DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 7, 2026--
Millions of car owners are caught in a double bind. Many didn’t get a good deal when they first bought their car. Nearly half (44%) felt pressured during the original financing process. Now, those same borrowers are absorbing the full force of inflation, high gas prices, and rising everyday costs with a loan that was never revisited. Caribou’s 2026 Car Loan Sentiment Survey* captures the scope of this squeeze—and finds that most borrowers have never even checked whether they could be paying less.
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Key findings from Caribou’s survey of 2,000 consumers with car loans reveals how Americans view their car payments and the role it plays in their household budgets:
The financing process left many borrowers uneasy
A car often represents the second-largest monthly expense behind housing, yet the buying experience often leaves drivers feeling rushed or uncertain. The survey finds that a significant share of drivers walked away from the dealership doubting the terms they accepted.
Affordability is a growing problem
The sticker shock didn’t end at the dealership. Today, Americans juggle affordability challenges that have turned car payments into one of the most difficult line items in household budgets.
Monthly savings would be a lifeline, not a luxury
When asked what lower monthly payments would actually mean for their households, borrowers weren’t describing vacations or splurges. For most people, financial breathing room would go straight toward stability and survival.
Refinancing is an overlooked option most drivers haven’t tried
Despite widespread financial strain, most borrowers have never shopped for a better rate on their existing loan.
"Most car owners we surveyed are carrying real financial stress, and many of them are sitting on a loan they've never questioned,” says Simon Goodall, CEO of Caribou. “That's understandable. Life gets busy, and revisiting a loan you already closed doesn't feel urgent. But the math often makes a compelling case. Checking your rate takes minutes, doesn't affect your credit score, and in this environment, that five-minute check could be worth thousands of dollars a year.”
Drivers can estimate their savings in seconds with Caribou's auto refinance calculator, and get pre-qualified in just minutes. Full survey findings are available on Caribou.com.
About Caribou
Caribou helps drivers take control of their car loan with real savings, trusted lending partners, and expert help every step of the way. With its advanced technology and friendly loan advisors, Caribou makes the auto refinancing process quick, easy, and transparent. Caribou shares the latest auto refinance trends each quarter, and current refinance rates each day, to provide the most in-depth, real-time insights about the auto refinance market. Customers save up to $162 per month by refinancing through Caribou.** The company is backed by QED Investors, Goldman Sachs, and other leading investors. Learn more at www.caribou.com.
*Caribou's 2026 Car Loan Sentiment Survey was conducted from March 27 to April 1, 2026 among 2,000 U.S. respondents to learn about how consumers financed their car loans, their attitudes regarding auto refinancing, and how their car payments impact their everyday lives. All respondents currently have a car loan on their primary vehicle.
**This information is estimated based on consumers whose auto refinance loan funded through Caribou between 1/1/2026 and 3/31/2026, had an existing auto loan on their credit report, and selected a loan offer to reduce their monthly payment.
For most car owners, monthly savings on their auto loan would be a lifeline, not a luxury. Financial breathing room would go straight toward stability and survival.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Giovani Lo Celso became the first Argentina player other than Lionel Messi to score in this World Cup as the defending champions finished the group stage with a three-game sweep after a 3-1 victory over Jordan on Saturday night.
Lo Celso, in his first World Cup start, put Argentina ahead to stay when he scored on a direct free kick in the 19th minute. Messi added one of his own after entering the game in the second half, and the top scorer in World Cup history extended his mark to 19 goals.
“I am very happy for him, for the moment he is having,” Lo Celso said in translated remarks about their captain.
Messi, the leader in this tournament with six goals, was among nine Argentina starters changed from the previous game since Group J was already clinched before the match. He entered in the 60th minute, three days after his 39th birthday and in the same stadium where he broke the scoring mark Monday, and scored in the 80th minute.
He scored all five of Argentina’s goals in wins over Algeria and Austria, including his first World Cup hat trick and then two goals in his record-setting game Monday. He has scored in seven consecutive World Cup games, breaking a tie with France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil great Jairzinho for the longest all-time streak.
Lautaro Martinez put Argentina up 2-0 when he scored on a penalty kick in the 31st minute, in the same sequence when his close-range shot ricocheted off the crossbar.
Martinez, who was subbed out for Messi, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez were the only players to start all three of Argentina's group matches.
“I was able to include all the footballers for them to play. This was a goal that we have always set for ourselves,” coach Lionel Scaloni said through an interpreter. “I think they played quite well in a difficult match. They showed today that we can count on them.”
Argentina, which has seven wins and two draws in its last nine World Cup games, plays in the round of 32 on Friday against Cape Verde, the smallest country to earn a spot in the knockout round. That game is in Miami, the home of Messi’s Major League Soccer team.
This is the fifth time Argentina has won all of its matches in group stage, and first since back-to-back tournaments in 2010 and 2014. Argentina has 14 wins, two losses and three draws in its last 19 group games.
France and Mexico were the only other squads in this expanded 48-team World Cup to get the maximum nine points in the group stage.
Jordan, the world’s 72nd-ranked team, was outscored 8-3 in losing all games in its first appearance in the international tournament.
“As a first participant in the World Cup, I believe that the most important thing that we can come out of in terms of lessons is for the players to have experienced firsthand what they were trained on,” coach Jamal Sellami said through an interpreter. “Now they are more aware of the requirements of such competition.”
Mousa Altamari, who entered the game at the start of the second half, scored in the 55th minute for Jordan.
Lo Celso and Martinez both scored their first World Cup goals for Argentina.
“I didn’t have any doubts about them,” Scaloni said through an interpreter. “Lautaro is doing amazing work. We are just so happy with him since he’s been on our squad. If you score a goal, all the better for them and all the better for the squad. We’re very happy with them.”
Only a couple of minutes after Lo Celso was offside when he kicked the ball in the net but not counting for a goal, he got a free kick after being tripped up just outside the penalty box by Mohannad Abutaha, who drew a yellow card.
That was the first direct free kick for an Argentina goal in a World Cup since Messi against Nigeria in 2014.
“I waited a lot for this moment, I dreamed it a lot and I think that what I saw today was much more than what I had imagined or dreamed,” Lo Celso said.
After Martinez shot off the crossbar, Julian Alvarez followed with a header that was deflected by keeper Yazeed Abulaila over the net. But a VAR replay showed that Alvarez took a kick to the face on the play, setting up the penalty.
Nicolás Paz, who made his World Cup debut subbing in for Messi late in the 3-0 win over Algeria in the opener, made his first start in his spot this time. Paz and Lo Celso were joined by forwards Marcos Senesi and Giuliano Simeone making first World Cup starts.
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
Argentina's Lionel Messi, second from left, scores his side's third goal on a free kick during the World Cup Group J soccer match against Jordan in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Argentina's Lautaro Martinez (22) is substituted by Lionel Messi (10) during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Argentina in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)
Argentina's Lautaro Martinez (22) and Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila (1) watch the ball hit the crossbar during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Argentina in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias) CORRRECTION: Corrects to ball hitting crossbar, not a goal by Martinez.
Argentina's Giovani Lo Celso (11) celebrates an opening goal on a penalty kick during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Argentina in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Argentina's Lautaro Martinez (22) scores their second goal against Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila (1) during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Argentina in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)
