For years, the car market’s affordability problem showed up quietly — slightly longer loan terms here, a slightly higher payment there. And then in 2025, it finally became impossible to ignore. The average monthly payment on a new car now sits north of an eye-watering $750, and lenders are stretching loan terms to eight, nine, or even 10 years just to make payments feel manageable. Here's what to know. How cars got so expensive The root cause of the rise in car prices is simple to understand. Since 20 ...