Despite tightening among captive finance companies, the Credit Availability Index was essentially flat on a month-to-month basis in September, ticking back up to July’s 98.1 mark after falling by 0.2% in August. +

Strong July sales reports were matched by a third consecutive month of improved credit access, according to Dealertrack’s latest Credit Availability Index, which climbed to 98.1. +

The latest quarterly report from Edmunds finds car buyers set new records for $1,000-plus monthly payments, 84-month terms and average amount financed, all on smaller down payments. +

Dealertrack’s Credit Availability Index maintained a steady upward course in May, improving to 96.7, a modest month-over-month increase and a nearly three-year high. +

The Dealertrack Credit Availability Index fell from 96.3 in March to 95.7 in April, an 0.7% decrease driven by fewer loans extended to subprime buyers. +

Dealertrack (div. Cox Automotive)’s All-Loan Index improved to 96.4% in March, a 3.1% year-over-year gain and the highest level of auto loan access since December 2022. +

Edmunds analysts say 84-month loans accounted for 19.8% of U.S. new vehicle financing in the first quarter of 2025, an all-time high and a 25.3% increase from the year-ago quarter. +

Dealertrack’s Credit Availability Index improved 3% year-over-year in February, but negative indicators such as subprime share, term, down payments and negative equity added risk to loan portfolios. +

Edmunds reports the U.S. auto finance market demonstrated stability in the face of uncertainty in February, with modest increases in loan cost, amounts financed, payments and terms. +

The Dealertrack Credit Availability Index improved to 95.4 in January, a 2.9% year-over-year improvement driven in part by a 100-basis-point market share gain for subprime borrowers. +