A growing number of Georgia drivers are making car payments of $1,000 or more each month, according to a new LendingTree analysis, placing Georgia fourth in the nation for borrowers carrying four-figure auto loan payments.

The study found that 12% of Georgians with active auto loans have at least one monthly payment of $1,000 or more. Only Texas, Alaska and Wyoming ranked higher. Nationwide, the figure is 9.6%. The analysis was based on approximately 180,000 anonymized credit reports from the fourth quarter of 2025.

Consumer finance experts say several factors are driving the trend in Georgia, including higher vehicle prices, elevated interest rates, the popularity of larger trucks and SUVs, long commuting distances and lower average credit scores, which can result in higher borrowing costs.

LendingTree Chief Consumer Finance Analyst Matt Schulz cautioned that qualifying for a large auto loan does not necessarily mean it’s affordable. He recommends buyers focus on the total cost of the vehicle rather than just the monthly payment, avoid unnecessarily long loan terms and purchase less vehicle than they think they can afford whenever possible.