Australia is a country of wide expanses, so for millions of Aussies, getting from A to B requires a set of wheels. As of 31 January 2025, over 22.3 million road vehicles were registered across all states and territories, according to the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE). That’s an increase of 2.6% compared to the total vehicle registrations recorded as of 31 January 2024.
There’s plenty of value and a vast range of insights that can be drawn from digging deep into the data. Savvy has compiled its own primary car finance data, as well as useful secondary sources, to gain a better understanding of where the car sales and loan industries currently sit in Australia.
Car loans in Australia
The value of new car loan commitments across Australia has risen rapidly each quarter since the second half of 2022, peaking at $4.919 billion in the September Quarter of 2025. This has mirrored the increase in both new and used car registrations over the past few years, with the 2,324,805 used cars sold in 2024 representing a 12.1% increase compared to the previous year, according to the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA).
As can be seen in both new and used car sales, though, demand has cooled somewhat in the past six to 12 months compared to the post-pandemic boom. AADA reported that while used car inventory soared by 31.2% in the first half of the year, sales only went up by 1.9% compared to the same period last year.
In terms of annual figures, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) revealed that Australian car sales reached an all-time high for the third straight year, with the 1,241,037 new car sales recorded shaving past 2024's total by 0.3%.
That came after a strong December where 101,513 new vehicles were registered, the second-best return for the final month of the year ever. According to FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber, the annual result shows how demand, while changing and diversifying, remains strong in Australia.
“Consumers are responding to a wide range of models that meet their needs, whether that is family transport, business use or recreation”, Mr Weber said.
Total registered motor vehicles by state/territory of registration
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 6,155,747 | 6,296,646 | 6,407,874 |
| VIC | 5,387,321 | 5,517,628 | 5,686,171 |
| QLD | 4,598,626 | 4,754,324 | 4,892,464 |
| SA | 1,552,356 | 1,594,847 | 1,632,496 |
| WA | 2,437,400 | 2,528,820 | 2,621,126 |
| TAS | 532,237 | 541,222 | 549,847 |
| NT | 166,059 | 168,680 | 170,989 |
| ACT | 331,438 | 337,878 | 344,380 |
| AUS | 21,161,184 | 21,740,045 | 22,305,347 |
| Source: Road Vehicles Australia – January 2025, Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics | |||
Most popular cars in Australia
As has been the case for decades now, Japanese automotive giant Toyota reigns supreme on the Australian car market. That much is certainly reflected in Savvy’s sales data from 2025, where more than one in eight cars sold through us were stamped with a Toyota badge.
When it comes to car models, utes dominated Savvy’s sales figures. The Ford Ranger was comfortably the most popular car financed through Savvy, as it was throughout Australia in 2025, while the Toyota HiLux, Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara and Isuzu Ute D-Max made up four of the next five most popular models.
Most popular new cars
Toyota ran away with the title of best-selling car manufacturer once again in 2025, tallying a touch under 240,000 registrations for the year. Its nearest competitor, Ford, sat more than 145,000 units adrift in second place. Notably, though, even Toyota failed to escape the downward trend in sales that affected most of the leading manufacturers this year, sustaining a 0.6% year-on-year drop in numbers.
After being behind at the halfway point of the year by around 9,000 units, Ford reeled in Mazda to claim silver for the second straight year, despite finishing behind 2024's numbers by 5.8%. The final podium finisher also saw a slump in sales, its final tally of 91,923 being 4.2% lower than last year's.
The biggest improver of the top ten wasBYD, which more than doubled its 2024 numbers (+156.2% vs 2024) to move into eighth overall. The Shark 6 only arrived on our shores this year, but the dual cab ute finished the year in the top 20 best-selling models. Meanwhile, the carmaker that finished less than 400 units ahead in seventh, GWM, was the only other brand that enjoyed growth in the double digits (23.4% vs 2024).
On the flip side, MG (-18.4%), Mitsubishi (-17.9%) and Isuzu Ute (-12.2%) have all seen notable drops in their YTD numbers.
