Consumer new car finance volumes down 8%

6 October 2017

New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that new business volumes in the point of sale (POS) consumer new car finance market fell by 8% in August, compared with the same month in 2016, while the value of new business was up by 2% over the same period.

The percentage of private new car sales financed by FLA members through the POS held steady at 86.0% in the twelve months to August.

The POS consumer used car finance market reported new business in August up 8% by value and 2% by volume, compared with the same month last year.

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

“The August figures reported by the POS consumer new car finance market are in line with wider trends in private new car sales. These trends are not unexpected given the strength of the market in recent years and subdued consumer confidence about the general economic outlook.

“New business volumes in the POS consumer car finance market overall were stable in the first eight months of 2017 compared with the same period in 2016.”

Table 1: Cars bought on finance by consumers through dealerships

   

New business

Aug  2017

% change on prev. year

3 months to Aug  2017

% change on prev. year

12 months to Aug  2017

% change on prev. year

New cars

           

Value of advances (£m)

817

+2

3,561

+2

18,356

+4

Number of cars

45,728

-8

191,258

-7

1,002,368

-3

Used cars

           

Value of advances (£m)

1,284

+8

3,855

+12

14,568

+10

Number of cars

113,221

+2

339,625

+6

1,301,475

+5

 

Table 2: Cars bought on finance by businesses

       

New business

Aug  2017

% change on prev. year

3 months to Aug  2017

% change on prev. year

12 months to Aug  2017

% change on prev. year

New cars

           

Number of cars

30,146

+3

132,405

+5

513,616

0

Used cars

           

Number of cars

5,293

+51

17,534

+54

58,848

+35

Note to editors:

  1. In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £88 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit, over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2016. £41 billion of it supported the purchase of new and used cars, including over 86% of private new car registrations.

2. For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

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