SCHAUMBURG — Experian Automotive announced that the automotive loan market showed continued improvement, with interest rates for new- and used-vehicle loans reaching the lowest levels since 2008, according to its quarterly automotive credit analysis.

In the fourth quarter 2011, average credit scores for new- and used-vehicle loans dropped, the percentage of loans to customers with nonprime, subprime or deep subprime credit scores increased, and lenders increased their willingness to make loans between six and seven years long, according to Experian.

“The improved automotive lending market is good news for consumers in the market to buy a vehicle,” said Melinda Zabritski, director of automotive lending at Experian Automotive. “The confluence of low interest rates, longer loan terms and an increase in loans outside of prime provide a great opportunity for more people to find a vehicle that suits their needs.”

Consumers continued to do a better job of repaying loans in the end-of-year quarter as loan delinquencies fell. The 30-day delinquency rate fell 6.57 percent from the year-ago quarter to 2.79 percent. The 60-day delinquency rate also fell by 9.51 percent from 0.79 percent in the fourth quarter 2010 to 0.72 percent in the last quarter of 2011.

Another positive sign for the lending market is that the overall dollar volume of loans at risk dropped to $18.5 billion, a $1.862 billion drop from the fourth quarter 2010. Meanwhile, the total volume of open loans rose by $23.9 billion in the fourth quarter last year to $658 billion.

“Lenders are clearly on much more solid ground than they were two or three years ago,” Zabritski said. “With delinquencies and total dollar volume at risk down, lenders have been able to adopt more aggressive strategies. This tends to benefit everyone, from lenders to automotive retailers to the end consumer. With more lenders aggressively competing for business, it’s a great time for consumers to buy or finance a vehicle.”

Average interest rates for new-vehicle loans fell to 4.52 percent from the year-ago quarter. Average interest rates for used vehicle loans fell also to 8.68 percent from 8.71 percent in the fourth quarter 2010.

Average credit scores for new-vehicle loans dropped six points to 761, while average credit scores for used-vehicle loans dropped nine points to 670. New-vehicle loans to nonprime, subprime and deep subprime customers increased by 13.8 percent from a year ago.

Loans of 73 to 84 months accounted for 14.1 percent of all new-vehicle loans and 9.04 percent of all used-vehicle loans, up 47.1 percent and 41.1 percent from the fourth quarter 2010, respectively.

TORRANCE —The captives for Toyota and Lexus are now offering special APRs and rebates to qualified military personnel and inactive reserves through participating dealers.

“In appreciation for all that they have done, and continue to do, we hope these rebates and special APRs make it a bit easier for our men and women in uniform who are in the market for a new vehicle,” said Mike Groff, group vice president of sales, marketing and product development for Toyota and Lexus financial services.

“We understand that it’s certainly a tough economic time right now for many military families, so it’s our hope that these special APRS and rebates, which can be coupled with other incentives, will help our troops save some much-needed and hard-earned money.”

In recognition of their service, qualified Toyota buyers under the Welcome Home Special APR Program can receive a 1.9 percent APR for up to 60 months when financing any new 2011 or 2012 Toyota vehicle through a participating Toyota dealer and TFS, according to the company. A $500 military rebate also may be used in conjunction with the special APR, reported F&I and Showroom magazine.

Lexus buyers who qualify under the Welcome Home Special APR Program can receive a 0.9 percent APR for up to 60 months on new 2011 or 2012 ES and IS (includes all sedans, Convertible and IS F) and 2012 RX350 vehicles, or 1.9 percent APR for up to 60 months on any other new Lexus vehicle when financing through a participating Lexus dealer and LFS, according to the company.

A $750 military rebate also may be used in conjunction with the special APRs.

VIENNA – Navy Federal Credit Union announced that it has lowered its 36-month new auto loan rate to an APR as low as 1.79 percent.

“We believe this is the lowest rate being offered by any bank or credit union in the nation today,” said Tony Gallardy, vice president of consumer and credit card lending.

Navy Federal reported strong auto lending growth in the past several months, driven by its 1.99 percent new auto rate for loans up to 60 months, according to the company. The credit union plans to maintain this rate, along with the new 1.79 percent APR rate for 36 months, reported F&I and Showroom magazine.

Navy Federal also announced that it will continue to offer a $100 bonus for members who choose to refinance their new-car loans from other financial institutions with Navy Federal.

“We are very excited to offer this unprecedented low rate to members at the start of the fall car-buying season,” Gallardy said. “With a lot of good deals in the market, this is a great time to get a new car or truck.”

Borrowing among U.S. consumers fell for the fourth straight month in May, dipping by 4.5 percent, according to the Federal Reserve.

The biggest decline was seen in the revolving credit category, which mainly consists of credit card debt. From April to May, the category fell at an annual rate of 10.5 percent. Since March, the category has dropped by $15.7 billion.

Borrowing in the nonrevolving credit category, composed mostly of auto loans, fell for the second month in a row in May, this time at an annual rate of 1.4 percent, or $1.8 billion. Since March, nonrevolving credit has fallen by $18.3 billion.

Interest rates on new-vehicle loans remained stable at 4.13 percent in May, but are still below the first quarter average of 4.31 percent.

Loan terms mirrored the first quarter average, increasing slightly from 62.6 months in April to 62.9 months in May.

The loan-to-value ratio on new-car loans reached 87 percent in May, a slight decrease from the 88 percent recorded in April and below the first quarter average of 89 percent.

Amount financed increased to $27,886 in May, up $89 from the $27,797 recorded in April. The increase snaps the four-month decline in this segment, but is still below the first-quarter average of $28,444.

Consumer credit increased at an annual rate of 0.5 percent in April, according to the Federal Reserve’s monthly report.

Non-revolving credit, which includes auto loans, rose at an annual rate of 7.1 percent in April. Revolving credit continued its month to month decline and fell at an annual rate of 12 percent.

Interest rates on new-vehicle loans continued to drop and reached 4.13 percent in April, down from 4.28 percent in March, but still higher than 3.94 percent in January.

Loan terms remained stable month to month at 62.8 months in April. This was slightly above the 62.5 months recorded in February and down from the 63.5 months posted in January.

The loan-to-value ratio on new-car loans remained steady month to month at 88 percent in April, but was down from 89 percent in February and 90 percent in January.

Amount financed also fell for the fourth-consecutive month to $27,797 in April, down from $27,912 in March. The amount financed in April was $243 less than the $28,040 recorded in February, and $1,582 less than the $29,379 posted in January.