Although not nearly as dominant this year compared to last (-9.6%), the Ford Ranger was once again the best-selling car model in Australia in 2025. Its 56,555 new registrations were enough to ease past Toyota's RAV4 (51,947, -11.5%) and HiLux (51,297, -4.1%) to take out gold.
Another Toyota model, the Prado, was the big mover in the model rankings, shooting up to sixth overall after not having been in the conversation last year (+166.3%). The Hyundai Kona (22,769, +31.1%) also enjoyed a strong year, while the Model Y from Tesla (22,239, +4.6%) rounded out the top ten as the best-selling electric model.
While there are familiar faces at the pointy end of Savvy’s 2025 new car sales figures, a surprise name pops out ahead of the rest: GWM. The Haval Jolion and H6 proved exceedingly popular among our customers last year, placing the Chinese manufacturer level with Toyota among all new cars financed. Fractionally behind them was another Chinese carmaker, Chery, with each accounting for over 10% of all new car sales in 2025.
The Ford Ranger reigned supreme among individual model sales, with the Jolion following behind in second place ahead of the Chery Tiggo 4, Isuzu Ute D-Max and Ford Everest. The HiLux, which finished behind only the Ranger and RAV4 in total new car sales in 2025, ended the year outside the top ten most popular models among Savvy customers.
With the 2025 Jolion starting from just $25,790, it’s in a cheaper price bracket than popular small SUV competitors like the Kia Seltos (from $30,050), Hyundai Kona (from $32,500), Mazda CX-30 (from $34,060). For the H6, which starts from $33,990, it’s the Hyundai Tucson (from $39,100), Mitsubishi Outlander (from $39,990) and Toyota RAV4 (from $42,260) that it compares favourably to from a financial perspective.
Most popular used cars
AADA has released used car sales figures for the first half of 2025, and it’s clear to see some of the same names popping up that we saw in the new car segment. Toyota still maintains a stranglehold on the pre-owned vehicle market, while the Ranger sits comfortably atop the charts for individual models.
However, Holden, which was shuttered at the beginning of 2021, remains a favourite among Aussies, remaining in eighth spot for used car makes so far this year. The Commodore is still king, and sat just outside the top ten most popular models, even with the final Holden-designed model having taken place back in 2017. Nissan and Volkswagen also appear in the top ten used car makes, despite not being in the same list for new cars.
Used car sales: dealership vs private
There has been a clear shift towards dealership sales this year, as seen in the graph above based on AADA statistics. In the first six months of 2023 and 2024, private sales made up 39.4% and 36.5% of all used car sales, respectively. That number has risen substantially to 46.7% in the first half of 2025.
In line with its national dominance, Toyota led all comers among used cars financed through Savvy in 2025. As was seen in the annual VFACTS data, Ford and Mazda were a distant second and third in this metric. However, the now-defunct Holden remains a very popular manufacturer in the used car market, selling enough to place itself seventh among all brands.
The best-selling used models financed through Savvy are dominated by utes, with the Ranger, HiLux, Triton and Navara all occupying places in the top five. Two other Toyota models in the LandCruiser and Corolla made the top ten, while the Holden Commodore also finished among the year's best-sellers.
New vs used cars
The average car loan taken out through Savvy in 2025 was $37,049.36. However, that figure is made up of both new and used car loans.
The average new car loan over this period was $52,332.49. Only 17.7% of all car loans approved through Savvy throughout last year were for new models, though, highlighting the popularity and availability of used models in the modern market. The average loan taken out for a used car over the same timeframe was $34,529.13.
It’s worth noting, though, that different vehicle ages attract different loan amounts. The following graph shows the average car loan size for different ages:
Between July 2024 and June 2025, VFACTS recorded 1,197,006 new car sales and AADA reported 2,346,215 used car sales. This means that 33.8% of all vehicle sales across the financial year were new and the remaining 66.2% were used during the last financial year.
