Figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer new car finance volumes fell by 3% in January compared with the same month in 2014, but remained 11% up in the 12 months to January.

The percentage of private new car sales financed through dealerships by FLA members reached a new high of 76.2% in the twelve months to January 2015.

Consumer used car finance volumes grew by 3% in January and by 12% in the twelve months to January 2015.

Geraldine Kilkelly, head of research and chief economist at the FLA, said: “Consumer new car finance volumes over the last twelve months grew at a faster rate than private new car sales, and so we saw a new record high for the market share of dealer car finance. 

“Despite the quiet start to 2015, we expect the consumer car finance market to grow in 2015 as a whole.”