The vehicle financing sector achieved its best performance in August in the last fifteen years in Brazil, despite high interest rates and consumers' committed income. However, simultaneously, the delinquency rate in individual financing reached the highest level recorded since 2012.
In August, 683,928 units were financed, representing a 10.4% increase compared to the same month in 2025. This volume is the largest for the period since 2011, when 729,672 vehicles received credit approval, according to data provided by Trillia, B3's data unit.
Considering the year-to-date accumulation until August, the total of new and used financed vehicles amounted to 5.136 million, which represents a 10% growth compared to the same period in 2025.
In monetary terms, banks made available R$ 173 billion for vehicle acquisition between January and July, according to Central Bank information. This amount exceeds the approximately R$ 150 billion recorded in the same interval in 2024 and 2025.
In July, it was found that 6.63% of financing granted to individuals had an overdue payment exceeding 90 days, marking the highest index since 2012. In the corporate segment, this percentage rose to 5.62%, the highest since 2016.
This scenario directly influences credit release. Cassio Pagliarini, partner at Bright consultancy, observed that financial institutions are adopting stricter criteria for granting loans to prevent another sharp increase in delinquency.
The current scenario differs significantly from that of 2012, a time when the reduction of IPI and the reduction of the Selic rate to 7.25% per year stimulated sales and simplified access to credit, causing delinquency to fall from 6% that year.
Additionally, there has been a considerable increase in the price of automobiles. In 2012, the Volkswagen Gol cost starting from R$ 27,990, a value that, corrected by the IPCA, currently equals R$ 57.5 thousand. Today, none of the best-selling models starts below R$ 90 thousand; specifically, the Volkswagen Polo, which leads among passenger cars, has an initial price starting from R$ 96,690.
At Santander, which leads in vehicle financing, delinquency rates remain stable after the bank tightened its credit analyses. The down payment requirement varies according to the client profile: it can be waived for payers with a good history or reach 20% or 30% of the vehicle's value for profiles considered higher risk.
Santander also points out that the rise of Chinese electric and hybrid vehicles, due to lower maintenance and refueling costs, helps reduce the impact of installments on the family budget.
On the other hand, at C6 Bank, the average requested down payment is 40% of the vehicle's value. Ricardo Bonzo, the bank's vehicle director, reported that delinquency is not restricted to a single social class, affecting clients from classes A to D.
The Move Brasil program has also contributed to raising demand for vehicles, although with a relatively low approval rate. Launched in June, this program offers special credit conditions for professionals such as delivery drivers, taxi drivers, ride-share drivers, and school bus drivers, allowing them to purchase new and used cars.
According to BNDES data, the program has already generated R$ 5.3 billion in sales, commercializing 51 thousand automobiles. The final approval of these vehicles depends on the credit assessment carried out by partner banks, as they assume the inherent risk of the operation.