Evidence confirms that U.S. auto debt exceeds credit card debt, with auto loan balances reaching $1.68 trillion as of early 2026, compared to $1.28 trillion in outstanding credit card balances.
- Magnitude: Auto debt is now on par with federal student loan debt ($1.69 trillion) and significantly larger than the credit card category.
- Growth Drivers: The surge is attributed to rising vehicle prices (new cars averaging nearly $50,000) and higher interest rates, which have pushed average monthly payments up to $680, a nearly 40% increase since 2018.
- Prevalence: Roughly one in four Americans (86 million people) carry outstanding auto loan or lease debt, contributing to this record-high liability.
Tracking consumer debt in the Unites States is much more accurate when looking at credit reporting agencies. Experian occasionally produces reports on consumer debt, here is a sample:
Almost $19 Trillion in consumer debt as of last year. Staggering.
