Consumer car finance new business fell 2% in November

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer car finance new business volumes fell in November 2024 by 2% compared with the same month in 2023.

The corresponding value of new business grew by 4% over the same period. In the eleven months to November 2024, new business was 2% lower by volume compared with the same period in 2023.

The consumer new car finance market reported new business by value in November 12% higher than in the same month in 2023, while new business volumes grew by 6%.  In the eleven months to November 2024, new business volumes in this market were 3% lower than in the same period in 2023.

The consumer used car finance market reported a fall in the value of new business in November of 2% compared with the same month in 2023, while new business volumes decreased by 5%.  In the eleven months to November 2024, new business volumes in this market were 1% lower than in the same period in 2023.

“The consumer new car finance sector returned a relatively strong growth performance which was offset by a single-digit contraction in the consumer used car finance sector. 

“We expect FLA consumer car finance new business to reach £38.9 billion in 2024, a similar level to 2023. The outlook for 2025 remains challenging. Despite the lower inflation and interest rate environment, continued pressure on real disposable incomes has hit consumer confidence and consumer spending. FLA’s latest industry outlook survey suggested that over 40% of motor finance respondents expected some increase in new business over the next year.”

Table 1: Cars bought on finance by consumers through the point of sale
New business	Nov 2024	%  change on prev. year	3 months to Nov 2024	% change on prev. year	12 months to Nov 2024	% change on prev. year
New cars
Value of advances (£m)	1,449	12	5,407	10	17,550	4
Number of cars	49,250	6	188,667	4	624,928	-3
Used cars
Value of advances (£m)	1,584	-2	5,163	-1	21,317	-3
Number of cars	104,270	-5	344,664	-1	1,442,384	-1
Total cars
Value of advances (£m)	3,034	4	10,570	4	38,867	0
Number of cars	153,520	-2	533,331	0	2,067,312	-2
Table 2: Cars bought on finance by businesses
New business	Nov 2024	%  change on prev. year	3 months to Nov 2024	% change on prev. year	12 months to Nov 2024	% change on prev. year
New cars
Number of cars	30,427	-8	94,669	-7	355,079	-4
Used cars
Number of cars	3,843	-32	12,094	-26	56,994	-6