Adapting to market shifts, elevating compliance, and strengthening connections across the industry
As we move through the final stretch of 2025, our industry is once again at an inflection point. The nonprime auto finance landscape continues to evolve, shaped by shifting credit conditions, consumer behavior, and an ever-changing regulatory climate. Amid these shifts, we are entering a new technology frontier where artificial intelligence, automation, and data-driven insights are reshaping how companies operate, engage customers, and manage risk.
At the National Automotive Finance (NAF) Association, our focus remains clear: to help our members anticipate what lies ahead, strengthen operational performance, and stay connected to the broader community that powers this industry.
Market Realities: Balancing Growth and Risk
The latest data paints a nuanced picture. While origination volumes have remained relatively flat, lenders are tightening credit criteria and sharpening portfolio management strategies. Speed and digital agility have become essential differentiators, with many lenders now funding nonprime auto loans within 24 hours of application.
At the same time, delinquency trends have crept upward, underscoring the importance of risk monitoring and customer engagement. The message is clear: in today’s environment, sustainable growth depends on balancing efficiency with sound underwriting and disciplined servicing.
The 2025 Nonprime Auto Financing Survey produced by NAF and the American Financial Services Association (AFSA) highlights these types of shifts, providing members with a detailed view of performance developments, funding trends, and credit quality benchmarks. It is not just data, but actionable insights for better decisions.
To complement the annual report, the NAF Association recently introduced our eLearning Library, a digital collection of on-demand courses, webinars, and articles covering compliance, operations, leadership, technology, and more. Whether you are training a new hire or refreshing your own skills, the library offers accessible, member-exclusive content designed to strengthen teams across all levels of your organization.
Compliance and Governance: Staying Ahead of the Curve
Although federal regulatory activity has quieted in recent months, state-level oversight is quickly picking up the slack. State attorneys general and regulatory agencies are taking a more active role, making this a critical time to ensure your compliance policies and procedures are current and defensible.
To help members navigate this evolving environment, NAF offers compliance education programs, not only for compliance professionals, but also for front-line staff who execute those policies every day. Our goal is to strengthen compliance culture across all levels of the organization, translating regulations into real-world best practices.
In addition to our broader education programs, the annual Compliance Champions Workshop provides a focused, hands-on forum for compliance officers and operational leaders to examine current regulations, discuss real-world scenarios, and exchange best practices in small group settings. Additionally, our Power30 webinars and Power10 podcasts, presented in partnership with the respected Hudson Cook attorney team, deliver quick, high-impact updates on the legal and regulatory topics shaping our industry. In just thirty or ten minutes, members gain practical, actionable insights they can apply right away to strengthen compliance and operations.
Together with our on-demand resources, these programs help members stay informed, proactive, and prepared for the next wave of regulatory attention. Compliance is not just about avoiding risk; it is about building trust and operational confidence.
The Power of Connection: Why Peer Networks Matter
One of the greatest strengths of the NAF Association is the depth and diversity of our community. Our NAF Networks program brings together professionals from across Leadership, Operations, Servicing, and Technology for small-group discussions that encourage transparency, problem-solving, and collaboration.
In a time when the auto finance industry is evolving faster than ever, driven by technology, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer expectations, these peer connections have become essential. Many organizations are facing similar challenges: improving efficiency without sacrificing compliance, navigating the rise of artificial intelligence and automation, adapting to growing state level oversight, and managing resource and performance pressures in a high-rate environment.
The NAF Networks create a space to explore those shared challenges in real time with people who understand the nuances of nonprime lending and the broader auto finance market. Participants exchange practical ideas, benchmark approaches, and share lessons learned across departments and disciplines. It is not theory; it is applied knowledge rooted in the day-to-day realities of our industry.
These virtual sessions, along with the annual conference roundtables, provide rare opportunities to exchange ideas directly with peers and partners. This kind of candid, peer to peer dialogue builds trust, sparks innovation, and helps accelerate progress across the industry in ways that individual organizations cannot achieve alone.
To keep that collaboration going all year, NAF members also have access to The Exchange, our online community where members connect digitally to share thoughts, ask questions, post resources, and stay informed about emerging trends. The Exchange extends the spirit of the Networks beyond the meeting room, ensuring that members remain connected and supported wherever they are.
At a time when collaboration, adaptability, and shared insight define success, the NAF community continues to prove that connection is more than networking – it is an advantage.
Membership: Your Competitive Advantage
The NAF Association remains the only trade association dedicated exclusively to the nonprime auto finance industry, but the benefits of membership extend well beyond that space. Whether your focus is prime, near prime, or subprime lending, our data, education, and networking programs provide insights and connections that strengthen every part of the auto finance ecosystem.
If you are not yet a member, there has never been a better time to get involved. Membership provides early access to research that informs strategy, specialized education for professionals at every level, and a network of peers who understand your challenges. It also offers a platform to help shape the direction of this industry through collaboration and shared expertise.
As an added incentive, companies that join before the end of the year will receive exclusive membership benefits designed to help them start strong in 2026. Whether you are seeking visibility, professional development, or community engagement, we are committed to making your membership experience valuable from day one.
Our members are not just participants. They are active contributors to a stronger, more informed, and more connected auto finance community.
Looking Ahead
2026 is shaping up to be one of our most impactful years yet. Mark your calendar for:
- NAF2026: The Annual Non-Prime Auto Financing Conference – June 2-4 at the Omni Las Colinas in Irving, Texas
A powerful mix of market insights, thought-provoking sessions, and meaningful networking designed to help you sharpen strategy and stay competitive. - The Executive Exchange – September 15-17 at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona
A focused experience for senior leaders to step away from daily demands and explore strategic challenges and opportunities. Formerly known as the C-Suite Retreat, the newly rebranded Executive Exchange name better reflects the event’s purpose in creating a space for senior leaders to connect, collaborate, and explore the future of auto finance.
- The Compliance Champions Workshop – Fall in Texas, Details to be Announced
A must-attend event for compliance professionals and operational leaders. Expect deep-dive discussions, small-group learning, and practical tools to strengthen compliance programs.
Between these events, we will continue delivering virtual roundtables, compliance updates, and new member resources that help you stay informed and connected all year long.
Advancing Together
The pace of change in our industry is accelerating, but so is the opportunity to lead. Innovation often begins with curiosity, grows through connection, and takes hold when we put ideas into action together.
At the NAF Association, we remain dedicated to being your trusted resource: connecting people, elevating standards, and driving progress across the auto finance industry.
