local
How one change to a car payment can help Americans get ahead of their debt
Summary by The El Paso Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Stacker , KVIA ABC-7
· July 21, 2026
· 5 min read
Car payments are one of the largest monthly obligations for most people, but they don’t happen in a vacuum. The average American is carrying debt across multiple categories at once. But their car loan may be the one lever they can pull to create more breathing room and get ahead of their debt. Ac...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The El Paso Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Stacker, KVIA ABC-7 Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 21, 2026 Indexed here Jul 21, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
Every story comes with a passport. How we work · Corrections log
Key takeaway According to Caribou ’s survey of 2,000 car loan borrowers , if they could save $150 a month on their car payment, 60% of respondents would use the savings to pay down other debt.
Why this matters in The El Paso
For El Paso residents struggling to make ends meet, refinancing a car loan could be a crucial step in managing debt. With the average American carrying significant debt across multiple categories, finding ways to free up money in the budget is essential. In El Paso, where many families rely on multiple vehicles to get around, car payments can be a significant burden. By refinancing a car loan and potentially saving $150 a month, locals could use that extra money to pay down higher-interest debt, such as credit card balances or personal loans. This strategy could have a particularly significant impact in El Paso, where many residents may be living paycheck to paycheck. By taking control of their car payments, El Pasoans can create a positive ripple effect in their finances, ultimately reducing their overall debt burden and achieving greater financial stability.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 21, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 5 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Car payments are one of the largest monthly obligations for most people, but they don’t happen in a vacuum. The average American is carrying debt across multiple categories at once. But their car loan may be the one lever they can pull to create more breathing room and get ahead of their debt. Ac...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 21, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Stacker at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More local →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter