Americans and Car Debt

[TCHB]

I like data and find it interesting the average car payment is $700!

Average Car Payment and Auto Loan Statistics: 2025 | LendingTree

The average car payment for new vehicles was $737 per month in the third quarter of 2024, up 0.7% from Q3 2023.

www.lendingtree.com

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I hear the soapboxes being set up.

 

[sintax]

I just hear the soapboxes being set up.

Hold onto your hat!

 

[brgrcru]

Never !

 

[bonesfab]

Curious what the average health care payment is a month?? You can have health insurance or a new car.. Crazy part on that is registration and insurance on top of it. No thank you,

 

[Mr. C]

I like data and find it interesting the average car payment is $700!

Average Car Payment and Auto Loan Statistics: 2025 | LendingTree

The average car payment for new vehicles was $737 per month in the third quarter of 2024, up 0.7% from Q3 2023.

www.lendingtree.com

Baffles me people can afford this.
But hey. They’re lease deals out there. 5800 down. 876 a month. 12k miles a year. And people do it. SMH

 

[FROGMAN524]

Everyone wants a V6 Raptor F one fiddy for 90 Gs. Come on man!

 

[Shlbyntro]

my payment on the 69 is $840, but thats a dream car.

I could never justify that kind of money for a run of the mill new car. Maybe a truck if I were working it heavily but it would still be a hard pill to swallow!

 

[HCP3]

Cash only. Zero debt.

 

[DRYHEAT]

Definitely some telling statistics.

 

[DRYHEAT]

my payment on the 69 is $840, but thats a dream car.

I could never justify that kind of money for a run of the mill new car. Maybe a truck if I were working it heavily but it would still be a hard pill to swallow!

I think that’s the only way I would ever go into debt or make payments on a car is if it was some type of a dream car/once in a lifetime deal.

And I wish I still had my 70.

 

[Done-it-again]

This ain’t the late 90’s anymore. If you can’t believe average car payments are $700 you must live under a rock. Or you haven’t shopped for a car in 15 yrs.

 

[bonesfab]

It really is just staggering when you think about it. Normal family.. Mortgage, two car payments, all the different insurances, food, gas, child care, How the fuck do these people afford it. My god, I cringe thinking about it.

 

[DRYHEAT]

This ain’t the late 90’s anymore. If you can’t believe average car payments are $700 you must live under a rock. Or you haven’t shopped for a car in 15 yrs.

Actually, I do live under a rock haven’t shopped for a car since 2001.

 

[Done-it-again]

But hay no one talks about paying. $150-200 a month for a new iPhone.

 

[Riverbottom]

It seems crazy, I have never had a mortgage over $700 except for commercial property. Bought my wife a new Tahoe two years ago and the dealer would not let us pay cash. They are all about selling paper. Gave them 50K down, and had to sign a contract that we would not pay off the balance for 90 days. Sent the balance on day 89. When I was young cars and status were important, now they are just a means to get from point A to B. Getting older, starting to sound like my dad.

 

[BIGRED9158]

It really is just staggering when you think about it. Normal family.. Mortgage, two car payments, all the different insurances, food, gas, child care, How the fuck do these people afford it. My god, I cringe thinking about it.

Someone has to be good at blow jobs that’s the way I look at it

 

[Done-it-again]

Actually, I do live under a rock haven’t shopped for a car since 2001.

Just paid off the 17’ super duty platinum last month. Just over a grand/month. Wish payments were $700 lol

 

[bonesfab]

Someone has to be good at blow jobs that’s the way I look at it

Or a good Only fans page it seems.

 

[adam909]

Everyone wants a V6 Raptor F one fiddy for 90 Gs. Come on man!

well ya the three yellow lights up front look dope and make it worth paying over msrp for..

 

[SkyDirtWaterguy]

But hay no one talks about paying. $150-200 a month for a new iPhone.

Or $6 for a16oz Latte at Starbucks! But Whine all day long about $6 dollars for a gallon of gas.

 

[WhatExit?]

