Car payments reached a record high in the United States as vehicle prices and borrowing costs continue to rise and loan terms get stretched.
A new analysis by The Century Foundation and Protect Borrowers found that aggregate auto debt has climbed 37% since early 2018 and reached the highest level ever recorded at $1.68 trillion. By the end of 2025, nearly 86 million Americans, or roughly 28% of consumers, carried auto loan or lease debt, according to the report.
