NEW YORK -

While Lightico’s latest consumer survey illustrated how leery potential buyers remain about going to a vehicle location to complete financing paperwork and take delivery, findings gathered by the facilitator of next-generation digital customer interactions showed rising confidence in being able to maintain payments.

Lightico discovered a 33% drop in the level of consumers concerned about making their monthly payments. Lightico’s survey in October indicated 91% of participants had that concern. When the firm conducted another survey in March, that level declined to 62%.

Lightico sought insights into that improvement, asking consumers about what they’re doing to handle their financial distress. Here are the results the firm uncovered, according to a report shared with Auto Fin Journal:

— 56% cut back on expenses

— 48% working extra hours

— 36% seek accommodations from their current finance company or additional credit

— 32% looking for a second job

Lightico looked deeper into how much consumers are trying to change the terms of their installment contract, and the firm found that volume is down dramatically. In October, 71% of consumers Lightico surveyed were trying this strategy. In March, the level dropped to just 31%.

For consumers more financially stable and looking to finance a vehicle acquisition, Lightico learned that the majority of respondents would rather not have the entire process happen physically at a dealership with just 36% stating that intention.

While 27% of respondents told Lightico they still might go back to a dealership if extra precautions were taken, another 27% of consumers want as much of the transaction completed remotely as possible.

Furthermore, 11% of survey participants told Lightico that they only would make a financed acquisition if it could be finalized and delivered completely remotely.

Lightico offered some details about the 1,202 consumers who participated in the March survey. They included:

Age breakdown
18-24 (61)
25-34 (459)
35-44 (373)
45-54 (178)
55-64 (101)
65 and older (30)

Annual household income breakdown
Less than $35,000 (189)
$36,000-$60,000 (407)
$61,000-$85,000 (294)
$86,000-$125,000 (195)
More than $128,000 (117)