Finance & Leasing Association8 April 2022
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that the consumer car finance market reported new business volumes up in February 2022 by 24% compared with the same month in 2021. The corresponding value of new business grew by 39% over the same period. In the first two months of 2022, new business volumes were 34% higher than in the same period in 2021.
The consumer new car finance market reported new business up 15% by value and 9% by volume in February compared with the same month in 2021. In the first two months of 2022, new business volumes in this market were 30% higher than in the same period in 2021. The percentage of private new car sales financed by FLA members in the twelve months to February 2022 was 90.8%.
The consumer used car finance market reported new business up 52% by value and 29% by volume in February compared with the same month in 2021. In the first two months of 2022, new business volumes in this market were 35% higher than in the same period in 2021.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Director of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The consumer car finance market’s performance in February reflected pent-up consumer demand and the distorting effects from both the closure of showrooms last year during the third UK lockdown and record-high growth in used car prices.
“The near-term economic outlook remains difficult as consumers and businesses face higher prices and increased costs across the board. The impacts of the squeeze on household disposable incomes and ongoing vehicle and component supply issues are reflected in our latest research which suggests that consumer car finance new business by value will grow by 7% in 2022, revised down from a growth forecast of 11% made in the final quarter of 2021.
“As always, any customer worried about meeting payments should speak to their lender as soon as possible to find a solution.”
| Table 1: Cars bought on finance by consumers through the point of sale |
||||||
| New business |
Feb 2022 |
% change on prev. year |
3 |
% change on prev. year |
12 months to Feb 2022 |
% change on prev. year |
| New cars |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Value of advances (£m) |
768 |
15 |
3,305 |
25 |
18,052 |
21 |
| Number of cars |
31,902 |
9 |
135,204 |
21 |
756,959 |
15 |
| Used cars |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Value of advances (£m) |
1,894 |
52 |
5,084 |
45 |
20,629 |
35 |
| Number of cars |
120,967 |
29 |
326,534 |
23 |
1,425,042 |
23 |
| Total cars |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Value of advances (£m) |
2,661 |
39 |
8,390 |
37 |
38,681 |
29 |
| Number of cars |
152,869 |
24 |
461,738 |
23 |
2,182,001 |
20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Table 2: Cars bought on finance by businesses |
||||||
| New business |
Feb 2022 |
% change on prev. year |
3 months to Feb 2022 |
% change on prev. year |
12 months to Feb 2022 |
% change on prev. year |
| New cars |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Number of cars |
16,270 |
0 |
60,297 |
-4 |
300,137 |
18 |
| Used cars |
||||||
| Number of cars |
6,827 |
102 |
18,945 |
70 |
57,023 |
3 |
Note to editors:
- Consumer motor finance reported in these figures refers to finance obtained through the point of sale.
- In 2021, FLA members provided £132 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £101 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit, over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2021. £45 billion of it supported the purchase of new and used cars, including almost 92% of private new car registrations.
- For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.