No one‘s talking about it but wait until there’s no more serviceability on vehicles as the hoods wont be able to be opened except by the dealerships. Everything is changing and big car payments is just another step before the changes come to the car and electric vehicle market including vehicle sharing and taxes on each mile you drive your EV

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Must be nice to be able to pop $50k+ cash down on a vehicle as is the RDP way. I'd love to hear how the experts suggest building a large enough cash reserve in today's economy when you have to pay current mortgage/rent, insurances, cell, utilities, food for a family, etc.

Extra bonus.... throw in some family medical issues on top of that since they are pretty common place now-a-days.

 

[Mr. C]

Must be nice to be able to pop $50k+ cash down on a vehicle as is the RDP way. I'd love to hear how the experts suggest building a large enough cash reserve in today's economy when you have to pay current mortgage/rent, insurances, cell, utilities, food for a family, etc.

Extra bonus.... throw in some family medical issues on top of that since they are pretty common place now-a-days.

I’d like to hear it also. I think comes with a minimum of 350k plus annual income.

 

[TCHB]

It seems crazy, I have never had a mortgage over $700 except for commercial property. Bought my wife a new Tahoe two years ago and the dealer would not let us pay cash. They are all about selling paper. Gave them 50K down, and had to sign a contract that we would not pay off the balance for 90 days. Sent the balance on day 89. When I was young cars and status were important, now they are just a means to get from point A to B. Getting older, starting to sound like my dad.

I am the same way about cars now. Just a tool that gets old.

 

[DRYHEAT]

No one‘s talking about it but wait until there’s no more serviceability on vehicles as the hoods wont be able to be opened except by the dealerships. Everything is changing and big car payments is just another step before the changes come to the car and electric vehicle market including vehicle sharing and taxes on each mile you drive your EV

Only thing I’m worried about is learning how to refine my own gasoline before it disappears completely and my junk won’t run.

 

[Done-it-again]

Must be nice to be able to pop $50k+ cash down on a vehicle as is the RDP way. I'd love to hear how the experts suggest building a large enough cash reserve in today's economy when you have to pay current mortgage/rent, insurances, cell, utilities, food for a family, etc.

Extra bonus.... throw in some family medical issues on top of that since they are pretty common place now-a-days.

Don’t forget some of it could be from family money, as a passing parent(s)

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

It really is just staggering when you think about it. Normal family.. Mortgage, two car payments, all the different insurances, food, gas, child care, How the fuck do these people afford it. My god, I cringe thinking about it.

It’s simple math, they just pay it along with their other payments. Maybe they don’t save anything, that is their deal.

Look at all the folks here who must drive a diesel F450 with heated/cooled/massaging seats, a 42” screen, panoramic roof on 37” tires to launch a jet ski 4 times a year.

Or buy a $60k-$100k Tesla to save money on gas.

Regardless if you finance or pay cash that is a large outlay on a aggressively depreciating asset. People are free to drive whatever they want, and they want to drive larger, more expensive vehicles.

And then most of us own boats……

 

[wallnutz]

It really is just staggering when you think about it. Normal family.. Mortgage, two car payments, all the different insurances, food, gas, child care, How the fuck do these people afford it. My god, I cringe thinking about it.

Consumer debt has to be at an all time high. You hardly ever see anyone pay cash it all goes on a card to pay later with interest.

 

[25Elmn8r]

Haven't had car payments for a few years and when we had them, the largest was about $400. My son keeps trying to get me to buy a new truck but I can't justify these crazy payments for a truck that gets driven a few times a month. It just doesn't make financial sense for me.
Thankfully my wife says she still loves her 2014 Edge sport, but I have a feeling she's going to want something newer soon.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Someone has to be good at blow jobs that’s the way I look at it

Blowjobs didnt earn you a brand new baby boy! just saying

I was glad to read everybody is out of the woods btw

 

[H20 Toie]

Well i guess that means i'm above average

 

[Mr. C]

Well i guess that means i'm above average

Shit Dan. Your boat cost more than my annual income a couple years over. . Ya I’m a little jealous.

 

[Taboma]

Everyone wants a V6 Raptor F one fiddy for 90 Gs. Come on man!

I bought mine using my kid's inheritance, and by golly I deserved it. They're really going to shit when I pull up in the new V8 R version

 

[lbhsbz]

Must be nice to be able to pop $50k+ cash down on a vehicle as is the RDP way. I'd love to hear how the experts suggest building a large enough cash reserve in today's economy when you have to pay current mortgage/rent, insurances, cell, utilities, food for a family, etc.

