---
title: 'Americans Are Falling Behind on Car Payments'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=GntGfycu0T8'
video_id: 'GntGfycu0T8'
date: 2026-09-02
duration_sec: 73
channel: 'Ryan Scribner'
---

# Americans Are Falling Behind on Car Payments

> Source: [Americans Are Falling Behind on Car Payments](https://youtube.com/watch?v=GntGfycu0T8)

## Summary

Americans are falling behind on car payments at alarming rates. Since the pandemic, car prices have surged while incentives like the federal EV tax credit have ended. This has led to longer loan terms (72-84 months), record subprime delinquencies (over 6%), and 1.73 million repossessions last year—the most since 2009. Average payments now exceed $750 monthly, with many over $1,000.

### Key Points

- **Rising Prices and Drying Incentives** [00:00] — Since the pandemic, sticker prices have surged while incentives to buy vehicles have largely dried up, including the federal EV tax credit that ended on September 30th.
- **Longer Loan Terms** [00:15] — Instead of a standard 60-month term, it's now common to see 72 or 84-month terms, meaning people are paying for six to seven years.
- **Record Delinquencies and Repossessions** [00:30] — Subprime auto loans 60 days or more overdue hit a record of over 6% this year, and an estimated 1.73 million vehicles were repossessed last year, the most since 2009.
- **Bankruptcy and Soaring Payments** [00:48] — Tricolor Holdings, a subprime auto lender, filed for bankruptcy last month, and average car payments are now about $750 a month, with many over $1,000.

## Transcript

It's official, guys. Americans are falling behind on their car payments, and it's a lot worse than you probably thought. Since the pandemic, sticker prices have surged across the auto market. Meanwhile, the incentives to buy vehicles have largely dried up.
For example, the federal EV tax credit ended on September 30th. Here's what happened. People are buying cars that they truly cannot afford by taking out longer loans. So instead of a standard 60-month term, it's now common to see a 72 or 84-month term.
And according to WSJ reporting, subprime auto loans 60 days or more overdue hit a record of over 6% this year. And an estimated 1.73 million vehicles were repossessed last year, the most since 2009, which should sound the alarm.
To make matters worse, Tricolor Holdings, a subprime auto lender, filed for bankruptcy last month. Average car payments are now about $750 a month, with a ton of them being over $1,000 a month.
And keep in mind, this is for some of the longest terms that we have seen historically. It's not just five years anymore. People are now commonly paying this for six to seven years. But let me know what you think about this in the comments.