Auto debt rises 3.3% to $1.7 trillion in August, Equifax says
EFX•Outstanding auto debt rose 3.3% year over year to $1.7 trillion in August 2026, while the share of accounts at least 60 days past due fell 10.9% to 1.7%.
1. Auto debt and delinquencies
Outstanding auto debt increased 3.3% year over year to $1.7 trillion in August 2026, driven by larger loan balances. Auto loan originations fell 1.9% year to date through June, while total original loan balances rose 3.5%; credit unions’ outstanding balances grew 7%, compared with a 1.7% contraction at captive lenders. The share of accounts at least 60 days past due declined 10.9% year over year to 1.7%, though early-payment defaults remained a concern even among super-prime borrowers.