Average vehicle age in Australia: 2023-25
The average age of all cars owned by drivers in Australia was 11.54 years as of the end of January 2025. However, the age breakdown of all cars by state and territory at the same stage over the past three years is as follows:
| Year | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| TAS | 13.22 | 13.47 | 13.67 |
| WA | 12.69 | 12.86 | 13.01 |
| SA | 12.11 | 12.27 | 12.38 |
| QLD | 11.49 | 11.63 | 11.76 |
| VIC | 11.03 | 11.18 | 11.33 |
| NSW | 10.44 | 10.60 | 10.74 |
| ACT | 10.48 | 10.62 | 10.71 |
| NT | 10.21 | 10.44 | 10.66 |
| Source: Road Vehicles Australia: January 2025, Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics | |||
What is the average car loan repayment in Australia?
According to the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), the average weekly car loan repayment across Australia in the September Quarter of 2025 was $216.29. However, breaking that down into averages by capital city shows that Perth had the highest average repayment at $219.47 and Brisbane had the lowest at $213.97.
The AAA’s modelling bases its car loan figures on a near-new vehicle financed with a variable rate car loan, but doesn’t disclose the loan amount or interest rate.
Working out the average car loan repayment in Australia is based on two key variables: the size of the loan and the interest rate. The following table shows what the average loan amounts were for different vehicle types and applicants through Savvy in 2025 and what their car loan repayments may look like:
| Type of car loan | Loan amount | Loan term | Interest rate | Monthly repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All car loans | $36,000 | 5 years | 13.25% p.a. | $824 |
| New car loans | $50,023 | 5 years | 10.47% p.a. | $1,074 |
| Used car loans | $32,072 | 5 years | 14.05% p.a. | $747 |
| Good credit car loans | $38,355 | 5 years | 9.68% p.a. | $809 |
| Bad credit car loans | $27,966 | 5 years | 19.25% p.a. | $729 |
| Interest rates based on average rate available for each profile type through Savvy during the 2024-25 financial year. These aren’t necessarily reflective of the rates you’ll receive on your car loan. Calculations are for illustrative purposes only and don’t include costs such as loan fees, motor vehicle duty or other government charges. | ||||
It’s worth noting that the RBA’s national cash rate sat at a 12–year high of 4.35% for the entirety of 2024 and was only decreased in February 2025. This means that the average rate data from the last financial year doesn’t reflect the rates that are currently available in a decreasing rate market, having dropped for the third time in 2025 to 3.60% after the August 2025 RBA meeting (where it remains as of January).
In reality, your car loan repayments will be based on a wide variety of factors, including your borrowing power, credit score, existing debts and assets, your record repaying similar loans and more. Credit score, in particular, will have a major say in the size and shape of your loan. The following data shows the average car loans approved through Savvy by credit score across 2025:
Are Australians keeping up with car loan repayments?
According to Equifax’s Quarterly Consumer Credit Report from the September Quarter of 2025, 2.90% of car loans are between 30 and 89 days past due (DPD) and 1.49% are 90 or more DPD, meaning almost 4.50% of all car loans have payments that are more than 30 days overdue.
The total value of these delinquencies has spiked by 24% between the September Quarter of 2024 and the same quarter this year, which speaks to a growing trend of increasing delinquency in the auto loans space. As cost-of-living pressures such as mortgage payments and other personal expenses and debts add up, it's clear that Aussies are finding it tougher to keep up.
Finder’s Consumer Sentiment Tracker found that car loans ranked as the third-most stressful expense to manage, albeit at only 5% of respondents. The expenses respondents ranked as the most stressful were groceries (39%) and rent/mortgage (37%) as of August 2025.
A car loan in arrears means there is at least some part of the loan outstanding after the payment date has passed.
Electric vehicle statistics in Australia
Electric vehicles have experienced something of a bumpy road when it comes to their sales in Australia. According to sales figures provided by the AAA, EVs rose from a low of 2,928 sales in the June Quarter of 2022 to a high of 25,552 in the June Quarter of 2023. Since then, they fell to just 17,901 in the March Quarter of 2025, before rebounding to an all-time high of 29,298 and 9.7% market share.
Hybrid vehicles have continued to gain momentum, reaching a record 49,929 registrations in the September Quarter of 2025. Those sales account for over 16.5% of the total cars sold across that period, the second-highest market share for hybrid vehicles after the same quarter in 2024 (16.7%).
