinking inventory and elevated interest rates continue
pressuring buyers
* What consumers should negotiate before signing financing paperwork
* Why many Americans are effectively financing transportation like a
mortgage
