Car loans in Russia have become longer by almost 20 percent
The average term of car loans in Russia over the year has increased by almost 18% and has come close to six years: banks are stretching loans to maintain the payment burden, and drivers are trying to hold out for the desired car, increasingly including a Chinese one.
Car loans extended to six years
In February 2026, the average term of a car loan in Russia was 5.98 years, that is, very close to six years - this is the maximum since the beginning of 2024. Over the year, the figure increased by 17.9%: in February 2025 it was at the level of 5.07, and it has been growing for the tenth month in a row.
Compared to January 2026, when the average term was 5.93 years, loans became longer by another 0.9%, which confirms the steady trend of lengthening loans for both new and used cars. Against this background, drivers choosing Chinese passenger cars with a higher price tag and rich equipment are increasingly relying on long-term credit programs.
Where do you get the longest and shortest car loans
The longest car loans are issued in Krasnodar Territory (6.52 years), Stavropol Territory (6.48 years) and Tyumen Region (6.33 years) - here the average term confidently exceeds six and a half years. In contrast, the shortest loans remain in Moscow (5.37 years), St. Petersburg (5.55 years) and Moscow region (5.63 years), where income levels and down payments are traditionally higher.
At the same time, in a number of regions the time period lengthened especially sharply: in Chuvashia, St. Petersburg and the Belgorod region the annual growth reached 23.4–24.3%, in Moscow - 20.8%. This suggests that even in economically strong regions, the population is increasingly choosing longer car loans in order to meet a comfortable payment, including when purchasing well-equipped Chinese crossovers and sedans.
Why do banks extend loans and what does PDN have to do with it
According to NBKI Director of Marketing Alexey Volkov, increasing the terms of car loans allows banks to control the debt burden ratio (PDI) of borrowers - keeping it not higher than 50% by reducing the monthly payment. For many clients, it is the size of the monthly payment that becomes the key factor, especially when it comes to purchasing relatively expensive Chinese passenger cars with rich basic equipment.
In fact, the market has moved to a model where almost a six-year term has become the new norm, and rising car prices are compensated not so much by the rate, but by extending the payment horizon. On the one hand, this helps maintain demand for new cars, on the other hand, it increases the overall debt burden of households and increases the cost of owning a car at a distance.
Forecast: more loans against the backdrop of expensive cars
By the end of 2026, market participants expect car lending to grow by 15–17%, attributing a possible recovery primarily to a reduction in the key rate and some improvement in loan conditions. At the same time, experts point to two serious limiting factors: the debt burden of the population and a further increase in car prices due to changes in the tax burden and rising prices for imported components.
In these conditions, Chinese passenger cars are playing an increasingly important role, which often offer more options for the same money and make it psychologically easier for the buyer to accept the idea of a long-term car loan - almost six years or more. For banks, the combination of “long term plus a relatively affordable car” remains one of the key tools to support sales without going beyond the safe level of debt load.
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11 июня 2026
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