Auto Loan Delinquency Rate 2026-Q1: 5.6%, at a Series Record
Auto loan serious delinquency reached 5.6% of outstanding balances in 2026-Q1 — a series record, 0.33 percentage points above the Great Recession-era peak of 5.3% in Q4 2010. Federal Reserve Bank of New York Household Debt and Credit Report data, updated quarterly.
What Is the Auto Loan Delinquency Rate in 2026?
The auto loan serious delinquency rate (90+ days past due) was 5.6% as of 2026-Q1, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Household Debt and Credit Report. The reading is the share of outstanding auto loan balances that were seriously delinquent, not the share of loans or borrowers.
The rate has risen for 11 consecutive quarters from the post-COVID trough of 3.9% in Q2 2022. The latest reading stands 0.33 percentage points above the Great Recession-era peak of 5.3% in Q4 2010. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2% in 2026-06, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, but this aggregate auto-loan series does not identify why balances became delinquent. The American Distress Index tracks auto loan delinquency in its Delinquency domain, currently reading 43.8 (Typical). On average, its inputs sit higher than in 44% of their own quarterly histories.
Key Statistics at a Glance
The American Distress Index currently reads 43.8 (Typical). On average, its inputs sit higher than in 44% of their own quarterly histories. Auto loan delinquency is a direct input to the ADI's Delinquency domain. Car payments carry unique distress significance: unlike credit cards, a missed auto payment risks repossession, and for most Americans, losing a car means losing the ability to get to work. When auto loan delinquency rises, it signals households have exhausted other options — they've already fallen behind on credit cards and drawn down savings before missing the car payment.
How Does Auto Loan Delinquency Compare to 2008?
The full time series shows the increase around the Great Recession, the subsequent decline, the pandemic-era trough, and the rise that followed. The 2026-Q1 reading is above the earlier peak by 0.33 percentage points. Because the measure is a percentage of balances, it does not show how many individual borrowers are behind.
Auto Loan Serious Delinquency Rate, 90+ Days (%)
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York Household Debt and Credit Report / Equifax. Quarterly, 2003–present.
Full data: Auto Loan Delinquency indicator page
How Fast Is Auto Loan Delinquency Rising?
The shorter view shows the change from the post-COVID trough of 3.9% in Q2 2022 to the current reading. The series measures delinquent balances. It does not, by itself, establish which policies, prices, interest rates, or household circumstances caused the change.
The rate increased for 11 consecutive quarters. The current 5.6% reading is above the pre-pandemic level of 4.9% and above the Great Recession-era peak of 5.3%.
Auto Loan Delinquency Rate, 2015–Present (%)
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York Household Debt and Credit Report / Equifax. Quarterly.
Why Does Auto Loan Delinquency Matter?
Auto loans are secured by the vehicle. Falling behind can put transportation at risk, which can affect a borrower's ability to commute, care for family members, and reach essential services. The series therefore captures a form of debt stress with consequences that unsecured credit does not carry.
What the Measure Can Tell Us
A higher reading means a larger share of outstanding auto loan balances is at least 90 days past due. It does not reveal a household's payment order, income, savings, or other debts. Those questions require separate evidence. If you are behind on payments, the homeowner help guide explains how to organize the next steps.
How Do Auto Loans Compare to Other Debt Types?
The auto and credit-card readings come from different datasets and denominators. The New York Fed series is the percentage of auto loan balances at least 90 days delinquent. The credit card series is the Federal Reserve Board's delinquency rate for credit card loans at commercial banks. Their levels provide context, but a higher value in one series does not prove that one debt type is under greater borrower stress than the other.
| Debt Type | Current Rate | Pre-Pandemic | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto loans (90+ days) | 5.6% | 4.9% | +0.66 pp | New York Fed / Equifax |
| Credit cards (all banks) | 2.9% | 2.6% | +0.31 pp | Fed Board via FRED |
Auto loan data come from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Household Debt and Credit Report and measure balances at least 90 days delinquent. Credit card data come from Federal Reserve Board series DRCCLACBS via FRED and cover delinquency at commercial banks. Both pre-pandemic comparisons use Q4 2019.
See also Consumer Debt Statistics 2026 for the full cross-asset picture including student loans and total household debt.
Recent Quarterly Auto Loan Delinquency Data
| Quarter | Delinquency Rate | Year-Over-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 2023 | 3.8% | -0.04 pp |
| Q3 2023 | 3.9% | +0.02 pp |
| Q4 2023 | 4.2% | +0.44 pp |
| Q1 2024 | 4.4% | +0.52 pp |
| Q2 2024 | 4.4% | +0.61 pp |
| Q3 2024 | 4.6% | +0.68 pp |
| Q4 2024 | 4.8% | +0.66 pp |
| Q1 2025 | 5.0% | +0.58 pp |
| Q2 2025 | 5.0% | +0.56 pp |
| Q3 2025 | 5.0% | +0.43 pp |
| Q4 2025 | 5.2% | +0.38 pp |
| Q1 2026 | 5.6% | +0.61 pp |
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York Household Debt and Credit Report, Equifax Consumer Credit Panel. "Serious delinquency" is defined as 90+ days past due. Data is quarterly, released approximately 5 weeks after quarter end.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current auto loan delinquency rate?
The auto loan serious delinquency rate (90+ days past due) is 5.6% as of 2026-Q1, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Household Debt and Credit Report. This is a series record, 0.33 percentage points above the Q4 2010 peak.
How does auto loan delinquency compare to the 2008 financial crisis?
The current rate of 5.6% is 0.33 percentage points above the Great Recession-era peak of 5.3% from Q4 2010. Both figures measure the share of outstanding balances at least 90 days delinquent. They do not measure the number of delinquent accounts or borrowers.
Why are auto loan defaults rising while unemployment is low?
The delinquency series records outcomes, not causes. It can show that a larger share of balances is at least 90 days past due while unemployment is 4.2% in 2026-06, but it cannot determine whether vehicle prices, interest rates, loan terms, income changes, or another factor caused the increase.
What happens when you default on an auto loan?
Auto loans are secured by the vehicle. Depending on the contract and state law, a lender may repossess the vehicle after default, and a borrower may still owe a deficiency after the vehicle is sold. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's repossession guidance explains these outcomes and advises borrowers to check state-specific rights.
Where does auto loan delinquency data come from?
The primary source is the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Household Debt and Credit Report, based on its Consumer Credit Panel with Equifax. The report is published quarterly. The auto series shown here is the percentage of outstanding balances at least 90 days delinquent.
Data Sources and Methodology
Federal Reserve Bank of New York Household Debt and Credit Report
The quarterly report is based on the New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel with Equifax. It covers mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, student loans, and other consumer debt. This page uses the share of auto loan balances at least 90 days delinquent.
FRED Credit Card Delinquency (DRCCLACBS)
Delinquency rate on credit card loans for all commercial banks, reported quarterly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Used here for cross-asset comparison to contextualize auto loan delinquency within the broader consumer debt picture.
Delinquency Rate Methodology
The NY Fed reports the percentage of outstanding auto loan balances that are 90+ days delinquent (not the percentage of borrowers). A rising rate means a larger share of auto loan dollars are seriously past due, which can reflect both new delinquencies and slower cure rates.