• Caribou Financial’s 2026 survey of 2,000 U.S. auto-loan holders found most borrowers across age groups have never refinanced despite potential monthly savings, underscoring persistent price sensitivity in a $1.69 trillion U.S. auto-loan market.
• Payment stress skewed younger, with 35% of Gen Z respondents reporting they struggled to make an on-time car payment in the past year; 44% considered checking for a better rate but did not, including 26% who doubted they would qualify.
• Millennials showed the strongest refinancing intent, with 26% already checking and qualifying for a lower rate; 37% cited a lower monthly payment as the main trigger, signaling demand for cash-flow relief over rate optimization.
• Older cohorts showed lower engagement despite stronger credit, with 61% of Baby Boomers not considering checking for a better rate; 43% reported credit scores of 800-850, suggesting refinancing capacity that could help offset retirement budget pressure.
• Gen X appeared comparatively stable but potentially overconfident in existing terms, with only 19% checking for better options while 28% said they did not get the best deal at purchase, pointing to latent repricing risk as borrowers extend vehicle holding periods.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Caribou Financial Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief on May 19, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.