The end-of-year electrified vehicle sales data from the FCAI and EVC also showed that this segment has gone from strength to strength in 2025. The 103,270 new battery electric vehicle registrations represent a record total for the third year running, beating out 2024's figures by 13.1%.
Hybrid vehicle sales also reached just under 200,000 for the year, eclipsing last year's total by 15.3%, while PHEVs continued their upward trajectory by doubling their registrations for the second year running. Only two years ago, new PHEV sales sat at just 11,572, but 2025 saw 53,484 models hit the road. This growth was spearheaded by BYD's Shark 6, which accounted for over 18,000 units on its own, and Sealion 6, which sold just over 9,000 models.
In terms of used electrified vehicles, each segment saw significant growth in the first half of 2025. 92.2% more used EVs were sold up to the end of June than over the same period in 2024, while PHEV sales went up by 96.2%. This growth is to be expected, as more people continue to buy into the electrified market and leases taken out during the first big wave of EV growth end. Used hybrid sales still went up by 42.8%, albeit from a much higher sales base.
It’s worth noting that not all carmakers report their full sales figures each month or quarter. Tesla is a prime example of this.
Best-selling new EV models: 2025
| Model | 2025 sales |
|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y | 22,239 |
| BYD Sealion 7 | 13,410 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 6,617 |
| Kia EV5 | 4,787 |
| Geely EX5 | 3,944 |
| BYD Atto 3 | 3,861 |
| BYD Seal | 3,784 |
| BYD Dolphin | 3,248 |
| MG 4 | 2,986 |
| Kia EV3 | 2,597 |
| Source: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and Electric Vehicle Council | |
How much do cars cost to run in Australia?
| Capital city | Transport costs per week ($) | Transport costs per week (% of income) |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $565.28 | 15.4% |
| Melbourne | $535.81 | 16.5% |
| Canberra | $481.28 | 15.1% |
| Perth | $479.42 | 15.9% |
| Capital ave. | $477.85 | 15.8% |
| Adelaide | $454.86 | 15.2% |
| Brisbane | $452.88 | 14.7% |
| Darwin | $430.92 | 15.5% |
| Hobart | $422.37 | 18.1% |
| Source: Transport Affordability Index, Australian Automobile Association. AAA’s transport cost calculations consist of car loan payments, fuel, insurance, tolls, public transport, registration, CTP and licencing, servicing and tyres and roadside assistance. All data correct as of Q3 2025. | ||
While Sydney and Melbourne residents face the highest weekly transport costs of any capital city in Australia by some distance ($565.28 and $535.81, respectively), it’s actually in Hobart where they take up the highest percentage of people’s income. As of the September Quarter of 2025, this sat at 18.1%, ahead of Melbourne (16.5%) and Perth (15.9%).
Brisbane went from being one of the most expensive places to pay for transport to one of the cheapest, thanks in large part to the Queensland Government slashing public transport fares to $0.50 in the second half of 2024. Transport costs peaked at 19.6% of total income in the June Quarter of 2024, before plummeting to 14.6% by the March 2025 Quarter (it sits at 14.7% in the September Quarter).
Car loans by age of borrower
Another interesting area of analysis is the age of car loan applicants throughout Australia. According to Savvy data from 2025, the average age of all approved car loan applicants was 36 years old, with a median age of 35 and mode (most common) age of 30.
Generation Y is the best-represented generation in Savvy’s data, borrowing the most on average and accounting for 42.5% of all loans approved in 2025. They were closely followed by Generation Z at 35.1% of all loans, while Generation X (19.8%) and Baby Boomers (2.7%) were further back.
Being a younger generation with the shortest time spent in the workforce, it makes sense that Generation Y and Z applicants would be more likely to need a car loan than someone from an older generation who’s spent more time building their wealth. This is especially the case as they approach an age where starting a family and buying a house are other big-ticket items.
That’s also why it’s understandable that Baby Boomers borrow the least and make up such a small percentage of Savvy’s approved car loan deals. Approaching retirement (if not already retired) and more likely to be asset-rich than younger generations, taking out a loan is less likely to be on their radar.
