Car loans have gone from the safest consumer credit products to among the riskiest over the last 15 years as delinquencies rose more than 50%, driven by soaring car prices and rising interest rates, a new study shows.

Consumers across all income categories are struggling to make monthly car payments, according to VantageScore, a credit-scoring company.

Auto loans were once a safe haven, with drivers prioritizing payments on their transportation above other debts. But delinquencies on car loans, defined as 60 days or more past due, jumped 51.5% from the first quarter of 2010 through the first quarter of 2025. The opposite is true for credit cards, personal loans and most other forms of consumer credit.

The study found that 1.6% of total auto loans were 60 days or more past due as of July

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