R.J. Explains: The trouble with auto loans
Auto debt is at staggering levels, and would-be car purchasers are faced with tricks, traps and deceptive practices designed to take their money. Analyst R.J. Cross digs in.
More Americans have a car loan than at any other point in history. Overall auto debt is at an all-time high. Auto loans are taking longer to pay off than ever and delinquencies are rising. All of this has happened in just the last 10 years – since the end of the Great Recession. What’s going on with auto loans, and what can we do?
Learn more
- Read the full report about auto lending and debt
Take action
- Take action and tell the FTC to stop deceptive car dealer practices related to the sale, financing or leasing of automobiles
Resources
- U.S. PIRG Education Fund’s consumer tips guide on avoiding tricks and traps when financing a car purchase
- National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) Consumer Debt Advice for avoiding car repossession and what to do if it happens to you
- NCLC’s issue page for car purchases and financing
- Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety (CARS) resources for car buyers
Topics
Authors
R.J. Cross
Policy Analyst, Frontier Group
R.J. focuses on data privacy issues and the commercialization of personal data in the digital age. Her work ranges from consumer harms like scams and data breaches, to manipulative targeted advertising, to keeping kids safe online. In her work at Frontier Group, she has authored research reports on government transparency, predatory auto lending and consumer debt. Her work has appeared in WIRED magazine, CBS Mornings and USA Today, among other outlets. When she’s not protecting the public interest, she is an avid reader, fiction writer and birder.
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The Auto Lemon Index
