The April 2026 survey revisits questions last asked in 2023. Plans to buy a new or used vehicle in the next three months are 7 percentage points lower than three years ago, with the steepest declines concentrated among younger respondents. Among those who do not plan to buy a vehicle, one-third report that it is because they cannot afford one. Ownership costs also weigh on current vehicle owners. Over 20 percent of vehicle owners report that auto insurance and fuel costs are significant financial burdens. For respondents who typically struggle to pay their monthly bills, this figure rises to 50 percent.

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