Consumer car finance market falls by 94% in April 2020

8 June 2020

New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that new business volumes in the consumer car finance market fell in April 2020 by 94% compared with the same month in 2019, and by 33% in the first four months of 2020.

 The consumer new car finance market reported new business volumes 97% lower in April 2020 compared with the same month in 2019, and a fall of 37% in the first four months of 2020.  The percentage of private new car sales financed by FLA members was 94.5% in the twelve months to April 2020.

 The consumer used car finance market reported a fall in new business volumes of 92% in April 2020 compared with the same month in 2019, and a contraction of 30% in the first four months of 2020.

 Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:

 “While the motor finance market has been the hardest hit of FLA markets, the industry has been innovative in its use of click and collect during the lockdown. With the welcome opening of showrooms from the beginning of June, the motor finance market is ready to meet the demand for new finance from households and businesses.

 “The FLA calls on the Government and Bank of England to take immediate action to open up financial support schemes to all lenders, including non-banks, so that they can meet this pent-up demand for finance and the huge ongoing requests for forbearance.” 

Table 1: Cars bought on finance by consumers through the point of sale

New business

Apr 2020

% change on prev. year

3 months to Apr 2020

% change on prev. year

12 months to Apr 2020

% change on prev. year

New cars

 

 

 

 

 

 

Value of advances (£m)

56

-97

3,465

-41

17,156

-12

Number of cars

2,580

-97

161,597

-44

802,053

-16

Used cars

 

 

 

 

 

 

Value of advances (£m)

129

-92

2,984

-37

16,625

-7

Number of cars

10,919

-92

236,235

-39

1,335,113

-9

Total cars

           

Value of advances (£m)

185

-94

6,449

-39

33,782

-10

Number of cars

13,499

-94

397,832

-41

2,137,166

-12

 

Table 2: Cars bought on finance by businesses

New business

Apr 2020

% change on prev. year

3 months to Apr 2020

% change on prev. year

12 months to Apr 2020

% change on prev. year

New cars

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of cars

12,545

-73

64,819

-47

370,621

-16

Used cars

           

Number of cars

8,650

124

16,809

9

58,735

6

 Note to editors:

  1. Consumer motor finance reported in these figures refers to finance obtained through the point of sale.
  2. In 2019, FLA members provided £140 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £105 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit, over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2019. £48 billion of it supported the purchase of new and used cars, including over 91% of private new car registrations.
  3. For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

 

 

 

 

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