Transportation
Car Debt Is Piling Up as More Americans Owe Thousands More Than Vehicles Are Worth
- Dealers worry record prices leading to negative-equity surge
- More consumers could be left without vehicle-financing options
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Chris Martin knew he needed a bigger car as the birth of his fourth child approached, but he and his wife were already $14,000 underwater on their two vehicles.
So the couple proposed an unusual two-for-one deal with an Atlanta-area auto dealer in 2020: trading in both of their vehicles so they could afford a three-row Ford Explorer. Their total loan after factoring in negative equity, a service contract, fees and other costs ballooned to $66,000 on the $49,000 Explorer.