Extra bonus.... throw in some family medical issues on top of that since they are pretty common place now-a-days.

Quit yore job….worked for me. Lol.

When I was in my early 20s I bought ‘99 Z28 that came into my dealer on trade. My payment was $287/month. In 2005, I bought a new Tacoma x-runner with $1 down…my payment was 338/month.

I could buy a burger and fries for under $4. A gallon of latex paint was $12. I was making about $16/hr at the time….and wondered how I’d ever be able to buy more than lunch, gas, and insurance.

Then I turned 40 and realized I still had similar questions. So I fixed it.

 

[TimeBandit]

NOT paying crazy high car payments, or iPhone payments is how you save money and build wealth.

If you are making payments, you don't own it, it owns you.

 

[BIGRED9158]

Blowjobs didnt earn you a brand new baby boy! just saying

I was glad to read everybody is out of the woods btw

Blowjobs didnt earn you a brand new baby boy! just saying

I was glad to read everybody is out of the woods btw

Fuck all I wanted was a back rub lol

 

[Sportin' Wood]

What is the average age of people on this forum? I assume few on here are juggling the cost of maintaining a family. Most of us are men. I bet some of you pay much more to your multiple ex-wives than the average car payment.

It baffles my mind how RDP thinks it has a handle on the average American's financial position.

 

[NicPaus]

Loaded diesel truck $12-1500 a month unless you put 20k plus down.

What's worse my Ladies cable TV bill plus internet is $280 a month. Several of my River neighbors pay $240. They only go to the river 6 times a year. So $480 to watch TV and have internet for the weekend. I pay $60 for internet which I barely use but She wants it.

 

[ChrisV]

Too man ballers in here

 

[bonesfab]

Yea I didn't get into Vaginamony or child support.

 

[baja-chris]

Your average american does not have one or more performance boats!

 

[Icky]

Even if you put 30k down on a 90k truck you're still almost $900 a month

 

[Mr. C]

What is the average age of people on this forum? I assume few on here are juggling the cost of maintaining a family. Most of us are men. I bet some of you pay much more to your multiple ex-wives than the average car payment.

It baffles my mind how RDP thinks it has a handle on the average American's financial position.

I’d agree with average RDP person is probably better off than most Americans. Some of us though are still on our first wife’s lol. . Won’t say juggling but have a tight handle on expenses. Finally have two of the three cars paid off.
Age wise. I bet it is more between 45-60. With a close second going on 55-70. Yes a lot of newcomers might push that to the early 30’s

 

[hallett21]

What is the average age of people on this forum? I assume few on here are juggling the cost of maintaining a family. Most of us are men. I bet some of you pay much more to your multiple ex-wives than the average car payment.

It baffles my mind how RDP thinks it has a handle on the average American's financial position.

31 checking in here.

Not directed at @Sportin' Wood but.

I don’t understand paying 50k plus in cash. Why tie up the liquidity? I’d rather the bank own the deprecating asset than me.

And yes the interest over 5 years is worth it to me. Even if you take the write off out of the equation.

 

[Mr. C]

Even if you put 30k down on a 90k truck you're still almost $900 a month

I guess to me I don’t need that new truck. Plenty out there that have been well taken care of and had the depreciation already hit.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Even if you put 30k down on a 90k truck you're still almost $900 a month

This. And a $50k truck powered by gasoline with cloth seats is not allowed here.

 

[bonesfab]

I guess to me I don’t need that new truck. Plenty out there that have been well taken care of and had the depreciation already hit.

And hopefully the bugs worked out..

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

31 checking in here.

Not directed at @Sportin' Wood but.

I don’t understand paying 50k plus in cash. Why tie up the liquidity? I’d rather the bank own the deprecating asset than me.

And yes the interest over 5 years is worth it to me. Even if you take the write off out of the equation.

This is a legitimate argument, and I don’t have any car payments.

 

[hallett21]

100k loan with 5 grand down. This includes 7% sales tax.

11,800 for 5 years, or 2,360 a year seems cheap to keep 100k liquid.