How It Works
Consumer car finance new business volumes up by 2% in March 2022
Car Finance

Consumer car finance new business volumes up by 2% in March 2022

New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that the consumer car finance market reported new business volumes up in March 2022 by 2% compared with the same month in 2021. The corresponding value of new business grew by 8% over ...
Neil Thomason
May 2022
Consumer car finance new business volumes up by 2% in March 2022

New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that the consumer car finance market reported new business volumes up in March 2022 by 2% compared with the same month in 2021. The corresponding value of new business grew by 8% over the same period. In Q1 2022 as a whole, new business volumes were 18% higher than in the same quarter in 2021.

The consumer new car finance market reported a fall in new business of 6% by value and 8% by volume in March compared with the same month in 2021. In Q1 2022 overall, new business volumes in this market were 6% higher than in the same quarter in 2021.

The consumer used car finance market reported new business up 31% by value and 10% by volume in March compared with the same month in 2021. In Q1 2022 overall, new business volumes in this market were 26% higher than in the same quarter in 2021.

Table 1: Cars bought on finance by consumers through the point of sale
New businessMar 2022% change on prev. year3
months to Mar 2022
% change on prev. year12 months to Mar 2022% change on prev. year
New cars      
Value of advances (£m)2,554-64,635917,89219
Number of cars102,352-8188,3356748,33914
Used cars      
Value of advances (£m)2,195316,0114821,18235
Number of cars136,31510381,746261,439,45821
Total cars      
Value of advances (£m)4,749810,6462839,07527
Number of cars238,6672570,081182,187,79719
Table 2: Cars bought on finance by businesses
New businessMar 2022% change on prev.year3months to Mar 2022% change on prev. year12 months to Mar 2022% change on prev. year
New cars      
Number of cars30,521-567,056-4298,68517
Used cars      
Number of cars3,583-2318,6586055,9421

Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Director of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:

“The slowdown in growth reported by the consumer car finance market in March was primarily driven by the adverse impact of supply shortages in the new car market. The consumer used car finance market remained buoyant reaching new heights in March as monthly new business surpassed £2 billion for the first time.

“The UK economic outlook has weakened significantly because of the squeeze on household incomes and business profit margins from higher inflation. Pressure on household incomes this year and the ongoing vehicle supply issues mean the consumer car finance market is likely to record single-digit growth in the value of new business in 2022 overall.

“As always, any customer worried about meeting payments should speak to their lender as soon as possible to find a solution.”

In 2021, FLA members provided £132 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £45 billion of it supported the purchase of new and used cars, including almost 92% of private new car registrations

Check your Eligibility Rates from 12.9% APR. Representative APR 18.9%. We are a credit broker, not a lender. *a hard search will be performed if you decide to proceed