TransUnion: National Auto Loan Delinquency Rate Hits New Record Low for Second Consecutive Quarter

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - Aug 21, 2012) - For the second consecutive quarter, the national auto loan delinquency rate (the ratio of borrowers 60 or more days past due) hit its lowest level since TransUnion began tracking the data in 1999. Auto loan delinquency rates in Q2 2012 dropped to 0.33%, down from 0.36% Q1 2012. On a year-over-year basis, auto loan delinquencies declined 25% from 0.44% in Q2 2011. This information is reported by TransUnion and is part of its ongoing series of quarterly analyses of credit-active U.S. consumers and how they are managing credit related to mortgages, credit cards and auto loans.

"It's not surprising that auto loan delinquencies remain at record low levels," said Peter Turek, automotive vice president in TransUnion's financial services business unit. "A recent TransUnion study found that consumers now value their auto loans more than their credit cards and mortgages. This is partly due to the need for transportation to get to work or to seek employment in a difficult job market. Additionally, consumers with car loans have more equity in their vehicle than they have in the recent past because of the strong used car vehicle market. Consumers want to keep their auto loan relationships in good standing."

In addition to increased demand in new and used autos, bank auto debt per borrower has risen nearly 6% from $12,689 in Q2 2011 to $13,427 in Q2 2012. Despite growing bank auto debt, the majority of states and cities are experiencing declines in their auto loan delinquency rates.

Between Q1 2012 and Q2 2012, 37 states experienced declines in their auto delinquency rates. On a more granular level, 58% of metropolitan areas saw decreases in their auto delinquency rates in Q2 2012. This is down from the prior period where 66% of MSAs experienced decreases.

"It's impressive to see auto loan delinquencies remain so low despite a growing proportion of new loans going to non-prime consumers," added Turek.

In Q2 2012 on a year-over-year basis, the percentage of new auto loans to non-prime borrowers (with a VantageScore® credit score lower than 700 on a scale of 501-990) increased by 9%. In the last two years (between Q2 2010 and Q2 2012), the percentage of new auto loans to non-prime borrowers has increased more than 20%.

"With the increase in non-prime borrowing, we do anticipate that auto loan delinquencies will begin to increase," said Turek. "We are at such a low auto loan delinquency level -- far from normal standards -- that a slight rise through the end of the year should be expected, though the overall rate will likely remain relatively low."

TransUnion's forecast is based on various economic assumptions, such as unemployment rates, consumer sentiment, disposable income, and interest rates. The forecast changes as the economy deviates from a conservative forecast or if there are unanticipated shocks to the economy affecting recovery.

Q2 2012 Bank Auto Statistics - Delinquency Rates

Quarter over Quarter			Q1 2012			Q2 2012			Pct. Change
	USA		0.36	%		0.33	%		(8.33	%)
Year over year			Q2 2011			Q2 2012			Pct. Change
	USA		0.44	%		0.33	%		(25.00	%)

Highest Bank Auto Delinquency States		Q2 2012
	Louisiana	0.60	%
	Mississippi	0.60	%
	Oklahoma	0.55	%
Bank Auto Delinquency in Key States		Q2 2012
	California	0.37	%
	Florida	0.41	%
	Illinois	0.39	%
	Michigan	0.21	%
	New York	0.30	%
	Texas	0.36	%

Top 3 Year-over-Year Increases			Q2 2011			Q2 2012			Pct. Change
	Delaware		0.31	%		0.45	%		45.16	%
	Idaho		0.19	%		0.26	%		36.84	%
	Montana		0.24	%		0.25	%		4.17	%

Q2 2012 Bank Auto Statistics - Bank Auto Debt Per Borrower

Quarter over Quarter			Q1 2012			Q2 2012			Pct. Change
	USA		$	13,272		$	13,427		1.17	%
Year over Year				Q2 2011			Q2 2012		Pct. Change
	USA		$	12,689		$	13,427		5.82	%

Highest Bank Auto Debt Per Borrower			Q2 2012
	Texas		$	15,232
	Louisiana		$	14,973
	Alabama		$	14,960
Lowest Bank Auto Debt Per Borrower				Q2 2012
	Nebraska		$	11,614
	Ohio		$	11,965
	Kansas		$	12,154

Top 3 Year-over-Year Increases			Q2 2011			Q2 2012			Pct. Change
	Oregon		$	11,788		$	13,094		11.07	%
	Louisiana		$	13,662		$	14,973		9.60	%
	Idaho		$	11,382		$	12,471		9.57	%
Top 3 Year-over-Year Declines				Q2 2011			Q2 2012		Pct. Change
	New Jersey		$	13,953		$	13,888		(0.46	%)
	Hawaii		$	14,658		$	14,615		(0.29	%)

Note: Only two states experienced year-over-year declines

Supporting Resources/Links
TransUnion Trend Data Interactive U.S. Map
TransUnion 1Q11 Auto Statistics
TransUnion Mortgage Loan Modification Study
TransUnion Payment Hierarchy Study
TransUnion Deleveraging Analysis
TransUnion Life After Foreclosure Study
TransUnion on Twitter

TransUnion's Trend Data database
The report is part of an ongoing series of quarterly consumer lending sector analyses focusing on credit card, bank auto loan and bank auto data available on TransUnion's Web site. Information for this analysis is culled from TransUnion's Trend Data and the anonymous credit files of approximately 10 percent of credit-active U.S. consumers, providing a real-life perspective on how they are managing their credit health.

TransUnion's Trend Data, a one-of-a-kind database consisting of 27 million anonymous consumer records randomly sampled every quarter from TransUnion's national consumer credit database. Each record contains more than 200 credit variables that illustrate consumer credit usage and performance. Since 1992, TransUnion has been aggregating this information at the county, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), state and national levels.

About TransUnion
As a global leader in information and risk management, TransUnion creates advantages for millions of people around the world by gathering, analyzing and delivering information. For businesses, TransUnion helps improve efficiency, manage risk, reduce costs and increase revenue by delivering high quality data, and integrating advanced analytics and enhanced decision-making capabilities. For consumers, TransUnion provides the tools, resources and education to help manage their credit health and achieve their financial goals. Through these and other efforts, TransUnion is working to build stronger economies worldwide. Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Chicago, TransUnion reaches businesses and consumers in 32 countries around the world. www.transunion.com/business